On the eve of Week 3 in the NFL, Daniel Jones and the Giants are preparing to play the new hand they’ve been dealt.
After an unusual amount of injuries throughout the league in Week 2, the Giants will move forward without one of their key contributors.
The loss of running back Saquon Barkley, a team co-captain, to a torn ACL is a body blow for this team. The Giants were already struggling to produce on offense, and now they’ve lost their home run hitter for the remainder of the season. But, nevertheless, the show must go on.
Without Barkley, all eyes will turn towards Daniel Jones. The second-year quarterback must step up and lead his team through this challenging situation.
Heading into this season, Jones was already expected to have an increased leadership role. But this is different. He gets to show what he can do as the one Captain in the huddle.
It doesn’t fall entirely on his shoulders; this must be a team effort
The offensive line has struggled to protect the quarterback along with opening lanes to run through. The running game is averaging 2.7 yards per carry, that ranks last in the league. Jones has been sacked seven times in two weeks, the Giants must find a way to protect him better than they have.
There’s no replacing a Saquon Barkley with just one player. But the Giants can help make up for his production with a group effort.
Newly signed running back Devonta Freeman brings experience to the backfield. Freeman was a two-time Pro Bowl player with the Atlanta Falcons. Veterans Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman, along with Freeman, project to split the workload for the Giants.
The defense has been an early surprise and it must stay that way. Through two weeks, the unit has allowed the second-fewest passing yards in the league. Defending against the run, however, has room for improvement.
For Jones, it’s time to seize the day
The Giants, at 0-2, need improvement in all areas of the game. But the spotlight will be on Daniel Jones. His critics will sit in front of their televisions this Sunday ready to go at him if he falters. The supporters of Jones get to see if he’s ready to take the next step of his maturation into a franchise quarterback.
For Jones, it means avoiding momentum-killing turnovers. Jones, however, is grasping the offense installed by new coordinator Jason Garrett, that’s an encouraging sign which must continue.
But what I’ll be paying the most attention to is how the team responds to the leadership of Jones without Barkley on the field with him.
When the Giants’ offense goes into their huddle, it will now be just one jersey with a “C” on it they see, and that’s Jones.
Can his teammates look to him to lead the way? This is, after all, his team — for the time being, anyway.
We’ll find out beginning this Sunday when the Giants welcome the San Francisco 49ers back to MetLife Stadium for Week 3.
