Offensive Struggles Persist

Daniel Jones now holds a 1-15 record in primetime games, including 0-8 on Monday Night Football. Unfortunately, he continues to falter when the stakes are highest and hasn’t found a way to deliver under pressure.

Jones had two chances to tie the game late but couldn’t make it happen. On the second attempt, Jones forced a throw into coverage and missed a wide-open receiver in the middle of the field, ending what had been a promising drive with no timeouts left and the ball being intercepted.

Tyrone Tracy looked like the clear first-choice running back, logging 20 carries while Devin Singletary saw just two. Tracy’s performance suggests he’s solidifying his spot as the Giants’ RB1.

Malik Nabers had some bright moments, but a dropped pass on a crucial third down ended a potential scoring drive. There’s no need to panic about the drops just yet — it seems to be more of a connection issue between Nabers and Jones.

Darius Slayton stood out with several impressive catches. If the Giants decide to trade him, they may get the best value now, with his stock as high as it’s likely to get ahead of the November 5th trade deadline.

Defensive Issues

Azeez Ojulari added two more sacks to his total, continuing to boost his trade value. Teams looking for pass-rush help will likely be reaching out to the Giants about him as the trade deadline approaches.

However, the Giants’ secondary was exposed, giving up several big plays to the Steelers’ receivers. Another concern was the benching of rookie Deonte Banks, especially with the team already thin at cornerback. Banks may not be ready to be the shutdown CB1 the Giants hoped for and could settle in as more of a CB2.

Special Teams and Missed Opportunities

The referees missed a roughing-the-kicker penalty on Matt Haack, which could have given the Giants some much-needed momentum. It’s unfortunate, but struggling teams often don’t get those calls on the road.

Kicker Greg Joseph was once again reliable, going 4-for-4 on field goals. He’s now 13-for-16 on the season, showing consistency when the Giants need it most.

What’s Next for the Giants?

With a 2-6 record, the Giants appear to be heading toward another high draft pick. Their next game against the Commanders won’t be an easy matchup either. The Commanders, currently sitting in first place, are poised to give the Giants serious trouble.

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The New York Giants fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 17-7, and several issues were evident on both sides of the ball. Here’s a breakdown of the game.

Offensive Struggles Continue.

Daniel Jones now sits at 1-14 in primetime games and 0-2 for 2024. Unfortunately, he continues to fall short under the spotlight.

The interception Jones threw in the red zone was a critical mistake. In that situation, it’s better to take the sack or throw the ball away—anything but turn it over. His decision-making let the team down.

Jones also missed key throws. One painful example was a 4th-and-3 pass targeting Darius Slayton when Wan’Dale Robinson was wide open.

At MetLife Stadium, Jones hasn’t thrown a touchdown since Week 17 of 2022 against the Colts. So far in 2024, he’s thrown 4 interceptions and 0 touchdowns at home.

On a brighter note, Tyrone Tracy had a breakout game. With 50 rushing yards, 57 receiving yards, and his first NFL touchdown, he proved he deserves more snaps. Tracy is making a case to be RB2 and could push for the top spot if Devin Singletary’s fumble issues continue.

Jalin Hyatt finally recorded his first catch of the season, but it was only for six yards on four targets. It’s hard not to wonder if the hype around Hyatt is beginning to fade.

Defensive Highlights.

Azeez Ojulari had a stellar performance with two sacks and constant pressure on Joe Burrow. His presence was felt throughout the game, especially with Kayvon Thibodeaux out.

Brian Burns seems to be finding his rhythm. He notched another sack and brought solid pressure off the edge.

Dexter Lawrence continues to dominate, earning his seventh sack of the season. He commands double teams on nearly every play and is building a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.

Special Teams Missteps.

Greg Joseph struggled, missing two field goals after making eight straight. His inconsistency put the team in a tough spot.

Despite the loss, the Giants controlled much of the game, shutting down the Bengals’ offense for long stretches. Missed opportunities cost them a win in a game that was within reach.

Next Up: A Critical Matchup Against the Eagles

The Giants now face a crucial game against the Philadelphia Eagles. This matchup marks Saquon Barkley’s return to MetLife Stadium after leaving in free agency. The Giants need a win to prevent their season from slipping away early.

