We. Are. Back.
QUARTERBACK
We saw all four quarterbacks play in this one with the obvious draw coming from rookie first rounder Jaxson Dart. Before I get to him, just know the group of Russell Wilson, Dart, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito went a combined 35/51 for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Brian Daboll was beaming in post-game interviews and the main catalyst to both that and the team’s preseason win came from that group of four.
-Jaxson Dart: 12/19 – 154 yards / 1 TD – 0 INT / 106.0 RAT
Dart added a team-high 24 yards on the ground on just three carries. His 19-yard gain in the second quarter was the longest rushing gain of the day. He was in the game early on, playing with the second string offense and the plan put together by Daboll was well thought out. They called several quick, one-read plays where he got the ball out in a hurry. They implemented some ball fakes and screens. Then they put him into more traditional drop backs where Dart went through multiple reads and threw to all levels. There were two things I was most impressed by, while avoiding any sort of overreaction. One, Dart evaded pressure multiple times. He could have easily been sacked three or four times but his anticipation, footwork, and strength opened an avenue to him extending the play. Second, Dart’s arm talent and arm versatility were on display and it looked natural, not robotic. He easily changed up tempo, touch, and release points based on the situation and surrounding elements. These two variables will be vital to Dart’s eventual progression in this league. While playing quarterback at a consistently high level includes several elements, these are constants I see from the best of the best. Dart won from the pocket and there wasn’t much more I was hoping to see in his inaugural game day action. This was an excellent starting point.
The rest of the NYG passers cannot be overlooked. They combined for 23/32 – 153 yards / 2 TD – 0 INT. Russell Wilson, the unquestioned starter, barely played. They had him in for one drive and called a bunch of quick hitters. Winston and DeVito played in the second half and both played a key role in the come-from-behind victory with a touchdown and clean football. A lot of teams think their backup quarterbacks will be sought after via trade, and I heard the broadcast discussing their likely employment after preseason. Barring injury, DeVito will be on the practice squad which leaves him vulnerable to being scooped up by any other team. His arm talent and twitch looked explosive whereas Winston did (and always has) looked a bit lethargic. Winston is the more proven NFL quarterback, however. He also has a (much) larger financial commitment when it comes to guaranteed money. On tape, this is a closer competition than many give attention to but I’m not sure it matters much.
RUNNING BACK
-Dante Miller: 10 att – 22 yards / 7 rec – 80 yards
Things are going to get interesting in this NYG backfield. The top three are obvious and that could be it. But a hamstring injury to rookie fourth rounder Cam Skattebo and knee injury to Eric Gray opened the door for the explosive Miller. His 17 touches were, by far, the most of any Giants skill position player. The next closest was 9 touches by fellow running back Jonathan Ward. Miller was just OK as a rusher but he caught all seven targets and nearly all of his yards came after the catch. For a passing game that needs help, Miller bringing in all seven of his targets and finishing with 11+ yards per reception has to get the attention of coaches. Remember, this is a sub 4.3-speed kind of guy.
-Ward gained just five yards on three carries but he caught 4 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown, a simple throw to the flat which was unaccounted for by the defense. Devin Singletary saw some action as the number two back, gaining 3 yards on 2 carries. When it comes to the depth chart of this group, Ward is likely vying for a practice squad spot. The sixth-year pro can make a name for himself as a smart and effective pass protector. In limited snaps, he performed well there in this game.
WIDE RECEIVER
-Montrell Washington: 3 rec – 60 yards / 1 att – 3 yards
No Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Jalin Hyatt opened the door for some others. Washington was the one who took the biggest bite out of the opportunities. The 2022 fifth rounder from Denver spent both 2023 and 2024 off and on the Kansas City practice squad. He has been flashing throughout training camp and he easily looked like the best receiver on the field Saturday. He had a 29-yard catch that was essentially all him. He made four defenders miss in a phone booth and had he not slipped at the end of the play, it could have gone for six. All three of his catches went for a first down and the incomplete targets were either a result of poor throws or passes batted at the line. On a team that has significant concerns in the receiver room, a guy who flashes like Washington has in both practice and games deserves a hard, long look. His play speed and ability to create is on a different level than those he is competing with.
-Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Zach Pascal were the veteran starters. The former caught a 28-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown ball where he created minimal downfield separation. This possession receiver was never a guy who won with burst and speed, but his late hands and play-strength are nice complements to the receiver room. Pascal caught one pass for 9 yards on a rather uneventful afternoon.
-Also catching one pass a piece were Wan’Dale Robinson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Jordan Bly. Gunner Olszewski, who will need special teams to factor in for his roster spot, caught a touchdown (and 4 short passes) from Winston. He nearly came down with a nicely thrown deep ball by DeVito, but he failed to bring it in.
TIGHT END
-Theo Johnson was on the field and looked healthy when examining his foot speed and balance. He caught both targets for short gains and did not have an opportunity to create after the catch. This is a big year for the second-year pro who finished behind only All-Pro Brock Bowers in per-game metrics last season among rookies at the position. There was not enough in the blocking department to comment on that, but he did get jolted early on and struggled to recover.
-Rookie Thomas Fidone II is the guy I watched the most in review. Daniel Bellinger at this point is what he is. A backup-only without a standout trait but is good enough to stay on the field in a variety of situations. Fidone, who has had an up-and-down camp to this point, caught all three targets for 23 yards and brought in a two-point conversion attempt with a defender draped all over him. Those positives overshadowed a false start penalty. As a blocker, he looked aggressive and twitchy at the second level on the move. For a rookie seventh rounder, all I want to see is aggression and hustle. He checked those boxes.
OFFENSIVE LINE
-Before I dive into specifics, I will say the group overall (starters and backups) was outstanding. I watch a lot of preseason football every year and the lack of ability along the offensive lines is always alarming. This is a key reason why there is so much volatility with teams year to year. A couple injuries up front and things can get ugly fast. NYG won the battle up front. For perspective, their pressure rate allowed as a team (17%) would have ranked sixth in the NFL last year, if they maintained that kind of performance all season. NYG was at 26% last year, second worst in the league by the way.
-Let’s start off with the tackles. Swing tackle, or at least the preseason favorite to be the swing tackle, James Hudson, allowed a pressure and was flagged on two straight plays, one of which was a hold. I did not like his stiffness post-snap. Always considered a quality athlete (in testing), Hudson has struggled to maintain quality lower body positioning and bend through engagement. On the other hand, Jeramine Eluemunor made it look easy in his limited snaps. His anchor, balance, and hand strength looked excellent.
-The talk of the week in regard to the tackles likely revolves around rookie Marcus Mbow. The fifth rounder was a guy I projected to best fit inside in the NFL. He has been working mostly at tackle and I can see why. The foot speed he showed on tape at Purdue along with the body control has followed him to the NFL. It was a rough start with a TFL and pressure that led to a pass break up at the line, but this was an above average game for Mbow had this been a regular-season game. I will touch on him more below.
-There was only one actual negative grade/outlook I had from the group and it was Jake Kubas. He allowed two pressures (on just 21 pass block snaps) and fell off a couple blocks in the run game. He appeared to struggle with hand techniques much like the kind of struggles I see when a player just can’t hang with the speed of the game. Kubas makes aggressive mistakes, which we can live with.
-The best surprise of the day was Joshua Ezeudu. While I want to see him tested more against speed, his balance and timing were excellent. He looked comfortable in pass protection and avoided the panic we have seen a ton over his short career to this point. He also created a lot of movement in the run game and that is where I think this team can lean hard into. He is a mauler when he is confident.
-There is a credible competition along the interior. Kubas is in the picture but Aaron Stinnie looked firm and athletic. He has a lot of experience and the floor seems higher with him in there. We have seen the bottom fall out from the interior and I feel his presence can help steady some things if injuries arose.
