What We Learned from Giants' Preseason Finale Against the Jets

The preseason is done. Now comes the hard part.

Author:
Gene Clemons
Publish date:
Aug 27, 2023 11:33 AM EDT

In this story:

During the New York Giants' final preseason game of 2023, the majority of the starters were hanging out watching the game unfold. That left one final chance to look at the rest of the roster before final cuts happen at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29th.

The score of the game was insignificant, but there were definitely things we learned after watching the second and third-string players go against the starters for the Jets.

There are really tough decisions to make at Receiver.

Giants fans everywhere said that the team needed to put more receiving weapons around Daniel Jones. Well, the team did just that. But now talent is abundant on the team, and nobody has truly separated themselves to a point where it makes the decision a no-brainer for the GM and head coach.

In this game, David Sills proved once again that if he is given the snaps, he can be a reliable receiver in this offense. The West Virginia product finished with six catches on nine targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. The problem is there are a lot of receivers that feel the same way with more equity than Sills.

The flanker spot is being manned by Darius Slayton, who was on the most fragile bubble last season during training camp. He is not going anywhere after his 2022 performance, and it seems like Sterling Shepard is fighting it out with Sills for that backup spot.

We saw Shepard fielding punts in this final preseason game, which is amazing when you consider what he is returning from. Is the team throwing him a bone to showcase skills for other teams, or is the team saying we want him to be involved with this team in any way possible?

The slot position seems to be a crowded one for the team. We know Paris Campbell is in, and even though WanDale Robinson is likely to come off the PUP list soon, which means that Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder, who have both played well during the preseason and on camp, will likely be on the bubble while Jaydon Mickens and Khalil Pimpleton will be looking for another home or retained on the practice squad.

Isaiah Hodgins currently mans the X receiver, but Jaylin Hyatt is in the Giants' immediate offensive plans. He could also garner some flanker reps. Bryce Ford-Wheaton Has seemed like a guy who can stick because of his special team prowess, which means a guy like Collin Johnson, who was going to probably be a starter last season, will most likely be a casualty of too much depth at the position.

Defensive back depth has been bolstered, but injuries could play a role in roster decisions.

The Giants seemed to be heading in the direction they wanted in the defensive backfield. They have created a deep backfield full of long, athletic, interchangeable pieces that narrow passing windows and make receptions difficult for receivers. That depth was tested in the final preseason game. Safety Bobby McCain went out with a concussion.

Rookie safety Gervarrius Owens and cornerback Zyon Gilbert finished with hamstring injuries. Rookie cornerback Gemon Green left the game with a shoulder injury. The proof of this team's depth in the backfield is that none of those injuries were to players in the current two deep.

There are big depth issues at offensive tackle.

We know what to expect from Andrew Thomas, and in the small sample size we have seen of Evan Neal this year, he looks improved, but behind those two players. The answer as a swing tackle may not be on this team. Giants fans have waited for Matt Peart to see if he could become a factor as an offensive tackle, but he has still struggled in pass protection.

That is surprising because athleticism was where he was most hyped out of UConn. Korey Cunningham has been kicking around the league for five seasons with a few teams and has yet to find footing anywhere. All of the tackles looked overwhelmed out there in protection.

The pass protection gave up five sacks to the Jets. It is unsettling to know that the team is only one bump or bruise from turning the protection of Daniel Jones over to someone off their bench.

Isaiah Simmons will have a role quickly!

Simmons surprisingly suited up for action in the final preseason game. Although his snaps were limited, they gave fans a glimpse into how defensive coordinator Wink Martindale plans to use him once the season starts.

He created quarterback pressure while blitzing off the edge and was sent on blitzes to the A and B gaps almost every time he lined up inside. It is easy to envision him being in a rotation with the edge rushers or lining up as an inside backer and attacking the line of scrimmage.

His explosiveness jumps off the screen, and he will be motivated to prove the Cardinals were wrong to trade him away.