The Giants made a lot of fireworks in the first year under general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, but how can they make even more in 2023? We discuss in this week's Cover 4.
John Schmeelk: For the Giants to create more fireworks and make the playoffs, their offense needs to create more explosive plays. The Giants need to score more touchdowns if they want to return to the playoffs and advance deeper than they did in 2022, and you do that by making big plays through the air.
The Giants ranked 16th in points per game last season and 18th in yards per game, but the former was a bit inflated thanks to a 63% red-zone touchdown rate, which was seventh-best in the league. Those small sample stats can often be difficult to replicate from year to year. The Giants would put themselves in a better position if they created more scores from outside the red zone via the pass game.
The Giants had only 28 pass plays go for more than 20 yards last season. The Eagles had more than twice as many with 63 and Dallas had 22 more with 50, just to use two teams in the division as an example. It is hard to score consistently on long drives that leave more opportunities for a turnover or the defense to make a stop. Big plays are a necessity. Big plays also make scoring at the end of games and halves a lot easier.
The front office added speed at the wide receiver position to help facilitate those plays. The offensive line has to protect to allow longer downfield plays develop, such as deep over routes, double-moves, and post-corners. Daniel Jones needs to increase his average depth of target a bit more. Put all those together and there will be plenty of fireworks at MetLife Stadium this fall.
Dan Salomone: Look no further than No. 8. For the first time since he was drafted in 2019 as Eli Manning's heir apparent, Daniel Jones will begin a season as the unquestioned franchise quarterback and leader of the team. With the help of coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who brought their magic from Buffalo and Kansas City, respectively, Jones put together the best season of his career. But just like the team, Jones will try to do the hardest thing in the NFL – sustain success. The first year of the Schoen-Daboll era was a resounding success, but they have a growth mindset. In order for them to take the next step, Jones will have to do the same.
Get excited for the 2023 season with photos from Media Day at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
TE Darren Waller (12)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
OL Evan Neal (73)
RB Eric Gray (20), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), DB Deonte Banks (36)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
DB Nick McCloud (44)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
LB Jarrad Davis (57)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
RB Eric Gray (20)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
RB Eric Gray (20), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), DB Deonte Banks (36)
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RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
DL Jordan Riley (95)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
DL Jordan Riley (95)
DL Jordan Riley (95)
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DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
DB Gervarrius Owens (31)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
DB Gervarrius Owens (31)
DB Gervarrius Owens (31)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
K Graham Gano (9)
K Graham Gano (9)
LB Troy Brown (46)
K Graham Gano (9)
K Graham Gano (9)
TE Darren Waller (12)
DB Leonard Johnson (35)
DB Leonard Johnson (35)
DB Leonard Johnson (35)
TE Darren Waller (12)
DE Ryder Anderson (90)
DE Ryder Anderson (90)
DE Ryder Anderson (90)
DE Ryder Anderson (90)
TE Darren Waller (12)
TE Darren Waller (12)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
TE Darren Waller (12)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
LB Troy Brown (46)
LB Jarrad Davis (57)
LB Jarrad Davis (57)
LB Jarrad Davis (57)
LB Jarrad Davis (57)
DB Darnay Holmes (30)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DB Darnay Holmes (30)
DB Darnay Holmes (30)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)
OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)
OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63)
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Jaydon Mickens (88)
LB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
WR Jaydon Mickens (88)
OL Evan Neal (73)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
OL Mark Glowinski (64)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
OL Mark Glowinski (64)
OL Evan Neal (73)
OL Mark Glowinski (64)
WR Makai Polk (87)
OL Evan Neal (73)
RB Matt Breida (31)
RB Matt Breida (31)
RB Matt Breida (31)
RB Matt Breida (31)
LB Carter Coughlin (52)
LB Carter Coughlin (52)
LB Carter Coughlin (52)
WR Jamison Crowder (80)
WR Jamison Crowder (80)
WR Jamison Crowder (80)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
WR Makai Polk (87)
LB Cam Brown (47)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
LB Cam Brown (47)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
WR Jeff Smith II (19)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
WR Jeff Smith II (19)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
DB Nick McCloud (44)
DB Nick McCloud (44)
DB Nick McCloud (44)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DB Nick McCloud (44)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
OL Ben Bredeson (68)
OL Ben Bredeson (68)
OL Ben Bredeson (68)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
DT DJ Davidson (98)
LB Micah McFadden (41)
DT DJ Davidson (98)
LB Micah McFadden (41)
DL Vernon Butler (96)
LB Micah McFadden (41)
LB Oshane Ximines (53)
LB Oshane Ximines (53)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
LB Oshane Ximines (53)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
DB Aaron Robinson (33)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
OT Andrew Thomas (78)
DB Aaron Robinson (33)
OL Matt Peart (74)
DB Aaron Robinson (33)
OL Tyre Phillips (79)
OL Tyre Phillips (79)
OL Matt Peart (74)
OL Tyre Phillips (79)
S Dane Belton (24)
OL Matt Peart (74)
OL Corey Cunningham (70)
S Dane Belton (24)
OL Corey Cunningham (70)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
LB Darrian Beavers (43)
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WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
OL Shane Lemieux (66)
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OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Kalil Pimpleton (81)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
OL Jack Anderson (77)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
OL Jack Anderson (77)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
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OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
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TE Chris Myarick (85)
TE Chris Myarick (85)
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QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
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QB Daniel Jones (8)
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WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
NT Jordan Riley (95)
RB Eric Gray (20-O)
RB Eric Gray (20-O)
LB Troy Brown (46)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
DB Leonard Johnson (35)
DB Leonard Johnson (35)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
DB Jason Pinnock (27)
WR Makai Polk (87)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
K Graham Gano (9)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
DE Ryder Anderson (90)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
TE Darren Waller (12)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
TE Darren Waller (12)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OL Evan Neal (73)
DB Darnay Holmes (30)
