New York Giants news for Friday
Good morning, New York Giants fans!
From Big Blue View
- Daniel Jones reflects on offensive struggles, looks ahead to Pittsburgh
- Dexter Lawrence: Dogging plays ‘Is not acceptable’
- Azeez Ojulari ‘just working’, not focused on trade rumors
- Giants’ injury updates: CB Cor’Dale Flott could be sidelined vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Giants will give Josh Ezeudu, Chris Hubbard reps at left tackle
- Giants at Steelers, Week 8: What to expect when the Steelers have the ball
- Giants-Steelers: What to expect when the Giants have the ball
- New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 8: Everything you need to know
Other Giant observations
2025 NFL Draft order projections: Are any top-10 teams ready to take the QB leap? | The Athletic
Yes, the Giants can get out of Daniel Jones’ contract after this season — it’ll just be really, really expensive. Same time, if Jones continues to look only OK on his best days and disastrous on his worst, something will have to be done.
Frankly, the Giants might be in better position to sign a free-agent passer this offseason, someone who could come in and properly compete with Jones for a year before any long-term decisions are reached. A top-10 QB next spring should be considered possible for New York, though.
PFF looks at the Giants rookie class
New York Giants’ young secondary developing into top-tier unit | USAToday.com
So far, the results appear mixed but the statistics tell us otherwise. The group has become one of the top secondaries in the NFL this year. The Giants have only allowed 10 touchdowns through the air over the first seven weeks which is mid for the third-lowest in the NFL. They are also allowing just 179.4 passing yards per game, which is good enough for sixth-best in the league.
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for every NFL Week 8 game | PFF
Deonte Banks has been assigned to cover opposing teams’ top wide receivers throughout the season, and his next challenge will be Steelers wideout George Pickens. This season, Pickens has capitalized on numerous one-on-one opportunities, recording 16 catches for 294 yards on 31 targets against single coverage, ranking in the top five in the NFL. In contrast, Banks has struggled in single coverage, posting a 25.5 coverage grade, the lowest in the league.
Bill Belichick’s criticism of the Giants seems a little self-serving (like much of his criticism) | Pro Football Talk
It’s arguably doesn’t look very good for Belichick to be using his umpteen media platforms to take shots at those he might want to replace. While it’s refreshing to hear candor from former coaches who want back in, Belichick seems to be using it surgically.
Here’s the difference. When Belichick talks, he’s possibly hoping certain specific owners will listen. And that they’ll act. And that Belichick will have multiple teams chasing him for employment in 2025, giving him maximum leverage — which will mean maximum money and maximum power.
Brian Daboll responds to Bill Belichick’s criticism of Giants | NJ.com
Asked about this before Thursday’s practice, Daboll — who was on Belichick’s staff in New England for seven years — first asked reporters to, “fill (him) in” on the context, before he offered a harmless rebuttal.
“I would say that my focus is on our team,” Daboll said. “And we do everything we can do to be as good as we can be. Look, there are things we’ve got to do better. But I can’t focus on the outside.”
Daboll on John Mara’s comments
“You focus on what you can control”
Brian Daboll on John Mara’s comments last night pic.twitter.com/LHIsirOPSl
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) October 24, 2024
NY Giants: John Mara gives Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen vote of confidence | The Record
Case in point, their circumstances on the offensive line in the wake of Andrew Thomas’ season-ending foot surgery: If they play Josh Ezeudu and/or Evan Neal for the sake of seeing what their third and first-round picks from 2022 can do, and they can’t hack it, the team struggles.
If they bring in vets over them, and continue to let Ezeudu and Neal sit, it’s a mark against them because they now can’t count on their draft picks. Not an easy place to be. More difficult when you don’t win games, and it’s impossible to justify either decision.
Can Giants afford to keep playing Daniel Jones? Breaking down his contract’s injury guarantee | The Athletic
It would take a catastrophic injury for Jones to be unable to pass a physical by the start of next season, so that’s less of a concern right now. But that mid-March trigger for the $12 million guarantee is fewer than five months away. Jones would certainly be in jeopardy of not being able to pass a physical by then if he suffers another major injury at any point during the rest of this season. That’s why speculation has intensified about how the Giants should proceed with Jones.