The last time the Giants hosted the Eagles, they walked away with a victory. Another win would go a long way in resetting the 2024 campaign.

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The New York Giants have officially released their 53-man roster for the 2024 season. While this marks a significant milestone, it’s essential to remember that changes are inevitable. The team is expected to make waiver wire additions and finalize their practice squad players in the coming days.

Key Positions and Players to Watch

As the Giants prepare for the season opener, fans can look forward to an exciting season with this talented roster.

With the initial 53-man roster set, the Giants will now focus on assembling their 16-man practice squad, starting on Wednesday. Once waivers clear at noon EDT, unclaimed players become free agents and can sign with any team, either for a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.

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The New York Giants are actively searching for a second cornerback as the regular season approaches. While the team is hopeful to find a suitable player on the waiver wire, a recent report suggests a more intriguing possibility. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, there’s a chance the Giants might consider a trade involving linebacker Azeez Ojulari.

A Bold Prediction.

Duggan speculates that the Giants could look to move Ojulari in a player-for-player trade. He shared his bold prediction, stating, “I think the most likely outcome is a CB claimed off waivers next week. I don’t see a splash vet signing. Trade is an interesting possibility. My bold prediction is that Ojulari gets dealt in a player-for-player trade.”

The Dilemma: Pass Rush vs. Secondary.

I kinda like the idea of keeping Ojulari and running a NASCAR package to get after the quarterback. With Ojulari’s pass-rushing ability, pairing him with other edge rushers could create a formidable front that pressures opposing QBs relentlessly. However, I also understand the need for a solid secondary, especially with today’s pass-heavy offenses.

The Giants’ need for a reliable second cornerback has been evident throughout the preseason. If they can’t secure one through waivers, exploring a trade, especially involving a player like Ojulari, could provide the solution. Ojulari, who has shown flashes of brilliance, might attract interest from other teams looking to bolster their defense.

As the Giants weigh their options, fans should keep a close eye on the waiver wire and potential trade rumors. Whether through waivers or a trade, finding that second cornerback could be key to solidifying the defense before the season kicks off.

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The 2024 NFL season is approaching, and Giants fans are building excitement. Training camp will kicked off on July 24th for the veteran players. Let’s take a look at the Giants’ defensive line group as the team heads into training camp & preseason.

Dexter Lawrence

Lawrence remained one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen last season. He recorded 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, two passes defended, and 53 total tackles (32 solo). Remarkably, he achieved these numbers despite missing one game and playing limited snaps in the final five games.

He’s the Giants’ defensive leader, and everything starts with him in the middle.

Brian Burns

Giants GM Joe Schoen traded the 39th and 141st picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with a conditional 2025 pick, to acquire Burns and the 166th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Schoen then signed Burns to a five-year, $141 million contract, with $87.5 million guaranteed, making him the third highest-paid edge defender in the league by average annual value.

The 26-year-old recorded eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and two passes defended over 16 games last season. Burns’ 46 career sacks rank 12th in the NFL since he entered the league in 2019, while his 59 tackles for loss are tied for the sixth-most in that time. He also has eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 95 quarterback hits.

Brian Burns provides the Giants with a massive boost on the defensive side of the ball.

Kayvon Thibodeaux

After a strong rookie season where he finished fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux elevated his performance last season. Thibodeaux increased his sack total from four as a rookie to 11.5 in 2023. He also set new career highs with three forced fumbles, 12 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits. As he prepares for his third season, Thibodeaux is raising the bar even higher for himself.

The 23-year-old was selected fifth overall in the 2022 draft. He’s emerging as a top defender in the league.

Azeez Ojulari

Ojulari is entering the final year of his rookie contract. When healthy, he’s shown his potential with 16 sacks in 35 games. However, injuries have sidelined him for 16 games over three seasons, and he hasn’t fully met expectations since the Giants selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft. The addition of Brian Burns and the emergence of Kayvon Thibodeaux should help alleviate some of the pressure on Ojulari and boost his production.

Jordan Phillips

The 2023 season marked Phillips’ second stint with the Bills. He played in 14 games, starting nine of them, and recorded 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss. Phillips was on the field for 392 defensive snaps,but might face an uphill battle against a young and talented defensive line group.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches

In his first season with the Giants, Rakeem Nuñez-Roches played in 16 games and was active for 461 snaps—the third-highest of his career. However, his workload was inconsistent until after the Leonard Williams trade. Nuñez-Roches split his time between run and pass-rushing snaps, with a slight emphasis on the latter, generating 19 total pressures and 12 stops, marking the third-highest totals of his NFL career.

