Despite Daniel Jones' two-INT game, Brian Daboll takes some positives away from Giants QB's preseason debut
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP/Eric Christian Smith
A day after the Giants’ 28-10 preseason loss at Houston, there were plenty of questions for coach Brian Daboll.
Yes, it’s still only preseason. But the Giants seem to have a lot of work to do.
While Daniel Jones has had some strong days in practice, his first real game action since November’s ACL tear did not reflect that. He threw two interceptions in two quarters, one returned for a touchdown.
After the game, Jones called his outing “a shaky start.”
On a Zoom call Sunday, Daboll said he thought Jones operated well in the pocket and mostly made good decisions. He liked that he “played fast.” Jones, who played only the first half, completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards.
“This was good for him to get out there and get some live reps with the rush,” Daboll said. “The ability to get hit, he had that scramble. But I’d say he operated well in the pocket. Obviously, [the 5-yard pick-6], we’d all like to have that one back.”
On the other interception, he couldn’t connect with Jalin Hyatt.
McCloud the hot corner
The Giants still have one job that is absolutely up for grabs: The identity of the starting cornerback who will line up opposite Deonte Banks.
Cor’Dale Flott was the favorite for much of camp, but he has been dealing with a quadriceps injury and has yet to play in a preseason game. Nick McCloud started in Houston and played 20 snaps, as did four other starters, but did not record a tackle.
“We’ll keep on competing it out,” Daboll said. “We’ll see where [Flott] is this week. I thought McCloud did a nice job, like he normally does when he goes out there. Dependable, consistent, durable. So again, we’ll let that play out.”
O-line making strides
As for the offensive line, Daboll said he is pleased that the group has “continued to improve.”
Getting center John Michael Schmitz back was important. The second-year player can continue to gain chemistry with his teammates.
Daboll described the linemen as “veterans that care, that are smart, that are tough, that have played the game, that are all on the same page. That’s what it requires to be an improved, good offensive line is making sure five guys are playing as one, seeing it through the same set of eyes.”
Daboll said he likes how the first group is communicating.
Schmitz, who returned last week after missing eight practices with a shoulder injury, was replaced earlier than the other starting linemen.
Bowen impresses
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has proved popular among his players, including Dexter Lawrence.
Daboll likes what he’s seeing. “He gets the play calls in quick. He’s good with the situations,” he said. “He’s a good communicator with the signal-callers. He’s a good communicator with the assistant coaches. He’s able to process a lot of information quickly. He explains it clearly, precise. You know he’s done it before, but he does a good job of leading, I’d say, not just the players, the coaches, as well as the communication aspect of it.”
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.
