Category: Giants Wire Features

Report: No other major organizational changes expected for Giants

Other than the firing of head coach Pat Shurmur, the New York Giants are not expected to make any major organizational changes.

On Monday, following the conclusion of a 4-12 regular season, the New York Giants fired Pat Shurmur as the head coach after just two years.

While Shurmur was sent packing, the Giants decided to retain Dave Gettleman as the team’s general manager. It also appears that the rest of Gettleman’s immediate staff will stay intact for next season, too.

What this ultimately means is that most of the people who work in the front office and everyone under Gettleman are returning for next season.

Or to boil things down more simply: no major overhaul.

Will this sway away any potential future head coaches, who want to have more say over the decisions of the roster that Gettleman might have? That remains to be seen, but co-owner John Mara says he’s not concerned with it.

Gettleman is clearly in charge, or at least that’s the perception from the outside looking in, and if he made a recommendation that Shurmur be fired, then he got his wish.

For the fans who were hoping for massive, wholesale changes for the Giants, they did not get their wish. As it appears to just be the coaching staff that is getting changed.

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Giants head coaching search: 15 potential candidates

The New York Giants have fired head coach Pat Shurmur, so here’s a look at 15 candidates who could replace him.

As many things change, so many stay the same — especially in East Rutherford, where the New York Giants have fired head coach Pat Shurmur and are once again on the prowl for a replacement.

The Giants now need to hire their fifth head coach since 2015 and since they got a late start, there’s a lot of ground to make up.

Here’s a look at 15 potential head coaching candidates.

Editor’s note: Having gone over several of these names previously, there’s no real reason to completely rehash everything just for the sake of doing it, so we’re going to blockquote out previous analysis and commentary, and add to it if needed.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Rhule

Rhule is drawing interest from the Carolina Panthers and others, but rumors suggest he’s looking for a place where he can control personnel or he’s not leaving college. Are the Giants that team? Ehh…

Rhule has had success just about everywhere he has gone, and his time at Baylor has been no exception. With the school dealing with some very serious issues, he’s brought it back from the ashes. Not only that, Rhule has a familiarity with the Giants and team ownership, having served as their assistant offensive line coach in 2012. He’s generated head coaching interest in recent years and very nearly landed the Jets job prior to the hiring of Adam Gase.

Forgetting about his desire to control personnel, Rhule has no NFL head coaching experience to speak of, which is something the Giants may look to avoid this time around.

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Giants vs. Eagles Player of the Game: Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, but RB Saquon Barkley did enough to earn our Player of the Game.

The New York Giants were hoping to ruin the playoff hopes of the Philadelphia Eagles, but on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, it was the Eagles who walked out of New Jersey as the NFC East Champions and with a playoff berth in tow.

The Giants never gave up in the game and gave the Eagles an absolute fight, but in the end, the Eagles were too much for the Giants, winning 34-17.

One player who never gave up on trying all season long and kept the Giants going was Saquon Barkley, who had a very slow game through most of the game, but then showed everyone how quick he can turn the jets on.

With the Giants trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, Barkley shredded through tacklers and went 68 yards into the end zone to tie the game at 17-17.

At the time, Barkley had just 10 yards before bursting out for that carry.

For the game, Barkley had 17 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 25 yards, giving him 116 total yards on the game.

On the season, Barkley needed 89 yards to get him over the 1,000-yard mark and he was able to do that, finishing with 1,002 for the year.

Barkley’s connective 1,000-yard seasons are the first since Brandon Jacobs did it in 2007 and 2008 (1,009 and 1,089 yards respectively). Barkley though, is the first Giants player to rush for 1,000-plus yards in his first two seasons.

What’s even more impressive about it is that Barkley missed several games due to the high ankle sprain and yet, still has a 1,000-yard season for the second straight time in his young career.

The Giants clearly have a bona fide superstar in their backfield with Barkley.

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Behind Enemy Lines: Week 17 Q&A with Eagles Wire

With a Week 17 matchup between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Eagles Wire.

The New York Giants (4-11) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) will square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 17.

The Giants opened the week as 4.5-point home underdogs, and the spread hasn’t changed at all as of Saturday morning, with Big Blue now at +4.5

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby.

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Giants Wire: It’s only been a few short weeks since the last time we were here examining a matchup between these two teams, but a lot has changed on each side. How optimistic are the roller-coaster Eagles going into a game in which they can win the NFC East?

Glenn Erby: They are an extremely resilient and optimistic group, and that confidence as a group is no act. The Eagles generally feel that their best football is yet to come, and the confidence gained in surviving the early injuries and figuring out ways to pull out games late has only helped this group mature even more. They are extremely optimistic and having fate in their own hands only adds to the confidence going into Sunday afternoon.

Continue …

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2020 NFL Draft profile: Kevin Thurmon Jr., DL, Arkansas State

Kevin Thurmon Jr. of Arkansas State is a big, strong and quick defensive lineman who has real value in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2019 NFL regular season will come to a close on Sunday and the year in just a few short days, which means the time has come to begin looking ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft and players that could help the New York Giants (and 31 other teams).

With the status of general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur up in the air, major personnel changes could be coming for Big Blue, but one things remains certain — they need help on the defensive side of the ball.

With Leonard Williams poised to become a free agent and looking for a massive contract, coupled with the substantially decreased playing time for B.J. Hill and R.J. McIntosh, the Giants may be in the market for more defensive line depth.

That could be found in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft where Arkansas State defensive lineman Kevin Thurmon Jr. is a near lock to come off the board pending an impressive All-Star Game performance that could rocket him up the charts even further.

