PFF grades and snap counts from the Giants’ 31-12 victory over the Jets

Take preseason games for what they are - a chance for players to get used to playing with each other, for rookies to get into the rhythm of real NFL game action, and for those on the roster bubble to make their case. By any measure, though, the New York Giants’ 31-12 victory over the New York Jets was a success. If nothing else, it’s been years since the Giants defeated the Jets in any game, whether it counted or not, and goodness knows, this team has to get used to winning after two miserable seasons. Let’s see who was on the field a lot or a little and how they performed in the eyes of your favorite evaluators, the people at Pro Football Focus.

A note about playing time: In preseason games, snap counts are not meaningful in the way that they are in the regular season. In the real games, the best players play as much as possible. Depending on position and talent, some may play all or most snaps (e.g., quarterback, starting offensive linemen, off-ball linebackers, defensive backs). Other positions will inevitably rotate in and out (e.g., defensive line, running backs, receivers). In the pre-season, though, the coaches’ dual goals are to get the starters sufficient work to have them ready for the real season, and to evaluate those on the roster bubble and those whose roles might expand given a fair chance to shine. Here is Brian Daboll’s explanation of that:

“We had a target of what we wanted to get. For example, the inside linebackers, we were hoping for around 20 each so I was asking between every series, ‘Where are we at with (inside linebacker) Bobby O (Okereke)?’ ‘He’s at 15.’ ‘Where we at with (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden)?’ ‘He’s at 21 or 20.’ ‘Alright, get Bobby O one more. Where we at with (inside linebacker) Darius (Muasau)?’ ‘He got 25.’ We had how many reps we wanted to get so who was in there, when they were in there, doesn’t really necessarily mean anything…I’m talking to the coaches in between every series, where they’re at, target number. (Cornerback Cor’Dale) Flott had a couple more than we were going to give him. I think he had 18, we were shooting for roughly 10-12 but they got into a little bit of a series. (Wide received Darius) Slayton and Hyatt were right around 10-12, which they got right around that area, so I’d say the reps or the rep counting that everybody’s doing, I understand it, but there’s a specific plan for it and the reason why we do it.”

Offense

PFF grades

It’s great that the Giants have put up more than 30 points in their first two preseason games. Remember, though, who’s on the field on the other side of the ball. The Jets, who have had a pretty stout defense the past couple of years, did not play Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald IV, and Jermaine Johnson at all last night. In practices this week that defense mostly gave the Giants’ offense fits. Keep that in mind as we look at the offensive grades. First, the quarterbacks:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Giants’ quarterbacks had three big-time throws last night, with Russell Wilson (81.7) leading the pack due mainly to his moon ball to Beaux Collins. Tommy DeVito (76.3) and Jameis Winston (61.2) had their own big plays. Jaxson Dart (67.4) had a highly efficient though unspectacular evening compared to his first game, but he was 14 of 16 with the only TD pass of the game.

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

Welcome to the New York Giants, the home of elite NFL wide receivers. Zach Pascal graded 85.7 for his two receptions in two targets for 27 yards, while Jordan Bly (85.3) had only one catch on one target, but it was a 41-yard beauty from Tommy DeVito. Beaux Collins (84.9) had the catch-and-run that everyone will remember, an 80-yarder that just missed being a TD on Russell Wilson’s first moon ball as a Giant. Dalen Cambre (79.3) would not be denied either, with two catches in three targets for 45 yards. Who needs Malik Nabers?

The Giants’ tight ends also had a good night, led by Theo Johnson (82.8), who had 35 YAC on a 30-yard catch and run, and Greg Dulcich (69.0), who had a 20-yard TD reception. Worth noting is that all the tight ends and running backs who pass blocked graded above average. Dante Miller, a running back, has impressed thus far as a receiver (72.1).

Speaking of running backs:

Miller made hay last night as a runner as well (72.9), with 17 yards in five attempts. The other running backs had average grades. Worth noting, though, is the 29 yards after contact (YCO) by Tyrone Tracy, continuing what we saw from him last year, as well as the 14 YCO by Miller and the 13 YCO by Jonathan Ward.

