N.Y. Giants: Offense Rises to the Occasion

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK FOUR

Giants  27

SAINTS  21

OVERTIME

Daniel Jones and the Offensive Side of the Ball Finally Carry the Defense to Victory

• ICYMI: Joe Judge Plants His Flag

An overtime win makes it even more meaningful.

The Giant third-year quarterback has actually done a lot of things right this season.  But an 0-3 start didn't bear that out.  

After four weeks, it can now be said Daniel Jones and Kenny Golladay pose a legitimate threat.  Golladay caught six passes for 116 yards, and Jones was 28/40 for a career-high 402 yards.  It marks only the sixth time he's eclipsed 300-yards passing and the first since his rookie season, which also means the first time under Jason Garrett.

In the absence of Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, rookie Kadarius Toney made his first start, catching six passes on nine targets for 78 yards.

Saquon Barkley accounted for 18 touches for 126 total yards and the game-winning touchdown.  His actual effectiveness lay in six catches for 74 yards, including a 54-yard reception for a score.  Five other catches for 20 yards is still worth its while.  He rushed 13 times for 52 yards with a long of 17 yards.  Minus the long, he rushed 12 times for 25 yards, an average of 2.9 yards per run.  More importantly, he capped off a nine-play 75-yard drive with a six-yard romp into the endzone for the winning score.  

All told, Barkley and Devontae Booker rushed 14 times for 58 yards, and I have a big problem with that. Four scrambles by Daniel Jones gave the Giants an even twenty running attempts for the game.  That's nowhere near enough.

Why on earth did Devontae Booker only rush one time, and why the hell is Evan Engram and Kadarius Toney rushing at all?  The answer is clearly Jason Garrett, who continues to hinder this offense.

The Hog Mollies yielded no sacks and just six quarterback touches.  But the Giants only achieved four first downs via the run, whereas the Saints gained nine first downs on the ground.  In fact, the Saints rushed 33 times for 142 yards (minus QB) and possessed the ball for 37:31 minutes.

That's what I want ...

Playing without Blake Martinez, linebacker Tae Crowder tied Logan Ryan with a team-high nine tackles.  Leonard Williams assisted on five tackles with only one solo stop.  Said another way, the Giants generated no sacks and no pressure - not one quarterback hit.  Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara outran the entire Giants' team.  He pounded the ball 26 times, mainly up the middle for 120 yards, and only had a long of ten yards.

But a win is a win, is a win.

N.Y. Giants: Defense Singing the Offensive Blues

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Go West Young Men!

WEEK FOUR

New York Giants

vs.

Los Angeles Rams

FROM

Spanking New Stadium

Lost in the Offensive Ordeal is a Representative Effort on Defense 

What if I said the Giants and Patriots were tied on defense in total yards allowed.  It's true.  Both are presently tied for twelfth with 1,073 yards allowed.  They're essentially allowing per week the same amount of yardage as the Saints, Chiefs, Patriots and even a few yards less than the Packers.  Only difference being is the aforementioned teams are playoff contenders if not Super Bowl contenders and the Giants are not.

In the meantime, Patrick Graham's defense has given up the tenth least yards passing, averaging 234 yards per game.  They've generated eight sacks (four by linebackers and three by the line) and 19 other QB hits, and recovered one fumble.  They've so far yielded the fourteenth most yards rushing (369), averaging 123 yards per game and are smack dab in the middle of the league in points allowed, averaging 26.3 points per game.

Now consider they've been on the field an average of 34:39 per game.  The San Francisco Back-Ups held the ball for 39:44 minutes.  In fact, all these numbers are quite polluted by last week's game against the Niners.

The fact that linebacker Blake Martinez is leading the team in tackles is a good thing.  Corner backs Julian Love and Logan Ryan are second and third respectively.  Fourth in is linebacker Lorenzo Carter; defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is fifth; defensive end Leonard Williams, sixth.  This is a good (not ideal) spread all things considered.  You don't want your corner backs leading the team in tackles for obvious reasons.

Otherwise, all the above speaks very well for this young defense.  

I can't say that about the other side of the ball.  The Giants are near last in passing and dead last in rushing.  I have so far seen zero offensive creativity much less adaptability from Jason Garrett.  I do not foresee much changing this week.  I just keep my eye on the offensive line and wait.