Thoughts on Daniel Jones' successful preseason

Besides his impressive preseason numbers, here's a look back at Daniel Jones' impressive preseason and what he showed the Giants with his play.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has come a long way from that first day of rookie minicamp when his head was spinning some.

Jones, in his live game action, has faced a variety of situations from facing pressure to making multiple reads.

He has done a tremendous job in quieting the critics who questioned or mocked the Giants for selecting him sixth overall in this year’s draft.

The rookie out of Duke, who went 4 of 4 for 47 yards in the preseason finale against the Patriots Thursday night, capped off his preseason performance by going 29 of 34 (85%) for 416 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Jones has checked off several boxes that no doubt leave the Giants feeling better about life after Eli Manning.

Whether it was out of the shotgun or under center, Jones delivered against starters and backups.

Here’s a week-by-week look at Jones’ impressive preseason and what he showed.

Week 1 (vs. Jets): 5 of 5, 67 yards 1 TD

Jones’ NFL debut against the Jets was cut short due to wicked weather that created a nearly hour-long delay, but not before the rookie demonstrated how effective he could be in anticipating play development.

It’s this ability to anticipate that has allowed Jones to play fast for a rookie. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones has averaged 2.42 seconds in the pocket to attempt through his first three preseason games.

That means he’s being asked to make quick reads and get rid of the ball quickly.

Instead of forcing the ball to get rid of it, Jones has delivered some gorgeous dimes that have helped move the chains and put points on the board.

Week 2 (vs. Bears): 11 of 14, 161 yards, one touchdown

Jones’ second preseason game had a couple of bumps in the form of two balls lost via fumbles.

Rather than curl up into a ball or crumble under the weight of those mistakes, Jones shook off the mistakes, kept control of his huddle and, on his third drive of that game, march his team down the field on a 7-play, 34-yard scoring drive ending with a 47-yard Aldrick Rosas field goal.

Getting back to the turnovers, those served as teaching moments for the rookie, who on one of the fumbles appeared unaware of the pressure closing in around him from the front side.

But as has been the case all preseason, Jones did more good than bad. His touch on the ball was a sight to behold, earning him the nickname “Danny Dimes” for his precision.

Another thing to like about Jones is how he has used his 6-foot-5 height to his advantage.

Jones has been able to avoid having his passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage by defenders seeking to clutter up the passing lanes.  

Week 3 (at Bengals): 9 of 11, 141 yards, one touchdown 

The rookie took the show on the road against a Bengals defense that turned up the heat. Jones didn’t disappoint. 

Despite not putting any points on the board, he had his best performance of the preseason by standing tall in the face of the pressure. 

Jones demonstrated impressive athleticism when he ran a perfectly executed bootleg, getting outside of the pocket and then setting himself up to connect with a tight end for positive yardage. 

The rookie also continued to impress with his decision-making process, making correct reads in navigating his offense down the field. 

If that wasn’t enough to silence his critics--and it probably should have been--he bounced right back up after getting hit from the blindside and finished off a scoring drive. 

Week 4 (at Patriots): 4 of 4, 47 yards 

Jones continued to show an ability to quickly make the right read in recording his second game in which he completed 100% of his pass attempts. 

 In this showing, Jones executed a couple of timing passes, again putting the ball right on the money in hitting the receiver in stride. He also didn’t flinch in the face of pressure, moving around just enough to give himself some room to step into his throws. 

What’s Next? 

For as much as Jones has shown this preseason, he’s still not quite a finished product. 

Unfortunately, his development will now shift to behind the scenes, as the Giants’ regular-season practices are closed to the media. 

Perhaps if the Giants get off to a good start this year, Jones, like Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs two years ago, will get a regular-season start later in the season as a “final tuneup” before he ultimately takes over the offense.