THE STORYLINE:
BBI has been around since 1995. During that time, we’ve experienced the eras of Dan Reeves, Jim Fassel, Tom Coughlin, Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Brian Daboll. During these up-and-down 30 years, there has been the joy of two NFL Championships, three Super Bowl appearances, and 10 playoff seasons as well as the pain of 20 seasons where the team failed to make the post-season. The glorious and embarrassing. The point is, we’ve seen it all, the whole gambit.
Unless this current team reverses course in the second half of the season, this has the feel of yet another dying regime. It’s not just the win-loss record, or the questionable coaching, but the growing background noise (Daboll asserting the QB change was his alone, players only meetings, players mouthing off in tunnels, tension between old and new players, planted newspaper stories about how well the front office is working). It all has the feel of passengers on the Titanic realizing there are only so many lifeboats and everyone is positioning themselves not to be left without one.
I hate to tell you guys and gals, but I’m tired of all this bullshit. For more than a decade, this once-proud franchise has been mismanaged into oblivion. Ownership has made one bad decision after another. Do they even recognize it? Are they living in denial? That, more than anything, worries me about the future. There is talent on this team. Outsiders looking in can see this team has a rising star at quarterback, a #1 receiver, a tone-setter at RB, a left tackle, and a dangerous pass rush. Those are all of the sweet spots. This will be an attractive destination for hot coaching prospects, provided they are not turned off by ownership and the general manager. But it also depends on the ability of ownership to hire the right man for the job. For 10 years, they have failed miserably doing so. Four failures… McAdoo, Shurmur, Judge, Daboll. They are 0-for-4.
Daboll can still save himself, but there is not much time left. My guess is we are simply witnessing the final stages before another change is made in January. Then all eyes will be on ownership. Will they continue to fuck this up?
THE INJURY REPORT:
- WR Beaux Collins (quad – probable)
- WR Jalin Hyatt (tooth – probable)
- TE Daniel Bellinger (neck – doubtful)
- TE Chris Manhertz (illness – probable)
- RT Jermaine Eluemunor (pec – doubtful)
- DL/OLB Chauncey Golston (neck – probable)
- CB Paulson Adebo (knee – out)
- CB Cor’Dale Flott (concussion – out)
- CB Art Green (hamstring – out)
- CB Rico Payton (groin – questionable)
- S Jevon Holland (knee – questionable)
- S Tyler Nubin (foot – probable)
GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
It is my belief that Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo were the reasons why many fans of this team were still tuning in. And the Football Gods – once again – decided to rip our hearts out by having Skattebo suffer a career-threatening injury. All teams suffer injuries, but this franchise has lost more “star” offensive players over the course of the last decade than any other, to the point where it has sabotaged their careers. It’s another reason why energy is being sapped from the fanbase.
As I’ve pointed out since my Chargers preview in late September, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is being unfairly called upon to save everyone. He already lost Malik Nabers. Now the emotional and physical spark plug – Skattebo – is gone. It all seems very unfair. But Dart keeps plugging along, being named “Offensive Rookie of the Month” due to his first four games as a starter. This despite having the worst group of wideouts in the NFL. It’s gotten so bad that the guy Joe Schoen traded up for in 2023, Jalin Hyatt, was a healthy scratch last week and has been passed by the likes of Beaux Collins and now possibly Ray-Ray McCloud.
The Giants will have to continue to emphasize the ground game, which will be worse due to the loss of Skattebo, and the passing game to the tight ends and running backs. That will severely limit Dart’s options, as we saw last weekend in Philadelphia. He also needs guys like Theo Johnson and Darius Slayton to stop dropping passes.
Big picture moving past 2025? Dart needs better talent around him. The team needs to add another guard, add at least two new wide receivers, and pray that Nabers and Skattebo recover quickly.
GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
In last week’s preview, I wrote “Shane Bowen is clearly over his head. Worse, he’s not learning from his mistakes.” He should have been fired after the Denver loss. And as I’ve said for months, Daboll’s inability to get the defensive coordinator right is going to cost him his job. Nothing I’ve witnessed has changed my mind. Bowen sucks and he’s going to get Daboll fired, and rightfully so.
That said, this is a franchise problem. In the last decade, the defensive coordinators for the New York Giants have been James Bettcher, Patrick Graham, Wink Martindale, and Shane Bowen. That’s horrific.
Once again, the NYG defense is near dead last. Bowen has no idea to stop the run, none. His pass rush is being wasted. And now his secondary, which was playing too soft and predictable – is down three corners, including two starters. On Sunday, Korie Black, Rico Payton, or Jarrick Bernard-Converse will have to start. Who?
Match-ups don’t matter when you are completely out-classed on the coaching front.
GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
I still can’t get over how the kicking situation has bitten this regime. Graham Gano is back, but why do I have this gnawing feeling that this isn’t over yet.
QUOTES:
Shane Bowen on the defense: “Obviously (last) Sunday, didn’t coach well enough, didn’t play well enough, tough to win games when you give up that many yards on the ground, the explosive runs. We have another big challenge this week. We’re going to have to get things fixed.”
THE FINAL WORD:
The San Francisco 49ers have been slammed with injuries this year. But they are 5-3 because they are well-coached, well-run organization. The Giants are not.
I’m in countdown mode until January.