NEW ORLEANS — As disturbing as the five Giants turnovers were against the Saints in their 26-14 loss Sunday at the Superdome, their lack of pass rush was nearly as alarming.
The defensive front is supposed to be one of their strengths, and yet the Giants failed to register a single sack of Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler and were credited with only a single quarterback hit on him.
This isn’t acceptable for a team that has the likes of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter on the edges and Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence II in the middle.
Because of this lack of pass rush, the Giants defense allowed the Saints to go 7-for-15 converting third downs, which is poor defense.
“We could never get into a groove,’’ Burns said.
Burns said part of the issue was Rattler releasing the ball quickly and throwing a lot of short passes.
“I felt like he was going to change [doing that] once we took the lead early on,’’ Burns said. “I felt like that was going to be an opportunity for us to open up the game. But it didn’t go that way once they closed that gap and then took the lead.
“We still have to find a way to get to the quarterback,’’ Burns went on. “We have to find a way. The defense has to be better.’’
The Giants went for it on fourth down five times in the game, converting three of them.
Yet, after the game, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was questioned about a couple of times that he opted not to go for it on fourth down.
“That was the decision that we made, not to go for it [on some of the plays],’’ Daboll said. “We went on a number of four downs, and we were gonna try to pin them down there. We have [analytic] guys that I lean on fourth down-wise. We communicate and talk about those. Every decision I make I think it’s the best decision after talking to the guys that I lean on, and then ultimately it’s my decision.’’
The Giants had an interception by Jevon Holland nullified on the second Saints possession because of a pass interference penalty on cornerback Deonte Banks, the 2023 first-round pick. Rattler had his pass intended for Chris Olave tipped and Holland picked it off.
But the Banks penalty went for 25 yards.
Afterward, Daboll somewhat defended Banks and said he has “trust’’ in both Banks and Cor’Dale Flott.
“Tae has done some good things,’’ Daboll said. “We had a couple plays downfield that I thought we had a chance to make. So not good enough.’’
Asked about Banks’ propensity for being penalized, Daboll said he has to “keep working on our technique. I know [the defensive coaches] are out there with those guys every day working on technique and getting their head around when they need to get their head around and not being as handsy. And we’ll continue to do that.’’
The Giants last week beat the previously unbeaten Chargers and this week lost to the previously winless Saints, which is some strange symmetry at work.
“That’s the beauty of the NFL,’’ left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “Regardless of the record, the margins are so small in this league. It’s a game of inches. You turn the ball over that many times, you’re not gonna give yourselves a good shot.’’
Credit: Source link
