Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: Kickoff Edition

Let's check in with the readers to see what's on their minds this week.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: Kickoff Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: Kickoff Edition

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If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please send it to nygiantsmaven@gmail.com. Note: Some letters may have been edited for clarity/length.

What's up, Ed? If he's healthy, Darren Waller is an obvious pick on offense. On defense, I think it will be Bobby Okereke, who will hopefully shore up the middle of the field, which has been exploited so badly over the years.  

On paper, he appears to have done so, Jay. That said, I don't think the unit is complete. And I'm still a little nervous about the swing tackle spot. But as with anything, let's see what happens. We still don't know the official starting lineup and if we've seen it in preseason. I tend to be an optimist, but seeing is believing.

I'm not worried. If it doesn't result in touchdowns or field goals, it's no big deal. Besides, how else will the kids gain experience if they don't play?

Hi Kevin. My guess is it will be Ben Bredeson and Mark Glowinski. But that said, I wouldn't be shocked if, as the season churns on, the Giants flip the guards around and get Ezeudu in there, depending on the situation. The only way Ezeudu will get better is if he plays reps--there is no substitution for live reps. So, if there is a blowout either way, put him in there. If you need to run a lot of screens, put him in the game and take advantage of his athleticism.

Remember that Brian Daboll and this coaching staff like to play matchup football. So just as we're likely to see Adoree' Jackson in the slot in certain situations, maybe we'll see Ezeudu at left guard here and there.

(From David R.) Please talk me down off the ledge here about Darren Waller. Is he going to be able to play Sunday?

What's up, David? I don't have a crystal ball to say if Waller is or isn't playing--no one can predict how a person is going to wake up feeling two days down the line. But I think if Waller's injury were that bad, he would have been listed as "doubtful" or "out."

"Questionable" to me is a result of him likely starting Friday's practice, feeling some tightness in his hamstring, and taking the precautionary step to shut things down before worsening the situation. Waller will surely be in line for round-the-clock treatment by the Giants, so he's ready to go Sunday. And as of this writing, I feel he will play.

Now, here's the other thing. I think--and I could be wrong here--the Giants will lean heavily on the running game to open up play action. Dallas has a shoddy run defense they didn't improve, and I think in this week's game plan, Saquon Barkley will be the featured guy.

That doesn't mean there won't be opportunities for the others to make plays, but my point is that Waller, if he does play, can be deployed as a decoy more so than a receiving target.

We'll get more information as we get closer to kickoff regarding Waller's status, but as I write this on Friday night, I'm not as worried as some of the readers who have reached out to me on my social media accounts. If Waller plays, I think it's the Giants will be smart with his reps.

 

 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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