Giants' Darren Waller looks and plays like a receiver, but Brian Daboll won't label him as such
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller against the Carolina Panthers on Friday. Credit: Noah K. Murray
It’s tempting to characterize Darren Waller as a wide receiver. A big wide receiver, at 6-6, 238 pounds, but a receiver.
There have been times during training camp when Waller has joined wide receiver drills. A day after Waller impressed in the Giants’ 21-19 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers, however, Giants coach Brian Daboll balked at that idea during Saturday’s Zoom call.
“I think he’s got, obviously, a good skill set,” Daboll said. “I wouldn’t characterize him as a wide receiver. He’s a tight end. We ask him to do everything tight ends do and he’s been in that position for a while. [Waller contributes] to various blocking schemes.
“Again, he’s a player you can use in different roles relative to where he lines up at the line of scrimmage or outside the line of scrimmage. He’s capable of doing those things, so he gives you some flexibility in terms of formations and in personnel usage. He’s done that throughout his career.
“He’s a good guy to have on your team and work with.”
No kidding.
On the Giants’ first drive Friday night, Waller dominated. He was targeted four times, caught three passes for 30 yards and then became a decoy — drawing two defenders as fellow tight end Daniel Bellinger scored the opening touchdown, catching a 4-yard pass from Daniel Jones.
Waller figured prominently in the one-drive game plan as Jones went 8-for-9 passing for 69 yards and the touchdown. The starting offense played only one series in what might be its only action of the preseason.
On Saturday, Daboll was asked why Saquon Barkley did not join the rest of the offense against Carolina.
“We just didn’t play him,” the coach said. “We have a plan.”
Barkley’s first contact this season is likely to be in the team’s opener against Dallas on Sept. 10.
Extra points
Asked recently about getting Azeez Ojulari back on the field after he dealt with a series of injuries last season, Kayvon Thibodeaux clearly was thrilled. “It’s been amazing,” he said. “We try not to run into each other at the quarterback because we always like to meet there. Now it’s building that chemistry, right? We know we have two good rushers, but now it’s learning how to rush together.” . . . Daboll said he is “content for now” to continue to let the interior offensive linemen play it out in terms of defining a starting unit . . . Daboll said the Giants released CB Rodarius Williams, who did not play Friday night.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
