Bob Donnelly asks: It’s the season for optimism. Some are very excited about the additions made to the Giant’s defense and foresee it being a top 10 if not a top five unit in 2025. Given their schedule, and at this very early juncture, do you view this as a possibility?
Ed says: Bob, strip everything else away and the one defensive stat that matters, really matters, is points allowed. Despite going 3-14, getting only five interceptions, losing Dexter Lawrence for a bunch of games, and being 24th in the league in yards allowed per rushing attempt, the Giants finished last season 20th in the NFL in points allowed at 24.4 per game.
The Houston Texans finished 10th in the league in points allowed, averaging 21.4. That is a difference of exactly three points per game, in case you’re bad at math. So, with obvious improvements in the defensive front seven that could turn a good pass rush into an exceptional one while also improving the run defense, and a secondary that should make more plays on the ball, I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe the Giants can be a top 10 defense in 2025.
rjalbro asks: Ed, is the Giants punter doing and practice field goals in camp? It would seem logical if he is needed in an emergency.
Ed says: RJ, no, Jamie Gillan does not practice field goals, extra points or kickoffs on any type of regular basis. He might do that on a rare occasion, but not with regularity. Conversely, the field goal kickers do not practice punting. I have seen placekicker Graham Gano walk through the steps of punting, something he has done in the NFL in emergency situations, but never actually punt in practice.
Remember, it is a looooooong season. There is a lot of wear and tear on the legs of kickers and punters — for most of the season, if not all, they have no one to share kicking reps with. Keeping them healthy and at their best when they are needed on game days is part of the process. It is why a lot of the “punting” done in NFL practices is actually done by a JUGS machine.
Punting and placekicking are vastly different kicking motions. Asking a kicker to practice both skills on a regular basis is dramatically increasing wear and tear and increasing the chance of injury.
Lou Catalano asks: I’m interested in your position regarding the HOF merits of Phil Simms vs Eli Manning. In my mind, Simms is far more worthy of the honor, especially given the constraints under which he operated with Bill Parcells. He won only 1 Super Bowl, had the team in the position to win their second and unfortunately got injured before the team actually won it. He still owns the completion record for the Super Bowl and was a SP MVP in his own right. Eli, while having made huge plays in his 2 Super Bowls and was voted MVP in both, does not strike me as HOF worthy. The argument can certainly be made that defensive players were more valuable than Eli in both SB XLVII and SB XLVI. He was a good, not great, player, and in my opinion, the voters got it right in bypassing him last year. Your thoughts?
Ed says: Lou, I have been clear over the years that I believe Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer. I know about the regular season record, etc., but in my view success at the biggest moments matters more. Manning has two of the greatest playoff runs, and Super Bowl victories, ever.
As for Simms, even he doesn’t believe he should be in the Hall of Fame. Maybe if he had quarterbacked all the way through the second Super Bowl run, but I don’t think there is a case to be made.
Laurence Roth asks: I don’t get why the Giants/Jets management just don’t put down natural turf for the season? How much can it cost compared to losing a top player to an injury? Seems so petty and counter-productive. Why the hesitation?
Ed says: Laurence, John Mara has been consistent about this. With two NFL teams playing there, sometimes on back-to-back days, combined with the weather conditions as you get into the latter parts of the season, the teams don’t feel they can maintain a grass surface at an acceptable condition.
They would like to, and John Mara has said the day might come when they feel like they can. This was Mara a year ago:
“I want to get to the point where the experts can tell us that late in the season we can have a safe, playable grass field, and when we get to that point, then maybe we’ll make the switch,” Mara said at the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday afternoon.
“We’re not there yet.”
Patrick Morris asks: I was checking the predicted compensatory picks from Overthecap. I was a little surprised to see that Minnesota was predicted to get a 4th round compensatory pick for Daniel Jones. I understand if a player is cut, the team doesn’t get a comp pick. But it would seem a little surprising that the Vikings paid Jones less than $500,000 for less than a year, let him get signed away for free agency, and garner a 4th round comp pick for it. Is this why the Vikings signed Jones in the first place? For the potential comp pick?