EDGE
-The defensive front is, by far, the strength of the roster. If there is a true difference making unit, this is it. The trio of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie Abdul Carter all saw about a handful of snaps. Burns made a play down the field following a completed pass showing a high level of hustle, and Carter made a very solid lineman, Dion Dawkins, look silly multiple times. He had 2 pressures on 3 pass rush snaps as he showed off an elite level of lateral quickness and bend. I’ve gotten into it with a few people regarding the tightness of Thibodeaux. Some will reply he can bend at the knee with good pad level but tightness goes deeper than that. Carter’s ability to move laterally is a clear example of what I mean. He is hard to touch because he can change his direction so smoothly, so fast.
-The primary backup edge defenders, Tomon Fox and rookie Trace Ford, combined for 5 pressures. It may be a result of watching Fox for 3+ years now and simply knowing what he is by now, but Ford stood out more. His twitch and slippery pass rush style looked more effective whereas Fox seems to struggle to win via movement.
DEFENSIVE LINE
-The standout of the group (that did not include Dexter Lawrence) was D.J. Davidson. The fourth-year fifth rounder is in a contract year and has flashed elite power since the start of his career. I think he is a guy who can stick around for a long time and may not be appreciated much until he’s gone. He had a sack and disrupted the BUF running game a couple times. At the very least he is a solid run defender, but he continues to, on occasion, show a pass rush upside that can be a true difference-maker. Jordan Riley also recorded a sack and brings a similar style of play.
-Free agent signing Roy Robertson-Harris was a guy I loved when he was with Chicago from a developmental side. He is massive and penetrates from all angles of the defensive line but his run defense has a lot of hit-or-miss to it. Now 32-years old, he is purely here for depth and the occasional flash play. He looked fast and powerful as he had two pressures, one of which resulted in an incomplete pass. He was also flagged for a questionable roughing penalty.
-Rookie Darius Alexander played 22 snaps, majority of which were as a pass rusher. I liked the get off and bend but there wasn’t much post-contact that he showed. Cory Durden, who was signed off the Rams practice squad, showed more in his limited snaps. Alexander’s usage will be interesting to follow because he is a guy who clearly needs to develop but he may not be one of the best nine linemen on this team right now.
LINEBACKER
-Micah McFadden and Bobby Okereke got the start but played under ten snaps. McFadden caused an incompletion with a huge hit and showed an explosive, instinctive trigger.
-Dyontae Johnson and K.J. Cloyd saw the most snaps. Both have their fans but Johnson is the one worth keeping an eye on. He looks bigger and more physical with the same lateral speed. Both got into trouble between the tackles but they did finish with four takedowns a piece.
-Chris Board, who is known for special teams, missed a tackle and allowed a touchdown in limited action.
CORNERBACK
-It was interesting to see how long Deonte Banks stayed in the game. The rest of the starters were out quickly but he remained in for another 12 plays. The 2023 first rounder struggled to locate the ball downfield while his hands were draped over the receiver. He did not get flagged but that is where his game can tend to get messy. The talent remains solid but the skill set and nuances of the position are not there.
-The other starters, Paulson Adebo and Dru Phillips, played fine in limited action. Phillips did miss a tackle, though Adebo made one for a loss after a short completion. He is coming off a broken leg, remember, and the movement traits looked fluid.
-Nic Jones struggled mightily. He allowed all six targets thrown his way to be completed, one of which for a touchdown. There appeared to be a miscommunication on the play which happened a couple times in the middle of the field. Rookie O’Donnell Fortune also received an earful for a long completion allowed at the end of the first half in an obvious prevent situation.
-If there was one corner I liked on film who I did not expect, it was Dee Williams. He was thrown at a handful of times and allowed just one underneath pass to be completed.
SAFETY
-NYG has a very solid trio at this position. Starters Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin played under ten snaps, but it was Belton who played longer and looked solid. He made two impressive tackles after fighting off blocks. One was in space, one was in the box.