The Duke is set to air on the NFL Network tonight
A man so legendary his name is on every NFL football.
The Duke: The Giant Life of Wellington Mara tomorrow at 8PM ET on @NFLNetwork #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/HyKD1birGU
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 24, 2024
Presser Points: Takeaways from Coach Brian Daboll | Giants.com
Lawrence, the NFL sacks leader heading into Week 8, did not participate in two practices last week and was limited in the third before he notched two sacks on Sunday. This week, the Giants will “kind of do the similar program that we did last week. We’ll see where he is at tomorrow. Just to make sure he’s as healthy as he can be.”
Can Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry get past Chiefs? Lions’ ceiling? Best WR addition? | FOX Sports
Are the Giants or Jets, both 2-5 headed into Week 8, in worse shape right now and why? It’s the Giants. The Jets have been a dumpster fire, but they have a glimmer of hope that Aaron Rodgers — with the addition of Adams and a still-talented defense — can turn things around in the second half of the season. There’s no reason to be optimistic if you’re rooting for the Giants. They let the franchise’s best player go to the team’s division rival in free agency, and Saquon Barkley predictably came back to bludgeon the Giants on their home field. Next, they are probably going to move on from QB Daniel Jones. First-round pick Malik Nabers has been productive when healthy, but the Giants are looking at a full reset next season, while the Jets at least have a shot at reaching the postseason this year
This week’s opponent
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for every NFL Week 8 game | PFF
Red-zone scoring has been a significant issue for the Giants’ offense this season, and facing the Steelers’ defense will be another daunting test. The Giants’ red-zone touchdown rate of 38% ranks fourth lowest in the NFL, while the Steelers boast the sixth-best red-zone defense, allowing touchdowns on only 43% of red-zone opportunities.
Austin wants even more out of Steelers defense | Steelers.com
Second-half adjustments have been a major factor for the Steelers defensively this season. The Steelers are allowing just 5.1 points per game in the second half of games this season, nearly a point less than any other team in the NFL.
Steelers ST coordinator Danny Smith: We’ve developed a kick-blocking culture | Pro Football Talk
The Steelers have blocked kicks in three straight games — and they had another block erroneously wiped out during last Sunday’s win over the Jets — and no other team has had a run like that since the Patriots during the 2017 season. On Thursday, Smith joked that he was making the same calls in the weeks when the Steelers didn’t get blocks before adding “we believe in it, we developed it, the players have obviously bought in and they’re having success at it.”
NFL Week 8 Preview: Schedule, storylines and matchups to watch | PFF
Matchups to watch: Steelers C Ryan McCollum vs. Giants DI Dexter Lawrence. The Steelers were without their standout first-year C Zach Frazier (ankle) this past week and may again be forced to go without him again this week. That turns the spotlight back onto backup C Ryan McCollum, who struggled while filling in last week, earning just a 48.1 overall offensive grade. McCollum will have his work cut out for him in this one, facing off with All-Pro DI Dexter Lawrence,
Around the league
Jayden Daniels remains out of practice on Thursday | Pro Football Talk
Commanders rookie Ben Sinnott scored first touchdown on ‘Taylor Swift’ play call | The Athletic
Micah Parsons describes Week 8 status vs. 49ers as ‘still in the air’ | CBSSports.com
Dallas Cowboys DT Mazi Smith has not elevated his game as hoped | Blogging The Boys
TE John Stephens tears ACL again in Cowboys’ latest hurdle | ESPN.com
The Jets’ season can’t be saved | SBNation.com
Lions WR Jameson Williams suspended two games for violating league’s PED policy | NFL.com
Does Packers’ Jordan Love have an interception problem? | ESPN.com
DeAndre Hopkins: Playing meaningful football takes your game to another level | Pro Football Talk
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans says Houston’s struggles protecting C.J. Stroud have to ‘get fixed’ | NFL.com
Jonathan Taylor: Some soreness after return to practice, not a bad deal | Pro Football Talk
The road to Browns QB Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury | ESPN.com
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