The New York Giants had high hopes for the start of the new season. However, a crucial fumble by quarterback Daniel Jones quickly turned that anticipation into disillusionment. The face of the franchise must now finally put an end to these serious mistakes.
With 2:58 minutes left in the third quarter, the New York Giants are at the Denver Broncos’ 22-yard line. The visitors from Colorado are clinging to a 17-7 lead, and the “G-Men” can already smell the next points.
Quarterback Daniel Jones fakes the ball to running back Saquon Barkley, reads the Broncos defense and escapes pass rush pressure through a small gap in the pocket.
With the first-down marker up for grabs, Jones throws head-first at two defenders and – loses the egg from his hands. A murmur goes through the packed Metlife Stadium.
While a bunch of cheering white jerseys celebrate the turnover, Jones leaves the field with his head hanging.
Embed from Getty ImagesTurnover as the beginning of the end
Plays of this kind are no longer a surprise for New York Giants fans. Fumbles, mostly in unfavorable situations, characterize the young career of the 24-year-old signal-caller.
Against the Broncos, Jones fabricated his thirtieth fumble in 28 games – a record-setting number: since quarterback fumbles officially became a statistic (1994), only Tony Banks recorded more balls lost in that span (34) than the 2019 first-round pick.
The turnover marked the beginning of the end of the Giants’ start to the new season in Week 1 on Sunday: while the Broncos were able to add ten more points, it took Jones’ offense until the final second to score its second touchdown.
Improvement yes – but when?
“This isn’t about one player,” Head Coach Joe Judge clarified to members of the press after the 14:27 defeat, putting himself protectively in front of his young star. “We literally have a whole season ahead of us,” he said.
“I just have to protect the ball better and keep it closer to me. It’s obviously an area where I need to improve,” Jones admitted after the game.
Jones’ statements in particular are likely to raise eyebrows among Giants supporters.
In his third season, ball protection is still the big issue with the 24-year-old – when will that improve?
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Sacks throw Jones out of rhythm
The same goes for the playmaker’s pocket awareness, i.e. his ability to recognize pressure in the protective “pocket” (click here for ran NFL lexicon) and subsequently make the right decision.
Time and again, it is noticeable that Jones is virtually surprised by the opponent’s pass rush or almost “waits” for a corresponding sack.
The sometimes very mixed performances of his O-Line contribute their part to this plot. Often it is these sacks that are responsible for the majority of the fumbles.
If you believe the statistics portal Pro-Football-Reference, the 24-year-old already conceded 85 sacks in his 28 games and thus three per game. The lack of security in the pocket, which is of immense importance for an almost pure passer like Jones, is likely to contribute to the chaotic performances in the Giants’ jersey.
This fact is also reflected in his sobering record: in 27 games as a starting quarterback, “Danny Dimes” has only managed eight wins.
Embed from Getty ImagesNo more excuses
These “blemishes” are a glaring problem in the third season. Excluding the fumbles and sacks, Jones would have to make the move to franchise quarterback – including playoff participation – no later than this year.
With star receiver Kenny Golladay, the return of ace running back Saquon Barkley, and Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram, the 24-year-old has an impressive offensive arsenal just waiting to be fed by him.
Jones recorded 254 passing yards against the Broncos, plus a touchdown through the air and on the ground. The signs of success are there, it’s just the execution that’s still lacking at the moment.
Fans yearn for success
Other young stars at the quarterback position, such as Kyler Murray and Justin Herbert, have already fulfilled their potential with a similar squad and currently make a more promising impression than Daniel Jones.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen also only established himself as a top playmaker in his third season, though he did lead Buffalo to the playoffs the year before. Such a quantum leap would quash those concerns in one fell swoop.
As the successor to legendary Patriots vanquisher Eli Manning, there is also tremendous pressure on the tall passer. Giants supporters have been waiting since 2016 for a return to the playoffs – where, as we all know, anything is possible.
Especially in a nervous media market like New York, the clock is therefore ticking fast – a glance at the green city rival from the AFC East should make that clear.
Making amends against Washington?
The Giants open Game 2 of the current season against the Washington Football Team on Thursday night.
The game against the division rival is far from a “now-or-never” game, yet it could already have a landmark character.
The Football Team’s defensive line was one of the best in the NFL last season and could pose problems for Jones.
After the disappointing performance against Denver, the 24-year-old will do everything he can to underline his status as the face of the Giants.
Fantasy Impact
Daniel Jones has actually always been a streaming option in recent years. Unfortunately, he has also disappointed a time or two due to fumbles. As fantasy football players, we can simply roster another quarterback. It’s not that simple for the Giants, though.
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