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Fact or Fiction: Fourth of July holiday edition

Jun 30, 2023 at 08:43 AM

by John Schmeelk, Dan Salomone, Lance Medow & Matt Citak

The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

TE Darren Waller and WR Parris Campbell will combine for at least 1,776 receiving yards this season.

John Schmeelk: Fact – Before we begin, a salute to Dan for these questions. I cannot tell a lie; there's no doubt these two players will combine for more than 1,776 yards if both remain healthy. Waller is sure to become Daniel Jones' go-to player in this offense, while Parris Campbell has the best run-after-catch skills on the roster. I expect both to be shining examples of productivity.

Dan Salomone: Fact – With Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka at the helm, both players will have freedom to move around and make plays from various starting points. They get my vote here.

Lance Medow: Fiction – Parris Campbell is coming off his best season in the NFL, appearing in all 17 games in 2022 as the former Ohio State standout produced 623 yards. Darren Waller has recorded two seasons with over 1,100 receiving yards, but in each of his last two campaigns, he hasn't tallied more than 665 due to injuries. Even if both players suit up for all 17 contests, I still think they'll fall below 1,776. You still need to take into consideration the other weapons on offense and the Giants' commitment to running the ball based on what their opponents showcase.

Matt Citak: Fact – Campbell played the whole season for the first time in his four-year career last year and finished with 623 passing yards, and that was with a combination of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles under center. With Daniel Jones at quarterback, Campbell should have the opportunity to top that number. Then there's Waller, who had back-to-back seasons with 1,000 receiving yards in 2019 and 2020, the last two seasons he was healthy. If both remain on the field for most, if not all, of the season, then 1,776 receiving yards is a very reachable goal.

OLB Jihad Ward will rank fourth on the team in sacks this season.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – While Wink Martindale gives players a lot of freedom in his defense, I expect Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Azeez Ojulari to all top five sacks and finish more than Ward. Ward, however, remains a great run defender and will provide veteran leadership as both an edge and interior player. In the end, a defensive line must play well together as a unit, or most assuredly, they will fail separately.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Ward is coming off career highs in sacks (tied), passes defensed, quarterback hits, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. His playing time isn't going anywhere. "I told the whole defense wherever I'm at, Haddy will have a job," defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said recently. "If he's done playing, he can hang out with me as a coach."

Lance Medow: Fiction – Last season, Jihad Ward finished fourth on the team with three sacks behind Dexter Lawrence (7.5), Azeez Ojulari (5.5) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (4), respectively. Keep in mind, Leonard Williams missed five games and recorded only 2.5 sacks in 12 contests. I think he's a good bet to increase his total this season, and it's also possible players such as Ryder Anderson and Tomon Fox could get more opportunities in the rotation leading to a few more sacks. Ward will have competition for that fourth spot.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Ward did finish fourth on the team in sacks last season, but I do not expect him to repeat that in 2023. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams will all finish with more sacks, as they should with them being the projected starters. This has nothing to do with Ward, who is a talented player and could finish fifth on the team. Ward also plays a big role in the team's run defense and should make his fair share of impact plays for the Giants this season.

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