Here are some Giants takeaways from Saturday night’s preseason victory over the Jets:
— In more extended action than he had last week, rookie Abdul Carter was not as impactful as he was in his debut.
Carter, noticeable because he was wearing a bright red sleeve on his left arm, rushed from a standing position on the first series and put his hand down on the turf and rushed from the line of scrimmage on the next series.
There are still lessons to be learned.
On a third-and-3 pass rush in the second quarter, Carter was blown up by offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor.
— When given the chance, a young player needs to take full advantage, because opportunities are not guaranteed.
Beaux Collins is a rookie and he has put together some solid training camp practices.
That was a nice foundation for the undrafted rookie wide receiver from Notre Dame.
Next, he needed to flash in a game and he did that in his first preseason action.
Collins was dealing with a physical issue and did not make it to the field in last week’s opener in Buffalo. That did not help his cause.
With Malik Nabers missing his second game, Collins started alongside Darius Slayton and on the very first series he made a play, hauling in an 80-yard bomb from Russell Wilson.
— With Deonte Banks missing the game with an undisclosed injury, Cor’Dale Flott started at cornerback alongside Paulson Adebo.
Flott made his presence felt on the second defensive series, breaking up a third-down pass over the middle intended for Garrett Wilson.
Flott and Banks are in a battle for one starting spot and Flott’s availability could be the difference-maker that tilts the competition his way.
— Elijah Chatman started at defensive tackle, as Dexter Lawrence is being held out of these games.
At 6-foot and 278 pounds, Chatman is undersized for a defensive lineman but he is one of the strongest players on the team and he made the roster last season as an undrafted rookie.
He is getting a chance to show his value on offense, as he lined up in a classic fullback spot early in the second quarter.
As a lead blocker, he put his body on a defender as Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran for a five-yard gain.
— There has to be a place on this team for Dante Miller.
Backup running backs must be able to contribute on special teams and Miller did just that when he raced down the field to down a Jamie Gillan punt on the 5-yard line. That was big for Miller.
On offense, he continued to show the burst that led to his nickname of Turbo.
Miller has shown great hands in the screen game. He had four catches for 43 yards.
— Jalin Hyatt has not exactly lit anything up in training camp and the third-year receiver is facing challenges from other players looking to slide onto the roster.
That is why Hyatt running a crisp route and hauling in a 21-yard pass from Wilson in the first quarter had to feel good for Hyatt.
He needed that reception.
— Veteran kicker Graham Gano was given the night off. In his place, Jude McAtamney handled the kickoffs and nailed a 35-yard field goal.
— Evan Neal did not start, but he did replace veteran Greg Van Roten for the third offensive series.
Neal played two series with the other starters on the offensive line.
It looked as if he allowed a pressure to Phidarian Mathis on a quarterback hit taken by Jaxson Dart.
Neal stayed in the game in the second half, working with the second-team line of Marcus Mbow, Josh Ezeudu, Austin Schlottmann and Stone Forsythe.
— It is tough for a veteran such as Jameis Winston to work with the third-team offense, but Winston was solid as he rallied all the youngsters on the field with him.
In the third quarter, rookie hopeful Dalen Cambre made a high-degree-of-difficulty grab on the right sideline for 34 yards, the ball placed perfectly by Winston.
In the fourth quarter, Winston scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper.
Winston finished 6-of-11 for 111 yards.
Credit: Source link
