Giants Offensive Skill Position Player Grades: Winston Shines, Beckham's Drop Stings in Dolphins Win

You’re going to see this said a lot in our review of the New York Giants individual player performances in their 26-3 Week 2 preseason win over the Miami Dolphins.

The Giants have serious depth, which will make for tough decisions ahead for head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen on cut day.

“I thought we did a lot of things really well,” Harbaugh said after the game. “I like the way we handled having the lead in terms of continuing to play in such a way as to extend the lead. That's really important to learn how to do that as a team. We did that.

“I do believe we're a better team than we were Wednesday when we came down here (for the joint practice). That was the goal. And now we move forward.”

Here is our look at the offensive skill position players. Overall, there was a lot to like as the competition heats up.

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston

With the Giants sitting their starters, Winston got the starting nod and was just as good as he was last week.

On his first possession, he led a 7-play drive for a touchdown, capping off this efficient drive with a 13-yard run on a 3rd-and-6. Winston did well to break the pocket, find space, and exploit it all the way to the pylon for the score.

All told, Winston quarterbacked six first-half possessions and left the game with a 20-3 lead.

To top off his positive effort, he ran a solid 2-minute drill for the field goal that finished that half. His final numbers were 15-of-21, for 150 yards, and one 11-yard run for a touchdown. His longest throw was a 29-yard in-cut to Darius Slayton.

The offense attempted just one downfield throw of 20+ air yards which wasn’t completed, though there did seem to be opportunities for more. Instead, there were a handful of intermediate throws, as it sure seems this offense is gearing up for chunk plays by first perfecting the ball-control offense that should match up with the power running game the coaches desire.

One of Winston’s many strengths is how tall he stands in the pocket; he doesn’t get very many balls disrupted at the line of scrimmage. Once again, he ran the offense smartly, never once put the ball in harm’s way, and played the position at a high level.

Brandon Allen

Allen took over at the start of the third quarter and quarterbacked three possessions, leaving the field halfway through the fourth quarter.

His second possession was a 9-play drive that resulted in a field goal. His final possession was a mammoth 17-play drive that also resulted in a field goal. Allen finished 13-of-18 for 101 yards, absorbing one 9-yard sack and taking good care of the ball.

His attempts consisted of a bunch of checkdowns and short throws; his only completion of consequence was a 17-yard middle throw to Isaiah Hodgins.

Allen also smartly connected with Dalen Cambre on a 3rd-and-7 and a 3rd-and-8 for first downs.

Overall, the Giants got a better performance out of this veteran quarterback this week, but there was little to write home about.

Jake Haener

Getting the game’s final possession, this 4-year veteran who was recently picked up after Allen’s terrible performance last week ran a 9-play drive of his own before it finished up with a punt.

Haener finished 3-of-3 for 15 yards in the passing department, his best throw being to Cambre on a 9-yarder that converted a 3rd-and-8. All three of Haener’s attempts were of the very short variety.

It’s tough to judge this performance, as Haener has only recently arrived. Still, he did seem more naturally attuned to the playing of his position, especially when handling the pocket and throwing from the pocket, than Allen did.

Running Backs

Devin Singletary

Getting the start with Cam Skattebo given the week off and Tyrone Tracy still licking his wounds from last week’s big screw-up, Singletary delivered some solid ball.

His biggest play was a bounce-out wide from 13 yards out, outrunning the Miami pursuit to the front corner of the end zone for a score.

The coaches obviously trust this veteran’s game to handle all the little things besides scoring touchdowns. Interestingly, included in his very good 40 yards on eight carries (5.0 average) was a third down where he lined up as a lead-blocking fullback and took the inside handoff into the teeth of the defense to get the first down.

He also caught a ball out of the backfield for 4 yards. Singletary is the type of player who will never lose you a game, but he might help you win a few with his reliability alone. There’s nothing flashy about Singletary’s game, but one thing that can be said is he’s as reliable as the day is long.

Tyrone Tracy Jr.

After reeling off successive runs of 11 and 12 yards, Tracy fumbled without being touched at the Miami 10-yard line. The wet conditions were partly to blame for the red zone turnover, but the egregious misplay is still on Tracy’s shoulders.

Tracy followed that up with a couple of too-careful touches, and an inside blitz pickup that fell well short of the mark. On this block, Tracy squared up the linebacker, but he ducked his head and stopped moving his feet, allowing the backer to swim around him for the pressure that hurried an incompletion.