Ed says: Patrick, I am sure it was one of the reasons. They had to also believe he might be worthwhile insurance if Sam Darnold were injured. This was a shrewd move by the Vikings.
Kölnerbigblue asks: Ed, other than kicking FGs, how many ST reps are there typically in minicamp particularly with the restrictions on meaningful contact?
Ed says: Very few. There are walk-through reps and special team drills, but no real full 11-on-11 team drills.
Mark P. Lynch asks: It seems at every opportunity Goodell mentions 16 INTL. games and a 18 game schedule. Like Thanos he sees this as inevitable. So the the question is beside an extra game check what concessions do you see the PA asking for. Maybe an expanded roster, say 56 players with 50 active for game day and maybe a second bye week with schedule being expaned so Super Bowl weekend is on MLK weekend … what have heard or speculate.
Ed says: Mark, this is not something I have asked anyone about. I think players would insist on a second bye week, and they should get it. I have heard the idea floated that other than kickers, long-snappers and quarterbacks, each player would a maximum of 16 games, meaning you would need to replace each player for at least two games. I also believe players would ask for an expanded roster, perhaps to 55. I would also like to see the elimination of game day inactives.
Adoconn asks: In the article about our D being “Most Interesting” you mentioned we allowed 24.4 points per game. If we use last year as the measuring stick – What would last year look like if the D allowed one less field goal or TD? If Wilson can get one more field goal, how would that change last year’s stats? I’m looking to set an acceptable expectation for this year.
Ed says: The Giants were 1-8 in one-score games a season ago. Allowing three fewer points and scoring a little bit more changes the result of a number of games.
The scenario you are laying out is what the Giants are hoping for. They ended up 1-9 in games decided by 10 points or less. Go 5-5 in those games and that’s a 7-10 record. Not great, but not embarrassing.
I don’t know what an “acceptable expectation” is. The schedule is going to be difficult, but if the Giants can win a better percentage of those close games they have a chance to take a step forward.
Ben Goldstein asks: One of of the knocks on Darius Alexander is his age. While I get the appeal of unknown potential when a drafting young player, given that players need to be physically mature, there is little development time in the NFL season and few will sign a (expensive) second contract, let alone third, is there some inefficiency to be exploited by targeting older college players that are more physically and emotionally mature. Are there any data on impact of older prospects? Obviously hard to compare since only stronger prospects leave early, but maybe the covid exceptions (and rise of nils) keeping kids in school longer give some insight.
Ed says: Ben, I don’t know that being 24 is a “knock” on Alexander. Maybe some teams would take a player a couple of years younger if both had the same grade on their board, but I don’t know that for sure.
Defensive line coach Andre Patterson told me the other day that he thinks Alexander’s age and maturity helps him learn.
Maybe NFL teams have some internal data on performance of players drafted at different ages. I don’t know of any.
Roberto Iglesias asks: Giants are predicted to have a really good defense this year.
Why not have an all time defense by trading for Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals? Kayvon Thibodeaux & 1st I’m sure that offer can get them to agree. They can offer 4 years, $100 mil. Do you think that it is possible?
Ed says: No offense, Roberto, but I don’t think a world exists where that trade is possible.
Let’s talk about the money first. Premier pass rushers are now getting $35 million a year or more. Myles Garrett just got a four-year, $160 million deal from the Cleveland Browns, $40 million per year. Maxx Crosby got a three-year, $106.5 million deal from the Las Vegas Raiders, $35.5 million annually. You honestly think Hendrickson, with back-to-back 17.5-sacks seasons, is going to take $25 million per year. No chance. My guess is if it’s not north of Crosby money, Hendrickson isn’t signing a contract.
As for the trade itself, the Giants already gave up their third-round pick next year in the Jaxson Dart trade. Now, you want them to trade away their first-round pick? I can’t see any way they would do that.
Also, let me mention this. Hendrickson had 6.5 sacks his first three seasons in the NFL and did not become a dominant player until his fourth year, when he posted 13.5 sacks. Thibodeaux has 21.0 sacks in 43 games over three years, and still has potential to get better.
Defensive line coach Andre Patterson told me recently that it takes most players three or four years to really learn how to rush the passer in the NFL. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to give up on Thibodeaux just yet.
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