WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
- QB Russell Wilson
- LT James Hudson III
- LG Jon Runyan Jr.
- C John Michael Schmitz
- RG Greg Van Roten
- RT Jermaine Eluemunor
- TE Theo Johnson
- WR Wan’Dale Robinson
- WR Zach Pascal
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.
In what has become a yearly tradition around the league, reporters spent all week trying to get head coaches to share if starters will play in the preseason. Brian Daboll didn’t provide much, other than confirming that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart would see playing time. Daboll did a lot of research on what other teams and veteran coaches have done in recent years but concluded there was not “one right formula.”
He did say, however, there is no substitute for playing the game.
“You have to tackle,” Daboll said. “You don’t do a whole lot [in practice]. Some people do some live tackling, but it’s not much. There’s no substitute for a quarterback when he knows he can get hit. There’s no substitute for an offensive guard cleaning the pocket or being very physical in the run game in gang tackling. That’s the game of football.”
That philosophy led to Russell Wilson making his Giants debut. The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback started and completed his first six passes to four different targets for 28 yards. The seventh was tipped at the line and the Giants settled for a 53-yard field goal by Graham Gano. The opening drive stalled after two penalties (a false start followed by holding) on Hudson.
“Being a pro and a vet that’s been doing it for a long time, you can feel that at practice, you can feel that out there today,” general manager Joe Schoen said on the broadcast about Wilson. “The ball just comes out quick. There aren’t any defenses that he hasn’t seen before. He’s got very good command of the offense, and I feel like you felt that today.”
Daboll said before the game that all starters without an injury concern would play. “I think that’s what our team needs,” he said.
“We’ve got to be ready to play when September comes,” Schoen added.
Rookie Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall draft pick, entered the game when Wilson and the starters departed after the opening drive. The Ole Miss career passing leader completed his first attempt, a nine-yard gain to Pascal. But it was the second drive that will have Giants fans excited for the future.
After a long catch-and-run by wide receiver Montrell Washington, a common connection at training camp, Dart showed his timing and anticipation on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey on the left side of the end zone.
The Giants took a 16-10 lead into halftime, and Dart’s day ended there. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, good for a 106.0 passer rating. He also ran for a team-high 24 yards on six carries.
Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick from Purdue, turned heads while playing both tackle positions in his NFL debut.
“We were talking at halftime like it’s been kind of quiet over there on the right side,” Schoen said. “It seems like Mbow is doing a good job. We’ll have to watch the film, but he’s done a good job thus far. When we don’t recognize them, you don’t hear their name, that’s typically a good thing at the tackle position.”
Andrew Thomas remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The standout left tackle underwent surgery last season after suffering a foot injury against Cincinnati on Oct. 13. Running back Eric Gray is also on PUP.
Jameis Winston was the third quarterback to enter the game, taking over to start the second half. He completed seven of 11 passes for 62 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown to Gunner Olszewski. The wide receiver and noted special teamer returned to the team last week after Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffered a torn Achilles. After the touchdown, rookie tight end Thomas Fidone II hauled in Winston’s pass for the successful two-point conversion.
