The New York Giants are preparing for the their Week 2 showdown with the Buffalo Bills this Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Giants lost their season opener down in Dallas last week, 35-17, while the Bills overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Jets, 17-16.
On Thursday, the Giants’ three coordinators addressed the media regarding the issues from Week 1 and the current challenges they face this week.
Offensive coordinator Mike Shula
Shula was asked about the limited use of star running back Saquon Barkley, who had just 11 carries and four receptions — well below his normal workload — has the running back doubting his role in the offense.
“No,” said Shula. “I sense that Saquon wants to win, and he’ll do it in whatever role. He is the ultimate team player. He’s locked in just like he’s been since the minute he got here on how he and the other offensive guys can help us win.”
The offensive line was one of the few bright spots last Sunday. Eli Manning was able to operate and the running game perked along at a rate of 8.9 yards per attempt.
“I think there was some really good stuff in the running game, and that obviously starts with the offensive line — but it takes all 11. I think our receivers did a really good job blocking in the run game as well. That helped free up Saquon to get a one-on-one with a safety down the field, or a corner. I think they did a good job adjusting,” Shula said. “Pass protection-wise, we were good, but we can still get better. I think all of that, kind of going back to what we said all along, I think you’re going to pass protect better when you stay out of third and downs or when you stay out of third and longs. It all kind of ties in, we just have to get the points. We have to do better on third down and then do better at finishing drives.”
The Giants scored only 17 points and went 2-for-11 on third downs despite racking up 470 yards of total offense.
Defensive coordinator James Bettcher
The Giants allowed 405 yards passing to Dallas in Week 1 and most of it looked as if it was due to a lack of communication, but the left cornerback spot — shared by Antonio Hamilton and rookie Deandre Baker — especially got picked apart. Them there were the missed tackles.
“We have to play better at that spot, we have to tackle better at that spot,” said Bettcher. “I think that’s what it came down to, some missed tackles at that position. Bake’s (DeAndre Baker) going to get a chance to play there and you’ll see Ham (Antonio Hamilton) in situations and we will go from there. I think the plan will reveal itself like it did last week on Sunday. We just have to play better at the spot, just with the little things, it’s not about ability, it’s not what the guys are capable of doing, they just need to execute things that they know.”
The pass rush was pathetic. They did not sack Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and only hit him twice all game even though in retrospect in twas learned the Giants were actually doing a lot of blitzing. Bettcher didn’t seem to much of an explanation except his guys didn’t get home.
“When it comes down to whether you pressure or you four-man rush, it comes down to winning one on ones. We have to do a better job of winning one on ones,” Bettcher said. “I think coming out of Week 1 in terms of that specifically, you don’t sit back and say I’m surprised, I can’t believe this, I can’t believe that. I don’t live in that world. I look at it as here’s something we have to get better at, let’s go work to get better at it.
“We’re running to things, we aren’t running from them. Not attacking your question by any means, but I have a totally different mindset with those kinds of things. We need to attack what the problem was and go work to correct the problem. Not just say we need to rush the quarterback better. I think anyone can say that, Colton told me that as well. The truth is how do you rush the passer better. What fundamentals and techniques do we need to improve with specifically with what guys and players.”
Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey
The teams, as they are called, have been fairly solid since McGaughey took over last season. In Week 1, the return game and the coverage games were uneventful — no big plays made and none surrendered.
Rookie Corey Ballentine was charged with returning kicks. He gained 46 total yards on two returns.
“He did a good job. He’s a young kid,” said McGaughey. “The catch mechanic thing is still something that he’s working on, but every week he just has to get better, and every situation for him is a new situation. When you look at that stadium, he’s never been in a place like that before. Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University didn’t look like that, so it was definitely an eye-opening experience for him, but I think as he gets going, we look forward to great things from Corey.”
The Giants brought back TJ Jones this week, who was returning kicks in the preseason. McGaughey said Jones would be added back to the mix.
“He’d definitely play. We would definitely use TJ if he’s in there. He’s a talented kid, very reliable. We use everybody on the roster, we’re going to get something out of all of them. So, it’s just a matter of him getting back in and getting acclimated,” he said.
Antonio Hamilton was being used on defense last week, which cut into his responsibilities as a gunner. If he’s used less on defense he might be back as the primary gunner on kicks and punts where he excelled last season.
“We’ll see. It just depends what happens with him on defense. Antonio is always going to be a guy that’s an option for us at gunner, regardless of what he’s doing on defense, because of his ability to play the position. Obviously, we’re at a point right now where we’ve just got to be smart with him,” he said.
