New York Giants: Where the Team Improved/Regressed in Week 2 Preseason Game

The New York Giants took some baby steps forward as far as progress in their 22-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium.

No, it wasn’t pretty, and no this team is far from being ready to start the season. However, there were some glimpses of hope just as there were some lingering areas of concern to come from this second preseason contest.

Let’s run down the list.

Injuries

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

If the Giants haven’t cried “Uncle!” yet, they really need to think about doing so when it comes to the injury bug.

Already missing 14 players—receivers Julian Talley (toe), Victor Cruz (calf) and Rueben Randle (knee); corners Prince Amukamara (groin), Jayron Hosley (concussion), CB Chykie Brown (knee) and Chandler Fenner (hamstring); safeties Landon Collins (knee), Nat Berhe (calf) and Cooper Taylor (toe); offensive linemen Will Beatty (PUP/pectoral) and Brandon Mosley (back); linebacker Jonathan Casillas (neck) and defensive end George Selvie (knee)—the hits just kept on coming.

This week, the Giants lost linebackers Mark Herzlich (concussion), Tony Johnson (knee) and Jon Beason (sprained knee). All three were to have tests to determine the severity of their respective injuries 

They also lost another young player for the season, safety Justin Currie, who fractured his ankle in the second quarter. He will join safety Mykkele Thompson, who ruptured his Achilles last week, on injured reserve.  

Lastly, safety Bennett Jackson (knee) was injured during garbage time when his leg was rolled up on. He was spotted leaving with a brace on his right knee, barely able to walk.

There was some good news, though. Both Berhe and Amukamara said they were cleared to return to practice this week, and if all goes well, both should play next week against the New York Jets.

The Passing Game Continued to Struggle…

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

In fairness to quarterback Eli Manning, it is somewhat hard to have a passing game when two of the team’s top three receivers—Randle and Cruz—are missing.

For the second week in a row, Manning, who has otherwise thrown the ball well in the spring and the summer, was rarely on the same page with some of his receivers despite having good protection up front.

Manning has yet to complete a pass to last year’s rookie sensation Odell Beckham Jr., who this week was targeted five times but failed to come up with a reception.

What was most interesting in watching the competitive Beckham is that on at least two pass targets, the normally competitive receiver seemed to pull up short in his routes, perhaps concerned that the charging defensive backs might converge on him. Still, it’s quite surprising that in two preseason games, Beckham has yet to catch a pass.

Getting back to Manning, after completing four of eight (50 percent) pass attempts for 28 yards, this week he completed four out of 14 passes (28 percent) for 46 yards, with a couple of passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

“We got to do a little bit better,” Manning said. “I think we had some opportunities for some big plays that we just missed, a little off. So we just got to keep working with those guys, getting on the same page, getting the right timing.”

Manning admitted that the lack of practice reps with his receivers has become a problem that needs to be corrected.

“We’re dealing with some guys with some injuries and missing some time and missing some practices. We need all our guys out there so we’re getting those quality reps, those quality times,” he said.

…But the Starting Offensive Line Played Well

Scott Eklund/Associated Press

Although head coach Tom Coughlin tried every possible combination at right guard and right tackle this week—those combos saw John Jerry and Geoff Schwartz take turns at tackle and guard, with Marshall Newhouse, playing tackle, working with both Jerry and Schwartz when they were in the game at guard—the starting offensive line once again was fairly solid in pass protection.

For the second week in a row, Manning wasn’t sacked, which is a positive.

As for the running game, the Giants managed 24 yards on four carries on their second drive of the game—they didn’t run the ball once on the opening drive.  

The Giants also did much better on third-down conversions this week, converting 44 percent of their third-down tries, including a few 3rd-and-longs. 

“I thought the offensive line did a great job today,” Manning said. “Picked up some blitzes well, some other protections, some stunts, some different things, picked it up well.

“We got a lot of people involved and did some things, changed a lot of plays so I thought we had a good communication in those things. I thought the offensive linemen did a good job in the run game and pass protection.”

The left side of the offensive line—guard Justin Pugh and tackle Ereck Flowers—was particularly impressive.

The Giants ran quite a bit to that side of the line with success, and other than Flowers' whiffed pass block, that duo was as solid as one could have hoped.

The Defense Was Better…

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

The Jaguars scored on their first three possessions, but the good news is that they only managed field goals on those drives. In fact, they didn’t score a touchdown all game.

They also did a better job against the run this week, allowing just 49 yards on 16 carries in the first half, a big difference from last week’s showing.

“Right off the cuff, I think there was more energy on the field on the defensive side of the ball than there was in Cincinnati,” said linebacker J.T. Thomas, who finished with five tackles (four solo), one sack, one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble against his former teammates.

“I think that’s something we’re going to have to have if we’re expecting to be a good defense.”

“There definitely was some good progress,” added linebacker Jameel McClain, who stepped in at middle linebacker after Beason went down in the second quarter. “We definitely stepped up in a lot of places.”

Such as?

“Less mistakes and more people getting to the ball,” McClain said. “Even if someone missed a tackle, there was someone else there to be on top of them and to get them. That’s where you make your biggest football leap.”

McClain also noted that the defense had better energy and wasn’t as exhausted as the game wore on.

“Guys had better football wind in this game—there was better going to the ball, better running. People weren’t as exhausted, so it’s better; there is growth, and people understand the defense better. There are a lot of good things.”

…Except on 3rd-and Short…

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

The starting Giants defense faced four 3rd-and-short situations, and on all four, the Jaguars converted.

“We were able to contain the run, but we want to be better on stopping opposing offenses on 3rd-and-short situations where they were able to run the ball,” said Thomas.

Part of the problem was that the defensive interior didn’t get a consistent push up the middle as far as plugging the running lanes.

Defensive tackle Markus Kuhn, for example, who continues to earn the starting nod, was caught up in the wash far too many times, the Jaguars running right through his gap.

…And the Pass Rush

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Right now, the best thing the Giants can have happen is for their front four to get to the quarterback consistently.

That wasn’t the case this week, as unless the Giants blitzed, with the exception of Damontre Moore (two sacks), the front four just wasn’t getting it done.

Given the mess that is the defensive backfield, a consistent pass rush is going to be the Giants defense’s best friend in the coming weeks. They are going to need far more than just Moore to provide the disruption, though.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow @Patricia_Traina.