-Backups Raheem Layne and Makari Paige dominated the snaps and flashed. There were multiple miscommunications with them on the field, and while I won’t pretend to know who was at fault, safeties are supposed to provide the guidance. Layne got beat deep, but a late swipe of the ball after the catch knocked it loose and caused an incompletion.
SPECIAL TEAMS
-K Graham Gano: 3/3 (Made 53,50, 51)
-K Jude McAtamney: Made 42
-P Jamie Gillan: 4 punts / 45.3 avg – 42.5 net
3 STUDS
-RB Dante Miller, QB Jaxson Dart, K Graham Gano
3 DUDS
-OT James Hudson, LB Chris Board, CB O’Donnell Fortune
3 THOUGHTS ON BUFFALO
(1) This was a team I was off on last year. I felt it was going to be a reload-year as they had to start paying Josh Allen and wave goodbye to other assets they could no longer pay. I was wrong. This is what happens when you have an elite quarterback paired with chemistry within the coaching staff. Josh Allen may be the next quarterback you simply cannot bet against, period. While he is not the most traditional dual threat-type, Allen can and does win in a variety of ways. He is a more explosive version of what Ben Roethlisberger was when it comes to how hard it is to get him to the ground, and the fact he just shows up over and over.
(2) There is one player I will have my eye on when it comes to roster cuts. His name came up a few times in the BUF broadcast. It is second year undrafted cornerback Te’Cory Couch out of Miami. He is undersized (5’11/180) but the footwork and ball skills stand out just as they did at Miami. He was productive in college with, by far, his best season coming in 2023. He likely won’t make the final 53 and if NYG wants to go discount shopping to fill a potential hole at corner, he is on my short list.
(3) I am projecting BUF to win the division. Partially it is a result of a division in transition and without much credible competition. And the other half of it is the blend of safe but high ceiling moves they made in free agency. Adding Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht to an already solid group of edge defenders keeps the floor high and ceiling sky-high. Larry Ogunkobi continues to be an underrated asset to the interior of a defensive line. And the fact they spent five straight picks on the defensive side of the ball in the draft (three linemen and two defensive backs) creates a safe feeling for the defense on a team that is run by Allen. This is always a well thought out organization that executes their vision at a high level.
3 CLOSING THOUGHTS
(1) It is not common for NFL teams to move a rookie right to left and then back to right in the same game. That is exactly what they did with Mbow and he took everything in stride, looking comfortable and effective. I talked about his performance above and while there was some good and bad, he steadily improved throughout the game. The fact he played both sides (43 on right, 6 on left) is a good sign and something to keep an eye on. Hudson, the current swing tackle, looked notably worse and while it is way too soon to react strongly in any direction, Mbow could be an absolute godsend if something is not right with Andrew Thomas. His absence has crushed this offensive line over the past two years and if the floor can remain high enough with Mbow in there, that is a borderline game-changer for this offense.
(2) The biggest positive takeaway? The play of the offensive line. Yes, even over Dart’s impressive pro debut. The line holds they keys to the bus when it comes to functional, competitive football. And this was without their All-Pro caliber left tackle on the field at all. The coaching change they made a year ago may end up being one of the best moves this regime makes. The biggest negative takeaway? The secondary and receivers groups have significant question marks when it comes to depth. This front office needs to scour the market when cuts start happening because that is where one or more answers will reside.
(3) Other than clean and healthy football, what should we be looking for against the Jets this weekend? Hopefully Evan Neal and Jalin Hyatt can get on the field because those two can make a notable difference to the team’s depth chart. While neither are considered starters, I would put money on the fact they will be relied upon this year. It could be a make or break season for both here. And while keeping the defensive front healthy is vital, I’d like to see how this defense responds to Carter being on the field at the same time as Burns and Thibodeaux. As I said earlier, this is the superpower of the team overall and the question I had was whether or not Shane Bowen was the guy to handle the role of this unit.