The premise of Daniel Jones’ prove-it 12 months was that the Giants would give their quarterback a greater supporting solid to assist them make a cleaner, fairer analysis of his capability.
“We’ve done everything possible to screw this kid up,” co-owner John Mara famously mentioned in January. “Let’s bring in the right group of coaches now and give him some continuity and try to rebuild the offensive line and then be able to make an intelligent evaluation of whether he can be the franchise quarterback or not.”
But anybody who watched Monday evening’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys noticed Jones operating for his life and dropping a sport attributable to no fault of his personal.
If Jones performs the entire season towards such lengthy odds, it’s unclear precisely how Mara will get the clear and truthful analysis he seeks.
Maybe it finally will come all the way down to the underside traces of factors, wins and losses no matter how Jones performs. It simply nonetheless appears the deck is stacked towards him.
“It’s not really my concern how I’m evaluated by external people,” Jones mentioned on a Zoom name Wednesday. “I’m obviously looking for feedback and criticism from the coaches and from teammates in ways I can improve. But as far as an evaluation, I think that’s dependent on if we win or lose. That’s how this team’s evaluated and we’re thinking about it collectively as a group.”
Jones confronted 24 pressures on 42 dropbacks Monday, probably the most ever for a Giants QB since ESPN Stats & Info started monitoring that statistic in 2009. He was hit 12 instances and sacked 5. The Cowboys pressured Jones 10 instances with a four-man rush.
The common NFL QB has been pressured on 26.8% of his dropbacks, per NFL NextGenStats. Jones leads the league at an absurd 46.7%.
Jones additionally misplaced prime receiver Sterling Shepard for the season to a torn left ACL and different receivers had been dropping passes within the clutch throughout Monday’s fourth quarter.
And but — and that is probably the most intriguing half — Jones may need performed probably the most spectacular sport of his NFL profession contemplating what he was up towards.
Saquon Barkley mentioned Jones’ 16-yard completion to Richie James to jumpstart a fourth quarter discipline objective drive was “one of the best throws I’ve seen” in his five-year profession.
Another NFL participant advised the News “there are about five quarterbacks in the league who can make a throw like that, off their back foot, while backing up as the pocket collapses, on target. Daniel is one of them.”
Most of Jones’ 79 dashing yards weren’t designed runs, which head coach Brian Daboll confirmed Wednesday. He improvised and in Daboll’s phrases, “gave us a chance.”
The fact is, there aren’t many beginning NFL quarterbacks who’ve the mobility and instincts and toughness to maintain their group in a sport like that.
But then on the flip aspect, it was not possible to disregard when Daboll tried to run the clock down on the finish of Monday’s first half quite than attacking with Jones’ offense.
The Giants received the ball again with 2:30 remaining within the second quarter. Jones scrambled and ran out of bounds for a 1-yard achieve with 2:22 remaining. And Daboll let the clock run all the way in which to the two-minute warning regardless of holding all three timeouts.
Daboll was clearly attempting to keep away from giving Dallas the ball again, however the lack of urgency that continued after the two-minute warning definitely was totally different from Daboll’s Week 1 win-or-go-home two-point conversion name in Tennessee.
Dallas really started calling the timeouts, not the Giants, with 42 seconds left.
Jones nonetheless made performs earlier than a fourth-down turnover on downs close to midfield. But it was odd seeing the offense managed that means by a training workers that has didn’t engineer a landing in a primary half but this season.
It’s additionally noteworthy as a result of, as Mara mentioned, he needs GM Joe Schoen and Daboll to make the analysis of Jones. He employed them to assist Jones earn the job and to search out Jones’ successor if he fails.
“I want Joe and the new head coach to make that evaluation,” Mara mentioned in January. “We do feel that Daniel can play.”
Schoen opted to not decline Jones’ fifth-year choice within the spring and he refused to set expectations for the QB’s massive season. The GM wouldn’t set a barometer for the group’s efficiency. And this regime’s rhetoric on Jones can greatest be described as lukewarm.
Daboll talked about Tuesday that Jones’ previous is a part of the analysis, too.
“What we try to do each week is just see where we’re at for that week: evaluate the performance,” Daboll mentioned. “Again, we evaluate the performances on past, but I thought he made good strides. Obviously not scoring enough points and we left some plays out there on the field. But … I [think] he’s making improvement.”
Schoen did add three new beginning offensive linemen and supporting items like James to the talent place rooms. Still, Monday’s efficiency spoke for itself: Jones wants extra assist.
This has at all times felt prefer it was possible headed a method: towards Schoen drafting a brand new quarterback subsequent April. And that may find yourself being what’s greatest for the franchise — though early wins over the Titans and Panthers didn’t enhance the Giants’ positioning on the 2023 NFL Draft board.
The query, if Jones retains enjoying at this degree, is whether or not he’ll have the ability to persuade Mara, Schoen and Daboll that he’s the man when their analysis remains to be muddied by the absence of a enough supporting solid and constant wins.
INJURIES REQUIRE MOVES
The Giants signed nook Fabian Moreau to their energetic roster off their observe squad. They re-signed nook Olaijah Griffin to their observe squad. They signed rookie receiver Makai Polk to their observe squad. And they positioned receiver Shepard on injured reserve.
Rookie nook Cor’Dale Flott (calf) and edge Jihad Ward (proper knee) had been additions to Wednesday’s projected damage report after a walkthrough. The “did not participate” group included defensive lineman Leonard Williams (knee), Ward, broad receivers Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hammy), and nook Nick McCloud (hammy).
Corners Aaron Robinson (appendix) and Justin Layne (concussion) had been restricted. The walkthrough observe was closed to the media. Interviews had been on Zoom.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com