The New York Giants are chugging along after five weeks of the regular season, most of which has not gone to plan.
The Giants lost Jaxson Dart in Week 2 and have made it work with backup quarterback Jameis Winston, who has not lost in three starts with the team. Giants offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. explained what it’s like to play with Winston.
“This kind of outgoing personality, you see it all over social media. Especially how well he was documented throughout the summertime with the FIFA World
Cup,” Runyan Jr. said.
“That is one part of the kind of person he is, but he’s not like that all the time. In meetings, out in the field, he is serious, all about business. I don’t really ever see him cracking any jokes. I don’t see him cracking a smile. He is locked in, focused. He understands that he has the keys to this offense. And I think he knows how good of a team we can be, and I think he understands that.”
Giants responding well to adversity
The Giants have lost Dart outside linebacker Brian Burns and wide receiver Jack Braxton Barrios, among others, to season-ending injuries. Still, the Giants remain in first place in the NFC East. Runyan credited the coaching staff for keeping this team on track.
“Yeah, I think it says a lot about not only our coaching staff, what they’ve kind of tried to build throughout the whole offseason program and into training camp. It says a lot about them, the foundation that they’ve built, and a lot of us as players, we’re sitting 3-1-1 right now,” Runyan Jr. said.
”A couple plays here and there, I feel like we could also be 1-4. I still feel like we have a long way to go on this team. Luckily, we are 3-1-1 at the moment. And like I said, we still have a long way to go. This whole division stacks up how it does, as long as we take care of what we got, like we got the Saints coming in this week. (Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh has been saying go 1-0 every week, and that’s kind of been our mindset, and it’s been working so far this year.“
Andrew Thomas anchoring the o-line
Andrew Thomas is playing through a groin injury that is obviously making things difficult for him. His teammates have noticed, and appreciate the big man.
“He’s just a warrior out there. I do see him looking like he’s laboring here and there, but he won’t show it on his face. He’s just going to keep working, keep his mouth shut, and keep playing,” Runyan Jr. said.
“And that’s just the kind of person and player he is. And it’s really awesome to watch. He’s definitely the lead by example guy of our entire, I could say entire offense, but definitely the offensive line. And he’s definitely the glue that holds us all together, having such a good, dominant player that he is for a very long time.”
Open communication with coaches
Bringing in head coach John Harbaugh and his staff have done wonders for the Giants. They may be winning these games ugly, but the process in which they are coming together week in and week out is a much-needed change for the team.
“There’s a pretty open line of communication there that guys in the group setting get to see that accountability in real time. And then coaches holding the players, and the players holding the coaches accountable to mistakes that they both feel that could be fixed, that would help the team going down the road,” Runyan Jr. said.
“So, there’s been a, I feel like in my opinion, really good communication back and forth between players and coaches that is only going to help us when we get further down the road in the season. And especially going to be helpful when we face a little bit more adversity, knowing that we have that solid foundation with everybody around us.”
Runyan and the Giants are taking on the New Orleans Saints in their Week 6 matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET inside MetLife Stadium. Fans can watch the game on FOX or stream it on the FOX One app.
