Gray Has Big Shoes To Fill
Photo: Michael Henriquez NY Beacon/MetLife Stadium
By Andrew Rosario
Daboll Has Work To Do
Photo: Michael Henriquez NY Beacon/MetLife Stadium
The New York Football Giants took the field last Thursday night at MetLife Stadium against the surprise team of the National Football team last year, the Detroit Lions. The team from the Motor City came within 1 game of representing the NFC East of going to the Super Bowl losing to the San Fransisco 49ers. Big Blue meanwhile, under third year head coach Brian Daboll, will play the 2024 season without the team’s most important and productive running backs in recent history. The organization decided to let Saquon Barkley test the free agent waters. Barkley signed with the division rival and hated Philadelphia Eagles. It shook the fan base to it’s core. When healthy, Barkley was one of the most dangerous weapons on the team, if not the entire league. In his 6 years, he ran the ball 1,201 times gaining over 5,200 yards. Add to that 35 touchdowns and 288 receiving yards and the team will be hard pressed to find a running back to be as productive.
Daboll had a magical 2022 season hired from the Buffalo Bills. His year ended 9-7-1, getting the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They beat the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card game only to the Eagles the following week. Daboll was named AP Coach of the Year. Injuries to quarterback Daniel Jones and Barkley derailed their season leading to 6-10 record missing the playoffs. It gave backup quarterback Tommy De Vito a chance to shine and show he could be a productive, solid QB.
With a healthy Jones, Daboll and the team will be on the hot seat in a division that is up for grabs that includes Dallas and Washington. It will be running back by committee. In the 14-3 win over Detroit, running backs Eric Gray ran for 52 yards on 4 carries (48-yard touchdown run), getting into the end zone twice. Dante Miller was impressive gaining 63 yards on 12 carries. Jones did not play and watched as Drew Lock completed 4 passes for 17 yards before leaving the game with a hip pointer and oblique strain. Lock is confident he will be ready when the season begins. DeVito came in and threw for 92 yards on 8 of 15 completions. “Where Tommy (DeVito) came from in rookie camp to where he was playing last year to understanding a lot of the nuances of our offense, I think he’s made strides. And I have thought (Eric) Gray has gotten stronger as camp went on. He made a couple nice plays tonight. Two young players, keep developing them,” said Daboll of DeVito and Gray.
Aside from the 2 games each they will play within their division, the Giants play Cleveland, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Carolina and Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, New Orleans (home of the 2025 Super Bowl), Baltimore and Indianapolis.
As with every team in the NFL, injuries will be a major factor in deciding how successful their season will be. For the New York Football Giants losing Barkley was not what the envisioned coming into the 2024 season. A huge part of their offense that will be hard to replace.
Recent Comments