Know Your Enemy rolls along with the New York Football Giants. Head Coach Brian Daboll is miraculously still there after a disastrous 2024 at 3-14 (1-8 at home, 2-6 on the road). Mike Kafka is the OC (16.1 PPG 31st offense) and Shane Bowen is the DC (24.4 PPG, average defense). Let’s review the “team”.
Offense
Let Russ Cook moves his tour from Seattle to Denver to Pittsburgh to New York. QB Russell Wilson was added for the departed Daniel Jones (Colts) along with Jaxson Dart (1st round from Ole Miss). Jameis Winston was added and will compete with Tommy Devito for the 3rd sting job. Russell Wilson has enough to be a starter but on a bad team it won’t be great. Look for Dart to take over later in the season.
The Giants have a big-time weapon in Malik Nabers (1,204 yards and 7 TDs) entering year 2. Wandale Robinson had some growth in the slot with 699 yards and 3 TDs in 2024. Veteran Darius Slayton is still there after 572 yards and 2 TDs and Jalin Hyatt is a backup with potential.
For any success, the Giants offensive line has to take a big jump. Andrew Thomas is a good Left tackle, but I don’t think Jon Runyan (LG from the Packers), Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten (RG) and Jermaine Eleumenor (RT) is the answer at all. Looks like a rough year for Giants QBs.
The run game was fine with Tyron Tracy 839 yards at 4.4 and 5 TDs. Devin Singletary is a solid veteran backup and rookie Cam Skattebo was added in Round 4 after a great year with Arizona State. Giants will need to run well or it will be even worse for Wilson.
This looks like a bottom 10 offense again despite LSU great Nabers.
Defense
Defense is a strength for them and was made stronger by selecting stud EDGE Abdul Carter from Penn State. Carter is a menace and adds to Brian Burns and high pick from 2022 Kyron Thibodeaux. The Giants might may have a strong pass rush.
Dexter Lawrence is a beast nose tackle but Roy Robertson Harris and Rakeem Nunez Roches are just veteran average starting DEs in the 3-4 run by the Giants.
At LB Bobby Okrekeke and Micah McFadden are nothing to write home about, so I won’t.
In the secondary, the Giants made some changes and are hoping for development. Deonte Banks enters year 3 as a first round pick, Paulson Adebo added from the Saints and 2024 3rd round picks Dru Phillips mans the slot. Tyler Nubin is the 2024 2nd round pick they want to grow alongside new addition Jevon Holland (from Miami). Cordale Flott, Dan Belton and Anthony Johnson isn’t much depth.
The Giants have a strong pass rush and nose tackle and a secondary that could be decent unless injured. Looks like another average defense for the Giants which is a bad combination with a bad offense. Carter could be a game wrecker though and help boost the Giants defense.
The Giants visits the Bears in Week 10 and the Lions in Week 12. The Giants host Green Bay in Week 11 and Minnesota in Week 16. All of the North could be facing rookie Jaxson Dart by that time. This game should be a win for all four North teams. Moving on.