For Giants QB Daniel Jones, the 'D' in Dallas is for 'different'
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones rolls out to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL game Sunday in Cleveland. Credit: AP/David Richard
On Thursday night, the Giants will see a new defensive coordinator across the field.
With Dan Quinn now the head coach of the Commanders, Mike Zimmer has taken the reins as the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys. To Daniel Jones, that means studying a different Cowboys scheme than he has in recent years.
“Some of the fronts and pressure looks are different. Coverages are different, too.” Jones said. “We’ll be ready to go.”
How different does the Cowboys defense look?
“I'd say it's a good bit different overall,” Jones said. “There's personnel similarities here and there, but the scheme and the system are different.”
Jones is 1-7 in his career against Dallas. The Cowboys have beaten the Giants six in a row and 12 of 13.
Jones’ response to that? “Yeah, we don't like losing to anybody, especially a divisional game. We understand what this game means.”
Also notable: the Cowboys rank last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (185.7) and rushing yards allowed per attempt at 5.4. That could open up the Giants running game, led by Devin Singletary.
Singletary, the sixth-year veteran and first-season Giant, clinched the team’s 21-15 victory Sunday in Cleveland when he gave himself up at the 1-yard line when another step would have resulted in a 44-yard touchdown.
But with the Browns out of timeouts, Singletary knew the Giants could finish the game in victory formation after the 2-minute warning. He heard from family members, friends, and former teammates after the game, some apparently not as selfless as he.
“It was like, ‘You’re better than me, I would have scored,’” Singletary said Tuesday. “You’re going to hear all of that. But for me, and what we got going on here . . . I’d do it over again. To secure that win, get us the first one on the board, I’d do it again.”
But what matters most to Singletary was his fumble on the Giants’ first possession of the second half. Singletary was hit by defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who separated him from the ball, which was recovered by safety Ronnie Hickman. The turnover didn’t cost the Giants because Dustin Hopkins missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt.
But the fumble was Singletary’s second in as many games on the first series of the third quarter. His turnover in Washington led to a Commanders field goal that tied the score, 12-12, in a game the Giants lost, 21-18.
Singletary said he is continuing to work on ball security this week, even as the Giants work at a walk-through pace.
“You hear it a lot, do the little things, do simple right,” Singletary said. “ You hear it all the time, but it’s true. You gotta get back to the fundamentals. It goes a long way and that’s what we're doing now.”
Joseph gets call
Daboll confirmed Tuesday that kicker Greg Joseph will get another chance when the Giants play Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. After the win over the Browns, Daboll was noncommittal when asked if Joseph would remain in the role. Joseph badly missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt that would have given the Giants a nine-point lead over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. It’s possible that in a short week, the Giants decided not to hold a kicker tryout.
CBs update
If the Giants were practicing today, Daboll said every player would practice except for cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson and Dru Phillips (both have a calf issue, occurring against the Browns). Asked if injured reserve is a possibility for them, Daboll said, “I don’t think so. We’ll see.”
Lamb matchups
With Deonte Banks used to playing outside, and Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb operating primarily out of the slot, something has to give if the Giants are going to use their best corner on Lamb. “Yeah, we've got a couple more days,” Daboll said. “We'll see where everybody's at.(Wednesday) night, Thursday morning,” Daboll said. “If that's what we thought was best to do game plan-wise. Tough opponent, really good player in CeeDee Lamb. They've got a lot of good players.” Daboll did say he is “hopeful” that cornerback Nick McCloud (knee) will be ready to play.
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.
