The New York Giants era under John Harbaugh has officially started with New York hosting the Minnesota Vikings early on Saturday.
The Giants featured plenty of under-center, heavier personnel runs, with an 11 personnel package that used Isaiah Likely all over the formation. Likely was the focal point in clutch situations for Matt Nagy and the Giants, but the establishment of a physical rushing attack was noteworthy and unsurprising.
Jaxson Dart and the starters played a couple of series, while several
younger players competing for starting roles saw action throughout the first half. Dennard Wilson flashed creative five-man pressure packages with interior defenders that “wasted” interior blockers, which was coupled with corner blitzes. Wilson featured linebacker-plug blitzes, schemed LB blitzes vs. running backs, and incorporated secondary blitzes as well. This defense should be much more refreshing than the previous one.
Here are the grades for Preseason Week 1.
Quarterback
Dart was shaky at times, but he showcased his excellent ability to buy time on his touchdown pass to Malachi Fields, which came moments after he exited the medical tent following a concussion check:
Dart was not perfect and his play wasn’t overly polished, but he does flash play-making skills. And, through no fault of his own, he did have a trip to the medical tent, which has become synonymous with the young quarterback. Jameis Winston was 8 of 9 for 89 yards with 40 yards coming on the Devin Singletary third-and-long screen.
Brandon Allen’s first pass was intercepted by a sitting linebacker on a slant to Odell Beckham Jr. Allen then took a sack on third down that ended his second offensive drive. He then threw an interception on third down to start the fourth quarter.
Dart struggled but flashed bright, per his rookie season; Jameis was efficient, but Allen was bad, which brought the grade down slightly.
Grade: C+
Running Back
It was great to see Cam Skattebo on the field. He rushed for 19 yards on four carries, with a few strong stiff-arms and a long run of 7 yards. Tyrone Tracy Jr. added a pair of carries for five yards but had a tragic blown pass protection assignment that resulted in Dart’s trip to the medical tent.
Singletary continues to prove himself as a reliable depth piece. He converted the third-and-long screen pass from Jameis Winston that set up the Jaxson Dart touchdown to Fields. Dante Miller, Eric Gray, and Damon Bankston received carries in the second half – none made much of an impact.
Tracy’s blown assignment in pass protection was the most impactful part of the running back room, followed by Singletary’s elite screen on third down.
Grade: C-
Wide Receiver
Rookie Malachi Fields caught a 15-yard pass for a touchdown on an excellent, and savvy, route adjustment on a broken play. Fields showed processing and his size on his touchdown catch; he added another catch for 11 yards and another slant for eight yards in the final minute of the first-half. Fields added a special teams’ tackle.
The crowd cheered as Odell Beckham Jr. took the field, and on each of his two receptions (for six yards). Beckham Jr. was streaking down the field wide open on a Cover-0 call that Winston checked down. Ryan Miller and Dalen Cambre added some catches late, as well as Isaiah Hodgins, but no one moved the needle much in the game.
Grade: B-
Tight End
Isaiah Likely was a focal point of the offense on the Giants’ first drive. Both third downs were designed to Likely, with the third-and-ten being a backside slant that was jumped by Brian Flores’ safety. Likely did, however, convert on the fast four third-and-3:
Likely will have a major role even when Malik Nabers returns from injury. Chris Manhertz played early and often, along with Patrick Ricard to establish physicality with the rushing attack. Theo Johnson caught one pass for 6 yards, and Thomas Fidone II mostly played with Allen in the second half, so statistics were hard to come by.
Grade: B+
Offensive Line
Andrew Thomas did not play, giving Marcus Mbow the opportunity to start at left tackle. The first -team offensive line was solid, despite surrendering three sacks to Brian Flores’ defense. The Flores’ defense did disguise one sack very well, which was the fault of running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. It was great to see Francis Mauigoa using his strength at the point of attack to spring positive runs from the Giants:
The second team offensive line struggled to generate push at the point of attack and they were marginal in pass protection. Rookie J.C. Davis was beaten on a third-down sack of Allen. Overall, the first unit was solid.
