The New York Giants defense is not off a to a stellar start this season. After two games, they’ve surrendered 57 points (eighth-highest in the NFL) and are seventh in yards allowed (413.5 per game).
Last year, the Giants were a top 10 defense in this league. So, what’s happened? Who is to blame?
#Giants DC Patrick Graham: “The main person I’m going to blame is myself. I’ve got to do a better job … it starts with me.”
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 23, 2021
Giants DC Patrick Graham is determined to look forward, not back at his disappointing D. “If you want to use 2 weeks out of 17 weeks, if you do the math, we’ve still got a chance to be ok.”
And on his performance: “I failed the test last week. I get another chance this week.”
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) September 23, 2021
Graham has rarely ‘failed the test’ in his career. He made a solid impression in his first season as defensive coordinator last year. The Giants’ defense kept the team in many a game.
This year, they are putting more pressure on their offense by not being able to get off the field on third downs and allowing big plays such as Melvin Gordon’s 70-yard touchdown run.
The Giants have to tighten things up immediately in order to make something of this season.
Atlanta is a good place to start. Matt Ryan is not a mobile quarterback and their running game is led by kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson. They do present challenges in the passing game with wideout Calvin Ridley and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, however.
Graham said Kyle Pitts gets really scary when you go back and watch his college tape because he was always going against future NFL DBs.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) September 23, 2021
The Giants have not handled tight ends very well this year thus far allowing the fourth-highest total of fantasy points to TEs.
