The New York Giants appear to be in hot water after a crushing 28-6 defeat against the Vikings during the season opener. Questions have arisen regarding the future of quarterback Daniel Jones, who had a rough first game back after recovering from a torn ACL. Despite these concerns, Coach Brian Daboll insists he will stick with Jones, although it’s unclear how long his patience will hold out. Jones’ upcoming matchup against the poorly-performing Commanders defense could be a determinant of his future with the Giants.
Daboll seems to be unconcerned about an injury clause in Jones’ contract, even having Jones perform power runs during the game. Despite trailing 28-6, he insisted on keeping Jones in the game until the bitter end, leading to two more hits against the beleaguered quarterback. Daboll’s focus this early in the season seems fixed on keeping the team pushing forward, even in the face of apparent defeat.
In addition to the Jones situation, other strategic decisions are also raising eyebrows. Daboll’s expectations of a pressure-heavy attack from the opposing Vikings didn’t line up with their actual tactics, leaving the Giants ill-prepared for the surprising curveball of the game. Their attempts to play to their strengths with wide receiver-focused strategies didn’t result in the desired advantages, while their run game remained underwhelming at best.
Critics believe Daboll may have become overly cautious, evidenced by some of his conservative calls and choices during the game, including deciding to punt on a fourth-and-3 and fumbling attempts to trick the Vikings with a hard count before another punt. Questions have also been raised regarding certain personnel decisions, such as slotting in Cor’Dale Flott at outside corner and Dru Phillips in a reduced role – a decision that Daboll defends as the “best thing for us.”
Other personnel issues peppered the game, from Micah McFadden’s benching due to a groin injury, to Gunner Olszewski’s aggravated injury during warmup, to a last-minute roster change that left them with just 51 active players. Although Darius Slayton stepped up as a punt returner replacement, his performance was unsteady, resulting in the Giants signing Ihmir Smith-Marsette to handle future returns. Additionally, despite being given several opportunities during training camp, Jalin Hyatt didn’t meet expectations as a second receiver, and consequently found himself with a limited role on the field.
Beyond all these issues, it seems linebacker Carter Coughlin might be out for the season due to a major pec injury, forcing more roster shuffling. In the meantime, the Giants’ defensive strategy, favoring a base 3-4 defense and a nickel package, didn’t quite yield desired results. As the team copes with these hurdles and defeats, fans will be watching closely to see if the Giants can turn things around in their upcoming games.
