Big Blue View
Over the second half of their Week 6 game against the Philadelphia Eagles and the first three quarters of Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants’ defense played five consecutive quarters of shutout football. Over the final quarter against the Broncos and Week 8 against the Eagles, that same defense gave up 71 points.
What gives?
“It’s disappointing, it’s frustrating,” Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said this week. “It’s been a drastic change here. I think just with our guys, making sure we’re getting back to who we are, right? And what we want to be about and don’t let one thing snowball on us and keep playing, keep finding solutions, keep working on the practice field. And I’m confident that we’re going to do that this week.”
How do the Giants, last in the league in yards allowed per rushing attempt (5.7) and 26th in points allowed, fix it?
“I think specifically on Sunday, it was probably one of our worst tackling games. I think tackling showed up,” Bowen said. “I think just making sure we’re defined in where we’re at in terms of gap control. Not lying to the guys behind us, it gets a little gray, then it gets a little loose. And then good backs find it, and they exploit it. So, making sure we’re doing a good job of being where we’re supposed to be, controlling our gaps.
“It’s not one group, it’s not one guy, it’s not the players, it’s everybody. All of us together in this thing and things we have to get fixed as we go here.”
A couple of weeks ago, Deonte Banks was out of the cornerback rotation. Now, with Paulson Adebo nursing a knee injury and Cor’Dale Flott still in the concussion protocol, the Giants are having to rely on the thus-far disappointing former first-round pick.
“I think he’s been good even throughout training camp when they were battling it out, him and Flott. I think he’s been engaged,” Bowen said. “He comes in, he works every day. Never going to be perfect with any of these guys. There’s always plays, but I do think he’s taking the next step. And just being a pro in what it takes week in and week out.”
With Cam Skattebo lost for the season, the Giants will have to turn back to Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary as their primary backs. Fortunately, both have had success in the NFL.
“You have a guy like that [Skattebo] that gets hurt in that kind of way, it’s certainly a downer. But again, Tracy, Motor [Singletary], those guys are going to step up and do a heck of a job in terms of carrying the load in the run game, in the pass game,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. They do a phenomenal job, and they’re pros, right? I mean, these guys are starters in the league and we have full confidence in those two....