I’ve sorted the blocking stats by number of blocking snaps to isolate the offensive linemen, and those who played enough snaps for their grade to be at all meaningful. Thus the players are not in ranked order by grade. Jermaine Eluemunor (76.0 overall) continues to be the best combined pass and run blocker on the Giants’ offensive line with Andrew Thomas still sidelined. However, Aaron Stinnie (71.9) graded well for the second game in a row, especially in pass blocking. The same was true to a lesser extent for Austin Schlottman (70.2). Evan Neal had his moments but had a rough night overall (47.6), including one QB hit. Marcus Mbow (55.6) was less impressive than he was last week in Buffalo, surrendering two QB hits. James Hudson III (52.7) gave up the only sack of the night by the OL. Again, it’s worth remembering, when we see the beautiful pocket the line gave Russell Wilson on his moon ball to Beaux Collins, that the Jets’ best pass rushers were all on the sideline last night.

Snap counts

The most notable offensive development was defensive tackle Elijah Chatman getting two snaps at fullback.

As was the case last week, all four quarterbacks played, though DeVito only got one series. The highlight of the evening was Dart being thrown in for one play unexpectedly.

The starting offensive linemen (including interim starting LT James Hudson III) got 19 snaps except for Greg Van Roten, who only had 8. Evan Neal played with the starters in his place.

Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt saw their first action but only for a limited number of snaps. Most of the receiving snaps went to Gunner Olszewski, Juice Wells, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, with Beaux Collins, Dalen Cambre, and Montrell Washington playing a decent number of snaps and Zach Pascal, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jordan Play playing less.

Daniel Bellinger did not play. The other four tight ends (Theo Johnson, Thomas Fidone II, Greg Dulcich, and Jermaine Terry) saw roughly equal amounts of action.

Defense

PFF grades

Unlike offense, where players at specific positions have mostly specific roles, on defense, everyone’s trying to tackle, many are trying to cover, and many are trying to stop the run, so there is no easy way to group them. Let’s just begin with the players who played the best overall:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

The defense overall did an excellent job last night. Part of that was that starting quarterback Justin Fields only played a little, and when he did he mostly handed off rather than passing…but he didn’t pass well either. Of note was that Nic Jones played well in coverage (89.2), giving up two receptions in three targets but for only 4 yards, and that Cor’Dale Flott (83.5), competing for the CB2 position, had a nice breakup of a pass to Garrett Wilson. Among other defensive backs, Dee Williams (88.7 but only two coverage snaps), Makari Paige (87.1), Dane Belton (78.4), Dru Phillips (75.1), and Paulson Adebo (71.1) all played well.

In the linebacking corps, Dyontae Johnson (86.5) stood out, as did Bobby Okereke (81.9), K.J. Cloyd (76.9), and Chris Board (70.9 after a rough game in Buffalo).

On the interior defensive line, Roy Robertson-Harris (82.2) stood out, and notably with a 76.4 run defense grade. Fans are rightly concerned with the Giants’ interior run defense after last year’s sieve-like performances when Dexter Lawrence was out, but the combination of Lawrence and Robertson-Harris should improve things this year. Elijah Garcia (71.0) also played well in limited action.

On the edge, Brian Burns (81.3) had a very good game overall despite no QB pressures. Trace Ford (70.7), the free agent from Oklahoma. had his second consecutive good performance, getting two hurries and batting down a pass.

Those were the good grades. Here are the rest of the defense’s grades, the average, the mediocre and the ugly:

Courtesy of Pro Football Focus

The most notable aspect of this chart is that No. 3 draft pick Abdul Carter (46.9) followed up his highlight debut in Buffalo with a nothing-burger against the Jets. He did have one hurry in five pass rush snaps; the low grade was due to his 36.6 coverage score, resulting from a 20-yard reception he gave up to Brandon Smith. Jordon Riley (29.5) had his second missed tackle in two pre-season games. Micah McFadden (48.8) graded low after his excellent game in Buffalo, mostly as a result of a missed tackle on a rushing play.

The other starters graded in the average to slightly below average range. Of note is that third round draft pick Darius Alexander did at least make the stat sheet with a tackle, but his performance was otherwise non-descript. Kayvon Thibodeaux graded an average 65.7 but was active, with a QB hit (and an overall 88.6 pass rush grade), 3 tackles and an assist. Rakeem Nunez-Roches was 56.0 overall but had a 78.0 pass rush grade and one tackle.

Snap counts

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