Peter Duhamel asks: In your post-game analysis you opined that removing Dart for a blue tent evaluation “was the right call,” noting that he “lay on the field for several nerve-wracking seconds before getting to his feet. Checking him was the right decision.”
As I understand it, mid-game medical evaluations are mandated for potential concussion or orthopedic injuries. Dart, however, was hit in the mid-section and as he himself explained, he got the wind knocked out of him. Even Coach Harbaugh on the sidelines
was not concerned. I don’t understand your characterization of his recovery as being “nerve wracking” nor your conclusion that removing him from the game was “the right decision.”
Please explain so I can better understand. Thank you.
Ed says: Peter, let’s first clarify that that John Harbaugh said that he was not concerned about sending Dart back into the game AFTER he was checked for a concussion, and after checking with the player.
I will always say erring on the side of caution by checking a player for a concussion if upstairs spotters or on field officials have any concern is the right thing to do. It was 100% the right decision. Player health and safety should be paramount. In this case, Dart took a massive hit and laid motionless on the field for a few seconds before rolling over and getting up. Could anyone be sure whether he did or did not slam his head to the turf when he went down? No.
Of course it was “nerve wracking.” The starting quarterback, the future of the franchise, was laying on the ground after taking a huge hit in the firist quarter of the first preseason game. Concussion? Broken ribs? I would be surprised if most Giants fans didn’t think “oh, bleep” when they saw Dart on the ground. I don’t know how anyone could not have been concerned.
Ray Kochert asks: Do you think that the signing of Najee Harris is because John Harbaugh is not sure of the current running backs being able to pass block or pick up blitzers? Especially on 3rd down.
Ed says: No, Ray, I don’t think that is the reason. I understand the belief because it comes on the heels of the Tyrone Tracy missed block in the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, but that’s not it.
I saw Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post say on ‘X’ that he believes John Harbaugh and the Giants “liked’ their running back room, but did not ”love” it. I think that is 100% accurate.
Remember, the Giants seriously investigated the price tag for Kenneth Walker in free agency. The Giants looked hard at the possibility of drafting Jeremiyah Love. Many well-placed analysts believe they would have if Love had been available to them at No. 5. As much as Harbaugh loves the running game, I don’t believe that was just smoke.
Cam Skattebo is insanely popular, but his talent and production don’t match the hype. He can get tough yards, but he isn’t going to make big, explosive, chunk plays. Tracy is a good, but not close to great, back. Devin Singletary is dependable, but he isn’t a guy who want to build a ground game around.
I believe the Giants have been looking for a way to upgrade the play-making ability at that position. Harris has four 1,000-yard seasons, and was hurt the only year he didn’t reach that mark. He is the most accomplished back the Giants have. Skattebo fans are going to want to crucify me for this, but if he is healthy and is the same player he was pre-injury, Harris will be the Giants’ best back by season’s end.
That is why the Giants added Harris.
Brayden Martell asks: Will Odell Beckham Jr. get his number 13 back?
Ed says: Brayden, the better, more important question is whether or not Beckham will make the team. Right now, I think that’s a 50-50 proposition. I might even trend toward saying I think it could be difficult for him to make the 53-man roster.
If everyone is healthy Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, and Braxton Berrios are making the team. That’s six guys. NFL teams often keep only six wide receivers. If the Giants keep a seventh wide receiver, there is an argument to be made that Dalen Cambre might have more value on game days than Beckham because he can be a core special teams player.
So, before you worry about Beckham’s jersey number, worry about whether or not he is going to get a jersey at all.
Michael Schack asks: With kicker issues we have had under Daboll, I am left wondering what is the plan for a backup kicker for the Giants? Harbaugh seems like someone who has a plan for everything. I looked back at Giants history and the last non-kicker day-game active on roster player who backed up as kicker (other than Feagles and Gillan, and Gillan was highly questionable, while my memory of Feagles was he was much better than Gillan) was Brad Van Pelt (a personal favorite player of mine), and before that Frank Gifford. Yes, we could try to sneak Sauls to practice squad, but that does not address the emergency game day situation. Is there anyone on the Giants potential 53 (or certain to be active game day) capable of being the emergency kicker? Does Harbaugh have a plan? And while I am at it, same question for long snapper, because we know the intricacies of placekicking includes a competent long snapper.
Ed says: Michael, as much as teams might want to they simply cannot cover every possibility when it comes to roster management. This isn’t college, where teams can have a roster of 105 players. They get 53. On game days, if you elevate two practice squad players, the most you can dress is 48.
Teams don’t carry extra punters or placekickers on their active rosters. It just isn’t practical on a weekly basis because it leaves you short elesewhere. In emergency in-game situations, the punters and placekickers generally cover for each other. I know that punter Jordan Stout has experience kicking off.
What happened with the Giants and Graham Gano the last few seasons was unusual. The mistake really wasn’t on game day, it was a couple of times when they knew Gano wasn’t 100% and they left themselves unprotected on game days.
It is the same with a long snapper. Nobody can carry a second “dedicated” long snapper. I honestly don’t know who the emergency snapper would be. I would think Harbaugh does.
Bob Donnelly asks: During the third quarter of the preseason game vs Minnesota Joe Schoen visited the broadcast booth. He discussed roster refinement as an ongoing process and that he was in contact with other GMs discussing the surplus of talent at some positions and desire to upgrade at others. The Faalele trade was no doubt the product of those discussions. This leads me to the question: Do you think that there will be another trade like Faalele‘s before the cutdown, and if so will the Giants be buyers or sellers.
Ed says: Bob, I think a deal or deals “could” happen. I also think the Giants could be on either end, buying or selling.
I keep saying this, but I won’t say deals are “likely”. There will be almost 1,200 players cut after the third preseason game. Teams will be able to help their rosters at that point without giving up assets, which lessens the trade market. Still, desperation to fill a specific need can lead to deals.
Could the Giants trade a wide receiver like Darnell Mooney to open a spot for, say, Odell Beckham Jr.? Maybe. Could they target, say, an interior defensive lineman and send back a late-round pick? Perhaps.
Could they swing big at cornerback and make offers to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Joey Porter Jr. or the New England Patriots for Christian Gonzalez? I don’t see it happening, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Donald Poucher asks: Ed, just looking for your opinion…we often see suggestions that we trade middle to bottle tier roster players for day 3 picks, e.g Slayton for a 6. Every team has these players. Why don’t we see trades of players with value where we have depth, to teams who have a similar situation at a different position? As an example I heard Patty T point out the Seahawks have an abundance of DT; they could use a receiver so a Slayton for a tackle may make sense. McFadden may be another example. No one will trade for Hyatt but we have other pieces where a value for value trade seems to make sense but seldom happens. Thoughts?
Ed says: Donald, the answer to this question is really in my answer to Bob Donnelly’s question. There will be almost 1,200 players cut at the end of the week. That means teams will be able to add players at positions of need without giving up assets.
Unless they are desperate to be sure they fill a need, or have a preferred player in mind they want to be sure they get, they will just wait until cuts are made.
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