The New York Giants are 2-0 after Saturday’s 31-12 victory over the New York Jets! Granted, it is preseason but considering how the last two years have gone it’s cool to say. Let’s review in our unique ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’ style.
Kudos to …
Extended work for starters — I still would have preferred to see Giants’ starters get Saturday night off and then play extended time in the preseason finale on Thursday against the New England Patriots. I was happy, though, to see front-line players work into the second quarter. Russell Wilson played four series at quarterback, and the starting offensive line (except for Greg Van Roten giving way to Evan Neal after a couple of series) played the full first half.
After getting beaten 68-6 in season openers the past two years, Daboll finally pushed his starters somewhat in the preseason. Let’s see if it pays off.
Tyrone Tracy — The second-year running back wasn’t spectacular, but he did average 5.6 yards per carry, getting 39 yards on seven rushers. Maybe the run-blocking should get ‘Kudos’ too.
Jaxson Dart — The rookie quarterback went an excellent 14 of 16 for 137 yards, threw for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and had a 123.2 passer rating. Dart led two third-quarter drives and both went for touchdowns.
The first drive was nine plays, 71 yards and ended with a 20-yard touchdown to tight end Greg Dulcich. The second drive was 12 plays, 55 yards and ended with a 1-yard Dart run.
Dart’s preseason to date:
Everything this young man has done this summer should have Giants fans excited for the future at quarterback.
Dante Miller — ‘Turbo’ helped his case for a spot on the 53-man roster for a second straight week. The 26-year-old spent his 2024 rookie season on the practice squad. Right now, it is hard to see how he doesn’t make the 53-man roster.
Miller had a second straight highly productive game. He carried five times for a pedestrian 17 yards (3.4 yards per carry), but again excelled as a receiver and made a key special teams play.
Miller caught four passes for 43 yards, looking especially dangerous in the screen game. As a punt gunner, he also got downfield and downed a Jamie Gillan punt at the 5-yard line.
Pass protection — The Giants’ offensive line once again provided an excellent pocket for Wilson and Dart. There was one sack of Dart, but both quarterbacks had comfortable pockets to work from.
Look at this pocket for Wilson on his 80-yard strike to Beaux Collins:
Wilson, by the way, threw that ball more than 60 yards in the air. Not bad for a 37-year-old who some people believe has lost something off his fastball.
Offense — Well, well, look what can happen when you get good quarterback play, solid pass protection and just enough running game. The Giants, one of the worst offenses in the league the past two seasons, have scored more than 30 points in back-to-back weeks. They have 65 points in two games. How did this happen?
Jamie Gillan — The Giants’ punter had a nice night, averaging 42.7 net yards per punt with one downed inside the 20-yard line.
Greg Dulcich — The former Denver Broncos tight end continued a strong summer by catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dart. The quarterback said after the game it was the same play he and Dulcich had misfired on a week earlier, a play where it looked like a surprised Dulcich ducked when Dart threw him the ball. Dulcich has a chance to make the roster, which I would not have thought a few weeks ago.
Evan Neal — You can quibble with one or two plays, but Neal acquitted himself well in his first game action at guard since his freshman season at Alabama.
Wet Willies to …
First-half run defense — Again and again, folks like Chris Pflum and Nick Falato have told me they remain concerned about the Giants’ run defense despite the obvious personnel upgrades. I have consistently said I think the personnel is there to be better defending the run than they were in 2024.
A year ago, the Giants struggled to defend the run whenever Dexter Lawrence was off the field. In the first half Saturday, with Lawrence not playing, guess what? The Giants struggled to defend the run.
The Jets had 19 carries for 85 yards (4.5 yards per attempt) in the first half. That included runs of 11, 12 and 12 yards.
That needs to get better. Even with the upgrades they have made, it is fair to wonder if they have enough quality interior defensive linemen.
The idiot who ran onto the field — Thank you, State Police!
Jets quarterback play — The Giants only had two quarterback hits, but Justin Fields was a jittery, inaccurate 1 of 5. Brady Cook and Adrian Martinez? The Jets should be begging the Giants to trade them Tommy DeVito.
Kwillies to …
Beaux Collins — Before Saturday’s game, I was wondering which wide receiver would step up in the competition for the final couple of roster spots at that position. Collins laid a marker down on the Giants’ opening drive, hauling in a Russell Wilson moon ball and going 80 yards, finishing a yard shy of a touchdown.
The undrafted free agent from Notre Dame has been getting a decent number of first-team reps throughout training camp. Right now, it’s clear he has the inside track on a 53-man roster spot.
Still, you will notice this is not an outright ‘Kudos.’ Collins appeared to run the wrong route on another long Wilson pass, leading to an interception that killed a drive that had reached the Jets’ 35-yard line.
Makari Paige — Another undrafted free agent rookie trying to make the roster, Paige had an interception on an ill-advised Adrian Martinez pass. That was the good. The bad was that he was beaten badly on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brady Cook to Quentin Skinner.
Virtual measurements — The NFL’s new virtual measurement system for first downs was used in the first quarter. It is weird, and seemed to take longer than it should while everyone stood around and waited. It was cool, though, to find out that the measurement had the Jets one inch — yes, one inch — from a first down.
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