Nuñez-Roches brings value as a depth player due to his versatility, toughness, and high-energy play, making him an appealing asset.

Boogie Basham

Edge defender Boogie Basham struggled to find his rhythm in 2023 after joining the New York Giants and hasn’t lived up to his second-round draft status (No. 61 overall) by the Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Given the Giants’ depth on the edge with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Azeez Ojulari, it looks like playing time might be hard to come by for Basham.

Jordon Riley

The Giants need reliable players to ease the burden on Dexter Lawrence. This is where Jordon Riley could step up. The 2023 seventh-round pick faced injuries early in his rookie season but gained momentum toward the end. With a strong summer, could he emerge as more than just a backup lineman?

D.J. Davidson

New York Giants defensive tackle D.J. Davidson returned last season and proved himself as a valuable depth player on the defensive line. He demonstrated his ability to step in as a spot starter and contribute valuable snaps at both nose guard and defensive tackle.

ElijahChatman

The New York Giants signed defensive lineman Elijah Chatman, an undrafted free agent who earned his spot after participating in the team’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 278 pounds, Chatman played in 60 games at Southern Methodist University, the second-most in the school’s history. As a graduate student in 2023, he was named first-team All-American Athletic Conference, recording 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He also earned second-team All-AAC honors in 2021 and 2022.

Reports suggest he’s having a standout summer, and he could surprise some by making the final 53-man roster.

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If the Giants can stay healthy, Azeez Ojulari might be a hidden gem.

“He’s a great pass rusher. He’s very natural. He has natural ability. It comes very, very natural to him,” Burns told reporters on Sunday. “I think he’s very gifted. Just his build alone, he has extremely long arms and natural leverage, so that makes him a premium pass rusher as far as his build. He’s been doing great so far. I expect big things from him this year.”

Ojulari is heading into the last year of his rookie contract. When healthy, he’s been productive, with 16 sacks in 35 games.

However, Ojulari, who has missed 16 games due to injuries over three seasons, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since the Giants picked him in the second round of the 2020 draft.

Stay tuned for more Quick Notes! We aim to keep you updated with timely and frequent insights on all things New York Giants. Check back often for the latest updates.

The post Azeez Ojulari: A Potential Hidden Gem for the Giants first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

The New York Giants defense wasn’t particularly great a year ago. They made game-changing plays when the opportunities presented themselves, which contributed to the Giants’ trip to the playoffs, but they were lackluster on a down-to-down basis.

They finished 25th in yards allowed, 16th in points allowed, and were 29th in total DVOA (Football Outsiders’ measure of efficiency). The Giants were at the bottom of the league in turnovers and the middle of the pack in sack production.

ESPN’s Seth Walder has some potentially good news for Giants’ fans on that front. Bottom line up front: both Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux cracked his projection for the Top-50 pass rushers in 2023.

Walder released his annual projection for the top pass rushers (exclusive content), which takes a number of factors into account, including:

• Sack totals and rates over the past two seasons
• Projected snaps, courtesy of ESPN’s Mike Clay
• Pass rush win rate (PRWR), which uses player tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats
• How often a player’s defensive coordinator/head coach has blitzed in the past
• How often opposing quarterbacks on each player’s upcoming schedule get sacked
• A player’s team’s win total, which matters because a winning team forces opponents to take greater risks and pass more
• How often a player rushes from edge as opposed to the interior

Thibodeaux came in at 39th overall with a projected 6.5 sacks, while Ojulari ranks 25th. Walder said of Thibodeaux and Ojulari:

It might not feel strong, but this is a bullish projection, with DraftKings setting a line of just 5.75 sacks (and it opened lower) for Thibodeaux.

The No. 5 overall pick from last year’s draft got off to a slow start but finished with an 18% pass rush win rate, an above-average rate which was good for 15th among edge defenders. Plus, he plays for coordinator Wink Martindale, who blitzed at the highest rate in the league last season. Add in the caveat I gave about Hutchinson — that the model probably is underrating top draft picks early in their career — and Thibodeaux has a chance to break out.

