Giants coach Brian Daboll invoked Tom Brady’s first of seven Super Bowl runs on Monday to show some extent that playoff expertise is “overrated.”
“The first year that I was part of a Super Bowl, the quarterback didn’t have any playoff experience there at New England. Some of the guys did. Some didn’t,” Daboll mentioned on Zoom, referencing the Patriots’ 2001 championship run after Brady changed an injured Drew Bledsoe. “We had some experience at Buffalo [from 2019 through 2021]; we lost. What you make out of it is the experience is probably overrated, to be honest with you.”
Daboll definitely can have the chance to place that idea to the check when his inexperienced Giants, the NFC’s No. 6 seed, go to the No. 3 seed MInnesota Vikings on Wild Card Weekend (Sunday, 4:30 p.m., FOX).
Only 9 of the Giants’ 25 projected starters on offense (three), protection (4) and particular groups (two) have performed in an NFL playoff recreation of their careers.
That’s in comparison with 13 of the Vikings’ 25 projected starters with a seasoned protection (eight of 11) however a younger offense (solely 4) and blended particular groups (one).
Total, the Giants’ projected starters have performed in 36 playoff video games in comparison with the Vikings’ 56.
Center Jon Feliciano and kicker Graham Gano have essentially the most expertise of all of the Giants’ projected starters with seven playoff appearances. Top nook Adoree Jackson has performed in six, adopted by proper guard Mark Glowinski (5), edge Jihad Ward (three), wideout Richie James (three), linebacker Jaylon Smith (two) and nook Fabian Moreau (one).
It’s not even clear, nevertheless, if Jackson will be capable to play. He has missed seven video games with a sprained MCL in his proper knee, and he was coy Sunday night time within the Philadelphia guests’ locker room about suiting up subsequent weekend.
“We’re just taking it a day at a time,” Jackson mentioned. “If I could give you an answer, I would. We all want to be out there. But at the same time I’m trusting the trainers. Obviously, they’re the experts.”
Daboll should disprove his speculation that playoff expertise is overrated, although, by making his personal expertise depend inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Daboll has 5 Super Bowl rings from his days as a Patriots assistant coach. He’s been teaching within the NFL since 2000. And he’s teaching within the playoffs for the fourth straight 12 months, together with his last three seasons because the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator.
The Bills went 3-2 in his three postseason journeys in upstate New York, together with an AFC Championship Game look in 2020.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell gained one Super Bowl final season because the L.A. Rams’ offensive coordinator, however the former Patriots draft decide (third spherical quarterback, 2008) has solely been teaching within the league since 2015.
Daboll’s expertise should shine by way of in key moments. He should develop into the benefit for a Giants roster with out a lot to attract on with regards to this grand stage.
“I’ve been part of a lot of them, but they’re all different,” Daboll mentioned. “The losses really hurt. They probably hurt more than the happiness of the wins in the playoffs. But in terms of my overall experience, I’d say there are a lot of coaches on our staff that have some, too. But I talked to those guys already. It’s what we do this week. I think everybody understands that. It’s what we do this week and ultimately how we go out there and play in the game, because what wins in Week 1 wins in the playoffs. And what loses in Week 1 loses in the playoffs.”
If the protection’s efficiency on Sunday in Philadelphia with largely backups was any indication, coordinator Wink Martindale may be capable to make the most of a Vikings offense with little expertise in these one-and-done video games.
Minnesota’s banged-up offensive line has zero playoff expertise amongst its 5 doubtless starters for Sunday. And if Martindale’s protection can jam up MVP candidate Jalen Hurts prefer it did Sunday, the Giants definitely can provide Kirk Cousins (1-3 in 4 playoff video games) some issues to consider.
“Everybody plays sound. Everybody knows their job,” Landon Collins mentioned Sunday of Martindale’s protection. “To other teams it may look complicated because guys are all over the field, but for us it’s simple. Anyone can play anywhere on this defense. And by doing so, it gives other teams fits because they don’t know what we’re gonna be in or what we’re gonna do. And when that happens and everybody plays fast — because it’s a simple defense. We all play fast and play great.”
Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson may need one thing to say about that in his playoff debut. After all, in Daboll’s personal phrases, playoff expertise is overrated. So the coach is solely making an attempt to minimize any benefit or drawback to having previous experiences on this massive second.
The actuality, although, is that the Giants hope Daboll’s expertise will depend for every part on Sunday in Minnesota. He could be the distinction, as he was in a number of wins early within the 12 months. In truth, he must be.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com
