FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Injuries to Giants guards Shane Lemieux and Jamil Douglas could have decimated the depth of an already skinny offensive line.
Lemieux, the membership’s beginning left guard, suffered a toe damage in the course of the recreation’s first sequence. He wanted a strolling boot to face on the sideline after.
And Douglas, a free agent signing at second-string proper guard, damage his ankle within the second quarter and didn’t return to the sideline for the second half.
Rookie nook Cor’Dale Flott (groin) additionally obtained damage after taking part in each inside and outside in his NFL preseason debut. And that’s a place the place the Giants are paper skinny, as nicely.
“I always think you can use as much depth as you can get,” head coach Brian Daboll mentioned of the offensive line. “But those guys who came in relatively new up front really did a good job. I thought [O-line coach] Bobby [Johnson] had them prepared and learning calls and communicating. And you can never have too many corners. But the guys that competed, … I thought they did a good job.”
Second-string middle Ben Bredeson has been the group’s finest reserve lineman this coaching camp. He was good once more Thursday, in order that’s a plus.
The Giants have excessive expectations for rookie guard Josh Ezeudu, however he’s skilled pure rising pains amid some constructive flashes thus far.
The Giants ran the ball nicely as a group Thursday, with 33 carries for 177 yards (5.4 common), led by Antonio Williams’ 61 yards and a TD on 9 carries and Gary Brightwell’s 40 yards on seven runs.
But Daniel Jones was hit 4 instances within the backfield on 12 dropbacks throughout his two possessions. There have been too many free runners on the Giants’ first-string quarterback.
And they’re brief on surefire, NFL starter-caliber linemen to plug any holes up entrance when the actual video games begin. Daboll couldn’t say if Lemieux’s damage can be a longer-term challenge.
“Hope not,” he mentioned.
Plus, it’s additionally essential to notice that left sort out Andrew Thomas was restricted to just one sequence for relaxation functions on Thursday.
He mentioned his surgically-repaired left ankle is O.Ok. as he left Gillette Stadium postgame, however Thomas has labored some in current practices and that’s positively one thing to observe.
It was a minimum of encouraging to listen to Jones say he wasn’t apprehensive about his neck whereas taking hits coming off final yr’s damage.
“It felt good to get out there and it was just like it used to be,” He mentioned. “That’s football, right? That’s football and I felt good out there. I didn’t think a whole lot about the neck or anything like that. I felt good and it was just football.”
The Giants would reasonably he not take hits, although. And the extra linemen they lose, the tougher it is going to be to make it possible for doesn’t occur.
That’s why the group mentioned GM Joe Schoen instructed the native broadcast that he and the personnel employees can be busy the following three weeks, looking out each group for any potential upgrades to the roster.
They want them.
PATS ATTACK A-ROB
The Patriots confirmed no mercy on beginning Giants nook Aaron Robinson on New England’s second drive, attacking a transparent space of concern in Wink Martindale’s protection.
New England rested prime QB Mac Jones and several other different starters, however backup QB Brian Hoyer peppered Robinson for a 33-yard completion to Kristian Wilkerson and a 2-yard TD to Tyquan Thornton that drew a holding flag on the Giants’ CB.
Robinson broke up a third-down cross in the long run zone that would have compelled a discipline purpose, however then he was whistled for taunting.
The second-year participant mentioned he’s “expecting” to be focused reverse the extra skilled Adoree Jackson and “you gotta embrace it.”
“It’s part of the game, but with that comes plays being made,” Robinson mentioned. “They’re football players just like I am. I learn from it and move from there.”
He mentioned he might have had “better technique at the line of scrimmage” on Wilkerson’s deep reception and anticipated the throw higher. But it was a “great ball” and “great play made” by Wilkerson.
As for the taunting penalty, he referred to as it a “learning experience” getting caught up within the “moment.”
“Now I know,” he mentioned.
LOVE FOR SANDRO
Daboll referred to as on Austrian RB Sandro Platzgummer, a third-year worldwide pathway program participant, to take the Giants house on the game-winning drive. And he delivered with 21 yards on three carries, gaining 15 on his first contact.
“I wanted to make sure that everybody that came on the trip had an opportunity to play,” Daboll mentioned. “That’s not the easiest situation either when they’re trying to rip at the ball, and you’re not loose, and you warmed up. He is such a good young man. I was happy for him. I think his teammates were, too.”
Saquon Barkley was leaping round on the sideline on Platzgummer’s massive run.
“When you see a guy, who puts a lot of hard work in, get on the field and make a play in a critical situation…,” Barkley mentioned with a smile. “Sandro just brings a smile to everybody’s face. So we’re all excited for him.”
Platzgummer truly instructed me he thought he might need been capable of rating, or problem for the tip zone, on his final carry. But he knew he couldn’t threat going out of bounds, as a result of the thing was to wind the clock down and keep possession.
He figures that’s how he’ll get extra alternatives: by exhibiting the coaches they will belief him.
“You’ve gotta earn the trust first,” Platzgummer mentioned. “In that situation, if I fumble, we lose the game. So I guess I kind of earned that a little bit.”
Daboll had Platzgummer break the group down within the locker room after the win, too.
EYE IN THE SKY
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka wasn’t on the sideline Thursday. He referred to as the performs from a sales space upstairs as an alternative. Daboll did the identical factor when he was the Buffalo Bills’ OC with Josh Allen.
“I thought that was the best spot,” Daboll mentioned of Kafka’s placement. “I called the plays upstairs [in Buffalo]. We’ll see what we do [next] week against Cincinnati. It was a good operation.”
GAME NOTES AND NUGGETS
Wide receiver Collin Johnson led the group with seven catches for 82 yards working with each Jones and Tyrod Taylor, however he additionally had a drop and a misplaced fumble. He’s had an amazing coaching camp. He simply has to maintain the ball off the turf … Daboll challenged a Patriots catch close to the sideline within the fourth quarter, however the play was upheld. “I lost the challenge,” Daboll mentioned. “I was upset about that.” … Giants LB Austin Calitro jumped a slant route and intercepted Patriots rookie QB Bailey Zappe to arrange a Graham Gano 40-yard discipline purpose within the fourth quarter, however later Calitro dedicated a 15-yard facemask penalty to assist New England advance on a landing drive to take a late 21-20 lead … Zappe, out of Western Kentucky, was throwing tons of again shoulder fades on the Giants’ exterior corners. He completed 19 of 32 with 205 yards, one TD to Lil’Jordan Humphrey on a terrific blitz learn, and the INT … Tight finish Chris Myarick made an amazing particular groups sort out on a late Patriots punt return … Third-string QB Davis Webb was 8 of 16 for 51 yards, capped by a 15-yard completion to tight finish Austin Allen on the game-winning drive. Webb additionally chewed out WR Keelan Doss after a 3rd down incompletion earlier within the half, although, which wasn’t an amazing look … on particular groups, rookie Jashaun Corbin had a 34-yard kick return. But the punt protection group additionally surrendered a 30-yard punt return within the first quarter to the Patriots’ Myles Bryant … Thursday was the media’s first time again within the Giants’ locker room since earlier than the COVID pandemic.
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“We can’t get comfortable. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” – edge rusher Jihad Ward
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Source: www.bostonherald.com