Tyrod or Tommy? Which QB Makes Most Sense for Giants in Final Games?
The New York Giants were able to take the Philadelphia Eagles down to the wire before losing, and while there were no moral victories, they once again showed that they had not given up on the season.
Now that they have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, the front office and coaching staff have to decide who plays the season's final two games, and one of the positions is at quarterback.
Rookie Tommy DeVito started and followed up a flat performance against New Orleans with a bad showing in Philadelphia. A showing so bad that he was benched at halftime in favor of Tyrod Taylor.
"He wanted to have a spark or change, anything we could have," DeVito said when asked about what he was told at halftime by head coach Brian Daboll. "I understand it's a business. We weren't scoring enough points, so the change was made. That was that."
After the Monday night win over the Packers, the consensus between fans and the Giants decision-makers was that DeVito should start the rest of the season even though Taylor was ready to return from injury and played well before he was hurt.
"Tommy Cutlets" had captured the hearts and imaginations of a fanbase who felt resigned to another horrible season. That decision was met with disappointment from Taylor, who felt he should be allowed to play, but as always, he handled it like a professional. So when Daboll called his number to start the second half, you knew he would be ready to perform.
"I have said this from day one, ever since 2011 when I got drafted, regardless of my position on the roster, I treat every day as if I was starting," Taylor said when asked if he was ready to go. "I prepare mentally and physically with my mindset going into a game. I felt prepared."
So now the question becomes who goes forward for the next two games. Many of the same reasons still exist to play DeVito down the stretch as existed following the Packers victory.
These last two games could be an opportunity for DeVito to show that he could have a role on this team next season, so living thrush hours of growing pains would not be a bad idea if you want to see what he can do and how he responds to adversity. But what about the rest of the offensive players?
Head coach Brian Daboll, during his Tuesday video conference, said the staff would discuss who would get the start on Sunday against the Rams. Some believe that if the Giants are intent on winning these last few games, they will go with Taylor, whom many believe the team will move on from after the season.
However, many others could still be a part of the Giants future and deserve a chance to put their best foot forward or continue their development, DeVito included, along with decisions on who to keep from the receiving corps.
Taylor is simply the better passer. The intermediate and deep passing games come alive when he is in the game. Even at 34, he still throws one of the best deep balls in the NFL. Darius Slayton, Darren Waller, and Jaylin Hyatt seem to come alive when he's in the game. His poise in the pocket and ability to keep the play alive by manipulating the pocket allows receivers to work to get open.
DeVito has been good on passes when he gets rid of the ball quickly, normally on short routes. The result is that players who stretch the field are limited in effectiveness.
It has seemed like a struggle for Hyatt outside of his performance against the Patriots, where he recorded his first and only 100-yard performance of his career. In the six other games that DeVito has been at quarterback, he has five catches for 39 yards.
For a guy who has been used as a deep threat, he needs to have opportunities. If the offense is tailored to a quarterback who performs much better with short, quick throws, it does not favor a talent like Hyatt. In the three games since the bye week, Hyatt has played 115 snaps.
He has been targeted six times and has had two receptions for 13 yards. That is surprisingly ineffective for a player coming off his best game as a pro. Over that same three-game stretch, second-year receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, who is used more underneath in short routes and quick passes, has 18 targets, 13 receptions, and 120 yards.
Tyrod brings the explosive element back to the offense, allowing the explosive player to utilize their gifts. "I think he made some big-time throws," Slayton said when asked about Taylor's impact when he came in the game. "The one to me was probably the biggest. It was a great ball there, but he made other great throws. It was a great decision."
Waller, whose two receptions came in the second half once Taylor was inserted, may have given the simplest reason for Taylor's effectiveness in the game. "He made the plays available to him," Waller responded when asked if he felt Taylor gave the team a spark.
Over the final two games of this season, that type of spark could answer a lot of questions going into a busy offseason where so many will be looking for answers.
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