I was a little surprised to see teammate Azeez Ojulari ahead of him, but Ojulari has strong numbers, including eight sacks as a rookie in 2021 and a 21% pass rush win rate last year at edge. He didn’t play enough for that second number to qualify, but would have ranked 12th if he had.

Speaking of Ojulari, his projected 7.3 sacks is half of Carl Banks’ prediction of a 15-sack season for Ojulari.

However, it’s worth noting that the ESPN’s most ambitious prediction is Myles Garrett, who tops the list at 13.2 sacks. Walder projected 12.1 sacks for Garrett in 2022, following a 16.0-sack season in 2021, and Garrett finished with 16.0 sacks in 2022.

So it’s certainly possible that Ojulari — or Thibodeaux — will out-perform their projections with more opportunities, more consistent coverage behind them, and another year of development.

It’s also notable that Dexter Lawrence, who had 7.5 sacks last year, didn’t crack the Top 50. However, as Walder says with regard to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (who had 15.0 sacks last year and is projected to have 10.0 this year) “Being a defensive tackle naturally depresses any sack forecast”.

It will be interesting to see how the “Wink Effect” impacts the Giants’ various sack totals. Martindale specializes in using alignment and blitzes to create one-on-one match-ups or free runs into the backfield. Individual match-ups will likely favor Thibodeaux, Ojulari, Lawrence, or Leonard Williams. However, we don’t know how often the EDGE defenders will be dropping into coverage or the defensive tackles will be tasked with holding double teams.

The Giants lead the league in blitz rate by a significant margin, and the 4.2 points they lead the No. 2 team (Arizona) by was about the same margin as was between Arizona and the team that was ninth in blitz rate (Carolina Panthers, 29.9 percent). Martindale is likely less concerned with any player’s individual stats as he is getting the Giants’ sack numbers (40, 13th in the NFL) closer to their league-leading blitz rate.

Elsewhere in the NFL

Taking a step back, the Giants have games against 18 of the top 48 pass rushers (excepting Thibodeaux and Ojulari). Eight of those pass rushers reside elsewhere in the NFC East, meaning the Giants will see them twice. They are:

• Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys – 11.9 projected sacks – 3rd )
• Haason Reddick (Philadelphia Eagles 10.8 sacks – 5th)
• Josh Sweat (PHI – 8.6 sacks – 15th)
• Daron Payne (Washington Commanders – 7.0 sacks – 30th)
• Jonathan Allen (WASH – 6.8 sacks – 36th)
• Brandon Graham (PHI – 6.6 sacks – 38th)
• Montez Sweat (Wash – 6.4 sacks – 43rd)
• Dorance Armstrong (DAL – 6.0 sacks – 49th)

We’ve previously written regarding the Giants’ potentially tough slate of defensive matchups this year. Seeing the names of the pass rushers with whom the Giants’ offensive line will need to contend, and just how many of them there are, puts that into focus.

As we said before, the Giants’ offensive line looks to have its work cut out for it this year. Hopefully the investments in the line will pay off, and the Giants’ own pass rush will cause more problems for their opponents than opposing rushers will for the Giants.

The post Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari projected to be top pass rushers in 2023 first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Azeez Ojulari will be participating in the New Jersey Spring Show brought to you by GT Sports Marketing. These are the rare opportunities to meet and greet one of your favorite athletes and obtain an autograph or take a selfie.

Below is the information you will need for the upcoming Azeez Ojulari Public Signing.

Azeez Ojulari Autograph Signing
Friday, April 1, 2022
Sunday, April 3, 2022
Signing times TBA

New Jersey Convention & Expo
97 Sunfield Ave
Edison, NJ 08837
Tickets & Links

*Player, Date, Location, & Time subject to change*

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• Round 1, Pick No. 20: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
• Round 2, Pick No. 50: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
• Round 3, Pick No. 71: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
• Round 4, Pick No. 116: Elerson Smith, LB, Northern Iowa
• Round 6, Pick No. 196: Gary Brightwell, RB, Arizona
• Round 6, Pick No. 201: Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State

About The Podcast:
We are a dedicated New York Giants Podcast with live radio analysis of all topics NYG. Always answering callers, comments, & questions. 

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