Giants-Eagles pre-game ‘things I think’: Changes, potential roster moves, more

It’s a game day for the New York Giants! So, to help you pass the time before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, here are some pre-game ‘things I think’.

Shakeup coming?

If the Giants are embarrassed by the Eagles Thursday night — and maybe if they just lose while having some of their typical issues — I think changes could come during the mini-bye before the Giants face the Denver Broncos in Week 7.

No, I don’t think head coach Brian Daboll is getting fired. Yet. If the Giants win three games again, I don’t know how that does not happen. I don’t, though, see it right now. Immediately after the loss to New Orleans, the emotional side of me thought Daboll could be out after the Philadelphia game. As I have calmed down a tad I realized I don’t think the organization would want to bring that kind of turmoil to Jaxson Dart’s rookie season. Daboll remains the primary caretaker of Dart’s development, and messing with that now might not be the best move.

I think, though, that if the Giants don’t put forth an outstanding defensive effort Thursday night — if the penalties continue, the run defense is gashed, the bad angles, missed assignments and too-easy completions continue — defensive coordinator Shane Bowen becomes an easy fall guy.

Bowen has always seemed like an awkward fit for the Giants. He runs a vastly different system than ex-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and had defensively-minded Mike Vrabel as an overseer with the Tennessee Titans, is clearly not getting the expected production out of a defense that should be in the top half of the league. It should probably, in fact, be top 10.

The defense has only played to what most thought was its capability in one of five games — the victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

This rant from Nick Falato, though not for Big Blue View, exemplifies how many feel about the defense under Bowen:

I have questions:

• Why has Dexter Lawrence, the best nose tackle in football, played on the nose on just 105 of 234 snaps (44.4%)? Last season he was there 60% of the time. In 2023 under Martindale he was there 71% of the time?
• Why are Dru Phillips and Tyler Nubin not getting better, perhaps even regressing?
• If he has autonomy to decide who plays, why is Deonte Banks getting on the field if Phillips, Paulson Adebo and Cor’Dale Flott are not hurt?
• Why don’t the Giants use more stunts to make life easier on their pass rushers? They clearly work when Bowen dials them up.

Roster moves

This is how I would fill out the Giants’ roster for Thursday night:

• Wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and linebacker Neville Hewitt would be added to the 53-man roster. Humphrey should have been added last week. Hewitt is out of practice squad elevations, and the Giants are down Chris Board (IR), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (out injured, again), and Swayze...