On the day, Tracy finished with 26 yards on six carries and 22 yards on three catches. We wouldn’t say he’s played his way off the team, but with the addition of Najee Harris this week, Tracy is squarely in the fourth-string territory at running back, which does not guarantee a final roster spot on this or any team.

Eric Gray

Getting most of the second-half running back duties, Gray ran for 26 yards on six carries and logged a productive 37 yards on six receptions.

One of this week’s offensive highlights was the low sideline throw that Gray out-fought a Miami backer for, in the process converting another 3rd-and-long for the offense.

Damon Bankston

Showing very quick feet but a lack of size and physicality, Bankston needs to bulk up a bit even to be considered NFL material. He didn’t get any help out there while gaining only 5 yards on 7 carries, and 2 yards on 2 catches.

Receivers

Darius Slayton

Getting this week’s start, Slayton got going fast with the game’s first two catches, the second one going for 29 yards for the Giants’ longest play of the day. This came off of a neat in-cut catch that Slayton took for another ten yards upfield.

Slayton caught two more balls and finished with a solid 58 yards on four receptions.

The value that Slayton brings is the respect defenses have for his speed—you can see it when defensive backs play a larger cushion against him, which opens up space.

Slayton remains the king of the uncontested body catch, however. Put him up against the other guys’ third and fourth teamers, and he can be something of a weapon. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case very often, if at all, once the regular season begins.

Calvin Austin III

Austin started things off with an 11-yard punt return, making the first man miss. His next touch was a jet sweep that he took for 21 yards, showing the acceleration in tight quarters to gash a defense.

His next touch was a 17-yard punt return, once again making the first man miss. Austin was next called for a phantom offensive pass interference foul. He then converted a 3rd-and-14 by catching a short pass and using his vision and feet to avoid traffic and get 20 yards.

Austin has the game to be this team’s starting slot receiver. He’s got very good running instincts and can stop on a dime. He’s very dangerous after the catch, and seems like a big play waiting to happen.

Odell Beckham Jr.

Getting plenty of snaps on the boundary to impress, Beckham caught two short balls and drew a defensive holding call, but dropped his big chance to come up big.

At the Miami 14-yard line, Beckham did well to get open in the back of the end zone and went up for the high throw.

He came down with two feet in play but without the ball. It was a huge drop, the ball being right where it belonged, so only Beckham could catch it.

Beckham’s movements looked sharp and smooth out there, but at his age—he’ll turn 34 during the season—it’s going to be hard to spend a roster spot on this oft-injured veteran.

Isaiah Hodgins

Hodgins came up with a good middle catch, holding on after a big hit for 17 yards. We don’t see him making the roster as he lacks top-shelf speed.

Dalen Cambre

Getting plenty of late-game snaps with the third team, Cambre came through with three catches, each one coming on 3rd-and-long, and each one converting for a first down.

Quarterbacks like throwing to Cambre, as he has shown very reliable hands and an ability to read defenses and find holes.

So far he’s always been on the same page with his quarterback. And then there’s his special teams abilities, which have been solid.

In short, he’s made it very tough for the coaches to move on from him, but the question is whether there is a place for Cambre on this team.

Xavier Gipson

Gipson caught one pass for 11 yards and had a positive special teams night, but we don’t see him surviving the numbers crunch at receiver.

Ryan Miller

Miller drew a defensive PI today but did not flash in any other area.

Tight Ends

Theo Johnson

Johnson caught his lone target for 12 yards and blocked well in the lone series he was on the field.

Chris Manhertz

Getting a handful of early snaps, Manhertz was given a play-action corner route in the red zone to run, but he could not shake free, and the pass fell incomplete. He blocked well, though.

Tanner Conner

Getting 19 snaps, Conner had a deep crosser bounce off his hands in the rain. He ran a good route, and the pass was there but not in his hands.

He ran another nice route late on, which resulted in his lone catch for 7 yards, which he ran out of bounds to stop the clock at the end of the half.

The downside of his day? Conner’s blocking was nothing to write home about, alas.

Thomas Fidone II

Playing in 59 snaps, Fidone racked up 29 yards on four catches, with his longest being 14 yards. In short, it was Fidone’s best receiving game as a pro.

The downside? Several mental mistakes, mediocre blocking, and a lack of instinct to adjust to the unexpected.

His movement still looks clunky, undoubtedly due to his season-ending foot issues last year and the ensuing cleanup he had in the spring. His hands are reliable, and the size is there, though.

Fidone did have an end zone seam pass thrown in his direction—he was wide open in the one place where his talent package could best be utilized, the end zone— but the ball sailed way over his head, and he lost his chance to make a big play.

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