Previewing Philadelphia’s Week 7 matchup.
The Philadelphia Eagles are headed up the New Jersey Turnpike to take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. In order to preview this Week 7 matchup, I reached out to our enemies over at Big Blue View. The excellent Ed Valentine kindly took the time to answer my questions about this upcoming battle. Let’s take a look at the answers. [For my answers about the Eagles, check out BBV.]
1 – Might as well get the obligatory Saquon Barkley question out of the way. Do you still think the Giants made the right call not to re-sign him? And are you more annoyed or more indifferent when it comes to how he’s played well for the Eagles?
Yes, I think the Giants made the right call. There was always the possibility that in the short term Barkley would play really well and make the Giants look bad, and he’s playing well right now. Statistically, the Giants have gotten enough RB production that it hasn’t really mattered.
The Giants used the Barkley money to sign two offensive linemen, and the line has been improved. Now with Andrew Thomas out for the year that will probably change. Also, rookie RB Tyrone Tracy has looked like a player who could turn out to be very good.Personally, I am indifferent. I know that isn’t true of everyone. And I know Giants co-owner John Mara will be breathing fire if Barkley has a big day in an Eagles victory on Sunday.
2 – What’s the confidence level in Daniel Jones right now?
You just had to make me answer a Daniel Jones question, didn’t you! The fan base is largely done with Jones. It’s just tiring, and it feels like the Giants are spinning their wheels. Jones has been pretty efficient this season, and had a nice four-game stretch from Weeks 2-5 before being bad Sunday vs. the Bengals. Jones is “fine,” and you can win with him when things go well around him. He just doesn’t elevate his team, and when things break down around him he has never been able to play through that successfully.
3 – How would you evaluate the job that Brian Daboll has done thus far?
Like with any coach, I disagree with some of the decisions Daboll makes. I think, though, that by and large he is doing the best he can with what he has.
There is a lot of discussion about whether Daboll is, or should be, on the hot seat. I do not think Giants ownership wants to move on from Daboll. I think John Mara craves some stability, and he has seen in the last few years that constant change doesn’t get you anywhere. Provided the wheels don’t come off and there isn’t a locker room mutiny, I think Daboll will keep his job.
4 – What are the notable differences between last year’s defense ran by Wink Martindale and this year’s overseen by new DC Shane Bowen?
Well, the biggest difference is that Martindale was a blitz-crazed coordinator who believed in consistently sending more rushers than the opposing line could block. Bowen is more controlled, more traditional. He likes the four-man rush, with twists, stunts and simulated pressure. The Giants also play more zone under Bowen than they did under Martindale.
That said, Bowen has had a couple of games where he has been willing to go against type and turn up the heat. The Giants are ninth in the league in points against, and that isn’t an accident. They have played well on that side of the ball.
They just haven’t been able to score points.
5 – The Eagles are currently three-point road favorites against the Giants. The Eagles are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight games as favorites. Who wins this game and why?
It’s impossible for me to pick the Giants to win this game. As much as I believe the Eagles are far from what they were a couple of years ago and I think a fully healthy Giants team would have a chance, right now they are a mess.
They lost star LT Andrew Thomas for the season this week. They put OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux on IR with a fractured wrist last week. Dexter Lawrence (hip) and Brian Burns (groin) did not practice on Wednesday, and Daboll didn’t sound convinced either would be available.
Malik Nabers (concussion) will probably be back, but that’s a lot of really good players the Giants might be missing.
I honestly think this Giants team might be better than its 2-4 record, at least when it’s whole. And when they protect the quarterback. But right now they aren’t that.
They just don’t score enough points, and they seem to invent unique ways of shooting themselves in the foot far too often.