Grade: B
Defensive Line
The defensive line was without D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris. Darius Alexander flashed, but was also controlled on more than a few plays, leading to chunk gains on the ground for Minnesota. I would have liked to see them be more sturdy, albeit they made a few stops. Alexander played through the first-half and into the third quarter. He came away with a sack on a third-and-5 that was beautifully designed by Dennard Wilson:
Alexander added two quarterback hits. He was solid, overall. Leki Fotu played in the second half; both him and Bobby Jameson-Travis read a second-down red zone screen, and it was Fotu who knocked the pass down. Marlon Davidson knocked down a pass, and did an excellent job following Carson Wentz’s eyes to do so on third-and-long in the fourth quarter.
Grade: C
Edge
Kayvon Thibodeaux made an excellent tackle down the line of scrimmage, but was also pinned on a pin-pull concept. Minnesota successfully ran off-tackle early in the game, setting a physical tone that was too reminiscent of the porous run defense from last season. However, New York solidified in key situations and forced Minnesota into several third and manageable situations. I hope to see more usage of Chauncey Golston this year, or at least a clearer role. He flashed with an excellent TFL on the edge, and I believe that is well within his wheel-house. Trace Ford continued to hustle as a back end piece, and he made a great tackle for a loss at the end of the game.
Grade: B
Linebacker
Arvell Reese earned a STOP on the first drive of the game:
Kelly had an excellent blitz where he was isolated and BLEW UP the running back in protection, which led to a third-down sack. Depth linebacker Caleb Murphy had an excellent STOP on the goal line late in the third quarter; Jack Kelly stopped Demond Claiborne on the subsequent play. Micah McFadden looked healthy and made one tackle, but moved around the box well. Anfreene Orji had two great tackles in the fourth quarter; one in pursuit down the line of scrimmage and the other with just over two-minutes left in the game with the Vikings backed up on the goal line.
Grade: B+
Cornerback
Colton Hood and Tae Banks started, and both played through the first-half. Both players were flagged several times. It is noteworthy, though, that Banks appeared to be eager to hit. However, he did blow a contain concept on an early pin-pull concept. Art Green surrendered a 28-yard catch to Myles Price at the top of the third quarter; Green was in position to possibly intercept the ball, but he could not finish. Wentz proceeded to attack the Giants outside the numbers in the second half.
Korie Black earned a third-down PBU on a crossing route with Carson Wentz stepping up into the pocket. Black was then flagged for a pass interference on third down that led to a third-down Green pass interference that then led to a Vikings touchdown; Black was beat by Price for a touchdown on the next play after Green’s DPI. Black did have a solid play on the ball against a third-and-two back-shoulder throw; he was in phase, but was being tested often in the game.
Nic Jones had a great tackle for a loss on a screen, where he worked inside a stalk block and squared up to the receiver for the tackle. The sequence at the goal line, combined with the grabby nature of both Hood and Banks, leads this to a poor grade, despite a few wins.
Grade: D+
Safety
Tyler Nubin had a pass breakup that should have been flagged for early contact, but a flag flew for an offensive penalty – I’ll take it! Nubin played through the first half,as he attempts to secure his role as a starting safety on the roster. Jason Pinnock made a few plays from the back-side and from deep. Raheem Layne had a quality run fit on first-down from depth, showing physicality.
Grade: B
Special Teams
Braxton Berrios is trying to earn a roster spot and helped his case with a 14-yard punt return to start the Giants’ second offensive drive. Ben Sauls kicked his extra point and a 46-yard field goal to conclude the half. Jordan Stout has a MASSIVE leg and did an excellent job punting for the Giants, and Stout also pinned the Vikings back to the eight yard line with just over two-minutes left in the game, down by three. Stout is a difference maker.
Second-year wide receiver Dalen Cambre was the gunner on the first punt of the second half. He helped contain the returner and then hustled from behind to make the tackle. It was an impressive effort, and it’s plays like that which could ultimately propel Cambre into the final 53-man roster. It’s also noteworthy that Korie Black surrendered contain on the 26-yard Vikings’ return that was negated by a holding penalty.
Grade: A+
