Storylines Ahead of New York Giants' Week 4 Game vs. Seattle
For the third time in four games this season, the New York Giants will be a part of the prime-time slate, this time on Monday Night Football, which, along with Thursday Night Football and Sunday Night Football, hasn't been kind to these Giants.
Nevertheless, the game isn't going to be flexed into a more favorable Sunday afternoon slot. But at least the Giants, who were asked to play three games over 12 days, got an 11-day break in between to work on the numerous issues that have thus far popped up through three games before they have to play host to the Seattle Seahawks.
Here are some storylines that are certain to dominate the week ahead.
Will Saquon Be Ready?
That is the hope, considering the initially reported diagnosis on Barkley's ankle sprain (later revealed by him before the Thursday night television broadcast to be a high ankle sprain that isn't as bad as it could be).
Head coach Brian Daboll was hopeful of having Barkley available for last week's game against the 49ers, telling reporters that Barkley felt better and was a fast healer.
That said, no one was getting fooled that Barkley would be back four days after initially suffering the injury. And not for nothing, but the running back has a history of not exactly looking like himself when he rushes back to the field.
So while the Giants would love to have Barkley on the field Monday night, they also have to be smart about the running back's health for the long term, for if they rush him back and that ankle isn't right, and he gets his foot caught underneath him again, that wouldn't be a good thing.
What Will the O-Line Look Like This Week?
The Giants have had three different starting offensive lines in three weeks thanks to injury and performance.
Will this week make it a fourth? That could be if Andrew Thomas returns from a hamstring strain suffered in Week 1, and the team moves Joshua Ezeudu to left guard (if Ben Bredeson doesn't clear the protocol).
This forthcoming lineup will be the fourth different starting one the Giants will have fielded, as Thomas has yet to play a game with Marcus MeKethan in at right guard.
The bottom line is that the Giants need to figure out their best five and get them coached up accordingly because this musical chairs at the offense's most critical position isn't helping.
Other Injuries
We've mentioned Barkley and Andrew Thomas, two of the Giants injured, but there are more, including cornerback Deonte Banks, who injured his arm in last week's game, guard Ben Bredeson (concussion), and outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring).
The early feeling is that Banks and Bredeson should be good to go, even if they're limited this week in practice. Ojulari, however, remains a mystery with his latest lower-body injury.
The outside linebacker has now missed 12 games over the last two seasons, and his absence has been particularly glaring, considering the Giants don't have a solid third pass rusher to go along with Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Cleaning Up the Sloppiness
If anything can be cleaned up right away, it's the attention to detail to ensure the right personnel is on the field at any given time.
For three games now--more if we go back to the preseason--that hasn't been the case as the Giants have on at least one occasion per game been caught with either too many men on the field or not enough men on the field, such as on this play against the 49ers.
Regardless of the play's outcome, the Giants cannot continue to have these kinds of breakdowns at a rate of once per game, especially if they're forcing them to burn timeouts they might need later on.
Game Plan Tweaks
Thus far, rookie receiver Jalin Hyatt has played in 55 snaps but has only seen three pass targets, two of which he's caught for 89 yards, and both receptions going for first downs.
Hyatt has continued to show that whenever he is on the field, he can get open and leave defenders in the dust, yet for whatever reason, the young receiver has been an afterthought in the offense.
That needs to change, and if that means fewer pass targets for another receiver, then so be it. Head coach Brian Daboll always discusses having a plan for every player going into each game. While often the number of offensive plays run can muck up a plan, sometimes, when something isn't working early, it might not be a bad idea to change course to see if a backup plan works better.
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