Giants report card: Brian Daboll's first game as play-caller was a complete disaster | New York Post
What do they often say? It's not the plays, it's the players. Well, Brian Daboll better hope that is true because his debut as the play-caller on offense was an abject disaster. There were no answers to be found. The first game for defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was nothing special -- allowing a 99-yard drive was brutal and his vow to stop the run was not realized. There was no crispness to much that went on out there.
"There's a lot of things to clean up. I've got to do a better job all the way around and that's what I'll do," Daboll said in his postgame press conference. The Giants ran 17 more plays than the Vikings, but were outgained by more than 70 yards and Jones was 22-of-42 while being sacked five times.
Jones only completed a smidge over 50 percent of his passes, while New York running back Devin Singletary ran for 37 yards on 10 carries. Minnesota's coverage and pass rush groups were stout. They hit Jones 10 times. They sacked him four times. They also had five pass deflections.
Jones never looked in sync against the Vikings and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. His throws skipped at the feet of receivers in key spots. He double-clutched far too many times. It's everything critics say defines Jones' play, and why the Giants are not going to rebound this season with him at the helm of the offense.
Despite the quarterback's latest clunker, head coach Brian Daboll didn't sound like someone ready to make a change at quarterback.
"We're going to watch everything," he said in response to the question, adding, "That's not in my mind."
But this game was most an indictment on Jones. He missed open receivers, which thwarted drives. He held the ball too long, which led to sacks (five). Daboll calling plays was supposed to mean a more aggressive attack. Instead, Jones attempted just one pass beyond 20 yards. There were chances to stretch the field, Jones seemed to second-guess what he was seeing.
One more performance like this and it's time for a change. First impressions are usually the right impressions. There's enough evidence now to illustrate Jones is the player Schoen thought he was when he declined his fifth-year option, and not the one he handed that $160-million extension.
Stock Down | New York Giants. Daniel Jones might have to worry about his contract structure eventually getting him benched. But if he keeps playing like he did in New York's Week 1 loss to the Vikings, Jones might get pulled before any financial questions come into play.
Starting nickel cornerback Dru Phillips wasn't the only rookie to have his hand in a takeaway. Linebacker Darius Muasau, a sixth-rounder from UCLA who started on Sunday, intercepted a pass that was tipped high in the air by a charging Lawrence near the end of the third quarter.
The booing started just six minutes into the season opener, and if that seemed premature, just know that the paying customers at MetLife Stadium can smell a gridiron disaster before it even begins to unfold. They have developed something akin to a sixth sense for bad football.
They see dead teams.
He didn't want to talk too much about the past, explaining that he still has a lot of good relationships with players and coaches from the Giants, admitting that Brian Daboll even reached out earlier on Friday to wish his luck in his Eagles debut.
"I'm thankful for the last six years that I had in New York. I wouldn't be the man I am today without it, and I still got great relationships with all those guys. I even talked to [Brian] Daboll today, he wished me luck. So, still having a great relationship with those guys, but I'm just happy to be here, happy to be with this organization, and I just look forward to the future."
Washington's veteran backup will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks.
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