My cousin Howie knows sports. He set me straight immediately after the 2023 draft, praising the pick of Jalin Hyatt in Round 3. It was prescient. Jalin Hyatt is going to be a star. Howie is back with some more candid observations on the Giants:
First off, let’s understand that even if Saquon does play that game, the result is the same. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage wins 99% of games in the NFL. Has this old precedent ever been more evident than in this game….? The Giants played against a superior Def Line – and not every Team will boast this type of talent; however once again it seemed like DJ had less than 2 seconds to either get rid of the ball or scramble to a spot where he could. I don’t recall ONE time where he stood in the pocket with some time to survey the field to find an open receiver. That said, even if he did, the WRs need to get separation, get OPEN – otherwise he has nowhere to throw the ball to. On that note – where the f**k was Jalin Hyatt…? Did the prior week NOT show the Coaching Staff that this man MUST be on the field for the majority of the offensive snaps ? Even if they don’t throw it to him, it will cause the secondary and even the Linebackers to drop back deeper away from the line of scrimmage to account for his speed. Did he do something in practice to cause the lack of playing time….? I am mystified by the lack of usage. While the Team and DJ I’m sure have seen just how many starting QB’s have gotten hurt, I still would have liked to have seen DJ make EARLY decisions to run for positive yardage amidst the immediate pressure. THAT is what can HELP future plays in the Def staying back to account for a scrambling QB. THAT is DJ’s biggest asset, and he barely utilized it ( plus the fact that anytime you can run away from Nick Bosa, you do it ). Somehow, some way they were still in it at 20-12 and as a Giants fan you thought to yourself “maybe if we hang around here and inject Hyatt into this game for a TD bomb we can actually be in it at the end”. Tough drop by Waller over the middle though the ball was thrown a tad behind him…but he’s got to make that catch to help his QB. As the 49ers continually drove downfield amidst NO pressure from the Giants Def aside from when they blitzed, this delusion was for naught. Why is it that no matter which Free Agent we sign, they don’t live up to the hype ? Bobby Okereke – has been awful. He can’t bring anyone down 1 vs 1 and has applied NO pressure on the opposing team’s backfield. The DL in general has applied ZERO pressure without an accompanying blitz. Thibodeau has been invisible so far this year. I thought Micah Mcfadden played his heart out – and was fearless in bringing down tough guys like McCaffrey 1 on 1 along with others. Darnay Holmes also played extremely well – and the penalty he took against Deebo on the hold was what you are taught. If you are going to get beat for a TD, take the penalty and live to fight another day. He didn’t know the ball would be overthrown and/or there was help from Pinnock on the way. Yes, he got beat 1 on 1 vs a big, fast and elusive WR, but aside from that one play was super. Mckinney – is it me or does it seem like he is always ONE STEP AWAY from getting there in time. always close, but NEVER in time to make the INT or deflection. always just the tackle – that is when he’s not being stiff-armed away.
Now on to the 49ers – Exactly how many years has Brock Purdy been the QB. DIdn’t he come in as the replacement to the replacement three times over last year in the end playoff run ? This guy seems as POISED in the pocket like he’s been back there for 10 years. Nothing flashy, but smart and decisive – with the instincts to throw early when needed and when to wait for separation. Deebo is an absolute beast, especially with the ball in his hands, almost impossible for a skinny safety to bring him down 1 on 1. So many weapons on Offense with McCaffrey and Kittle, and well coached.
While Giants fans are leaning on the “Had Barkley played” rhetoric, STOP! This team unfortunately has NO CHANCE due to their inability to BOTH protect their QB and apply any pressure on the opposing QB. Everyone else on the field, on both sides of the ball is a VICTIM of this ineffectiveness. If you don’t fix the head FIRST, then the arms and legs are irrelevant. Mr. Schoen, please FOCUS up front!