The New York Giants opened the 2019 NFL preseason with a 31-22 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
There is a lot to unpack from the game, but here’s a few things we learned from Thursday night’s win.
Running game is lacking without Saquon Barkley
Sort of a toothless attack without the All-World Barkley, the triple threat that took the league by storm as a rookie last year. Against the Jets, the Giants rushed the football 18 times for a measly 40 yards (2.2 per carry). Their longest run was for nine yards by Wayne Gallman. Maybe the Jets have a solid run defense. No, that’s not it.
The base defense may not be a 3-4 but a 3-3-5
The Giants opened the game with five defensive backs: safeties Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea and corners Janoris Jenkins, Deandre Baker and Julian Love. Didn’t work very well as the Jets knifed right through them on the first possession, going 75 yards on seven plays for an easy touchdown.
Interesting opening lineup included rookie defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the middle surrounded by Markus Golden and Dalvin Tomlinson. No B.J. Hill, although he quickly jumped in. The linebackers were Alec Ogletree, Tae Davis and Lorenzo Carter.
Alex Tanney can play this game
When people talk about Giants backup quarterback Alex Tanney, there’s not much data to go on to make an informed decision about him. Most just think that he will be let go come cutdown day now that Daniel Jones is in the house. Maybe so, but Tanney isn’t going quietly.
On Thursday, he completed 14 of 19 passes for 190 yards and 51-yard touchdown play to Russell Shepard. Tanney was the third QB inserted into the game by the Giants, not Kyle Lauletta. What does that tell you?
The offense opened in the 12 personnel alignment
The Giants started the game with Eli Manning under center behind the starting offensive line: LT Nate Solder, LG Will Hernandez, C Jon Halapio, RG Kevin Zeitler and RT Mike Remmers. Wayne Gallman was in the backfield, Cody Latimer and Golden Tate were the wideouts and Rhett Ellison and Scott Simonson were at tight end.
The first play was a three-yard completion to Simonson on a rollout by Manning. The next two plays were unsuccessful runs by Gallman and Hernandez was called for holding on one of them, which was declined.
