What We Learned from the Giants Loss vs. Dallas

Here are five takeaways from the Giants’ 37-18 loss to the Cowboys.

About that Giants Run Defense

When your defense’s two leading tacklers are your safeties, then something is wrong.

Such was the case with the Giants, whose two safeties--Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea-- finished first and second respectively combining for 21 tackles.

As we saw last night, the Cowboys offensive line dominated the Giants upfront. As has been the case all year, the players struggled to get off blocks and fill gaps.

And until something is tweaked in the scheme, it’s hard to have any faith that the bleeding will stop any time soon.

Running Saquon Up the Middle

I didn’t have as much of a problem with the Giants running Saquon Barkley up the middle as some might have. Barkley’s ankle still isn’t right, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some question about his ability to stop and cut on a dime consistently.

What I did have a problem with was the scheme to get him yards up the middle. Given the struggles of the interior, and in particular center Jon Halapio’s struggles to get some push at the point of attack and the second level, why not have fullback Eli Penny on the field more to serve as a lead blocker to help with getting that push?

Penny, according to the official gamebook, played five snaps on offense. No, he didn’t have a good game, but he wasn’t alone in that regard.

What I remain perplexed over is the coaches’ refusal/inability to get the ball to Barkley in space, where he’s been so effective. Maybe I’m missing something, but wouldn’t forcing the opponent to have to account for Barkley as a receiver possibly cause them to think twice about loading up the box?

The Perils of a Mobile Quarterback

I’m growing very concerned that before this season is over, Daniel Jones is going to take a shot that either costs him some snaps or a game.

Besides the fact that this young man is getting hit at an alarming rate--per Pro Football Focus, Jones is tied with Jared Goff for having been hit the most times (9), and the 26 sacks he’s absorbed tie him for fourth-most in the league--when you add to that the shots he’s taking as a runner when takes off with the ball, then there is without question reason to worry not just about his long-term health and durability, but also his psyche.

Now it’s easy to put the blame entirely on the offensive line. But in reality, the Giants have the perfect recipe for the disaster we’ve seen thus far. They have a line whose pass blocking has been spotty, and that continues to have issues with picking up stunts, and a rookie quarterback who is learning on the job to recognize some of these issues.

The Coaching Question is Growing Bigger

The biggest concern with this Giants team is not so much the errors, but that they are still being made after nine weeks of the season.

Daniel Jones has been the starter now for seven games, plus he had a handful of snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Cowboys, yet he continues to struggle with protecting the ball despite the assumed drills being done in practice to correct them?

And how about rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker, who was asked about his struggles and how he could be better and said the following:

“Just the plays and everything like that,” Baker said was what he needed to improve the most,” he said, according to NJ Advanced Media. “The playbook. Just knowing the plays. Knowing what I need to do. Knowing my assignment.”

Look, to a certain degree, the players do have to execute. But when you see the same issues happening over and over with no sign of getting better, when you see the same schemes that haven’t worked being used repeatedly, isn’t it fair to wonder about the coaching?

Lineup Changes Coming?

This probably doesn’t mean anything, but still, with the bye week coming up after Sunday’s game against the Jets, it’s worth filing this away.

Spencer Pulley and Nick Gates each received warmup snaps with the first-team offensive line Monday night.

Now it could just be as simple as having both be ready if needed, but with the offensive line having some struggles of late, could a change be in the making for after the bye week?

Given the Giants’ struggles in the running game, which are partially on the fact that Saquon Barkley isn’t himself, but which also has something to do with the run blocking up the middle--it wouldn’t be a stunning development.

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