The 6-foot-3, 298-pound Thurmon originally enrolled at Ball State but transferred to Arkansas State in 2017, missing the season due to NCAA transferring rules, but promptly became a two-year starter.

During his sophomore season at Ball State, Thurmon recorded 23 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss of 36 yards over the course of 10 games (four starts).

In 2018 for Arkansas State, Thurmon took the next step in his development, recording 63 tackles and 12.0 tackles for a loss to go along with 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 13 games. His 47 assisted tackles were No. 7 in the Sun Belt that year, while his 12 tackles for a loss were No. 6 in the conference — both were No. 1 among interior defensive linemen.

That was enough to earn Thurmon an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention.

As a redshirt senior in 2019, Thurmon recorded 54 tackles (29 solo), 7.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and one pass defensed in 10 games, having missed three games earlier in the season due to a broken hand suffered during the Red Wolves’ 41-28 win over Southern Illinois on September 21.

In his first game back from the broken hand that required surgery, Thurmon, wearing a club, recorded seven tackles (six solo) against UL-Lafayette. Later, in his first game without the club, Thurmon recorded 11 tackles (six solo) and one sack in a 28-27 victory over Coastal Carolina.

Perhaps most impressively, Thurmon recorded one tackle for a loss and was credited with a remarkable eight quarterback pressures in a Camellia Bowl victory over Florida International University on December 21, earning him a spot on the All-Sun Belt Second Team.

With good size and deceptive speed (4.97 40-yard dash), Thurmon is a potential fit in both a 4-3 defensive system and a 3-4 defensive system, although he may be better suited for a hybrid 3-4 system like the one James Bettcher runs in New York.

Additionally, Thurmon has no red flags away from the field and made both the A-State Athletics Director’s Honor Roll and the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.

As things sit, Thurmon is projected to be picked anywhere between the fourth and sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but as noted previously, an impressive All-Star Game performance and a quality showing at the NFL Combine (pending invite) could go a long way in cementing his status as a legitimate mid-round talent with tremendous upside at the NFL level.

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Giants vs. Eagles: Week 17 staff picks and predictions

The Giants Wire staff offers their picks and predictions ahead of a Week 17 game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

The New York Giants (4-11) will take on the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) at MetLife Stadium in a game where they could play spoiler and cost Philly the division title.

Experts are leaning heavily toward the Eagles this week — 7:3 — with most of those expecting a one-score contest that comes down to the wire.

How does the Giants Wire staff see this Week 17 battle shaking out? Here’s a look at our picks and score predictions:

Dan Benton: Eagles 34, Giants 20

The Giants have been awful this season and have nothing to play for, whereas the Eagles will clinch the NFC East with a victory. That’s the difference in this game that will really matter.

*Above prediction was also printed in USA TODAY Sports Weekly alongside a full game preview. Print editions are available every Wednesday at newsstands everywhere.

John Fennelly: Giants 24, Eagles 23

Yes, I’m picking the Giants to win! Philadelphia has way too many injuries to even mount an offense at the moment, especially now with Zack Ertz hurting. The Giants’ offense is cooking and Philly will have to deal with a healthy Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones now instead of the stationary Eli Manning. The Giants should have won three weeks ago, but couldn’t hold on. This time, I think they will. With the coaches’ jobs on the line, Big Blue will rise to the occasion and lift the Dallas Cowboys into the NFC Playoffs.

Doug Rush: Eagles 32, Giants 24

The Giants are trying to close out the season on a high note and a possible three-game winning streak, but they have a tough task at hand in the Philadelphia Eagles.

Four weeks ago, the Giants almost left Lincoln Financial Stadium with a win, but the Eagles squeaked out an overtime win.

The Giants had Eli Manning under center for that one. This time, it’s Daniel Jones who gets the first crack against Philly — a week removed from a five-touchdown performance.

The Eagles are playing for the NFC East title and are trying to make it back to the playoffs for the third straight season. The Eagles are also looking for their seventh straight win over the Giants dating back to the 2016 season.

With the Eagles playing for a postseason spot and the Giants looking at the NFL Draft order, the Eagles likely walk out of MetLife Stadium as the NFC East Champions.

Tyler Henry: Eagles 31, Giants 21

The Giants come in riding back-to-back wins with a little momentum to end the season. They will hope to end their six-game losing streak against the Eagles as they play spoiler at home this Sunday. It would be pretty sweet to see the Giants knock the Eagles out of the playoffs and get Daniel Jones his first win against the division rival Eagles. Unfortunately, with the roll the Eagles are on I can’t see the Giants winning this one. They were close a few weeks back but fell short in overtime. I think if the Giants are going to win this game, they have to get a lot of pressure on Carson Wentz. The Eagles have a lot more to play for and I see them coming into MetLife getting the win. I think it will be a close game where the Eagles pull away on a late touchdown.

Pat Ragazzo: Eagles 27, Giants 21

The Giants are coming off two impressive wins against the lowly Dolphins and Redskins. Their offense has scored a total of 77 points combined in the last two weeks, while Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley had career days last Sunday. All positive signs for the future, but I don’t believe the Eagles lose this game as they are also on a roll. The Giants defense is too weak, and the Eagles are in a must win game to capture the division crown. Carson Wentz has proved to be clutch in the past month and has elevated the players around him. I believe he comes out victorious in a do-or-die game for Philadelphia

Kevin Hickey: N/A

N/A

Mike Moraitis: Eagles 23, Giants 20

The Giants will finish off yet another disappointing season with a home game against the Eagles. While the Giants have nothing to play for, the Eagles are trying to secure their spot atop the NFC Least in order to make the playoffs. An Eagles win or a Cowboys loss would make that happen.

Despite this lost season, the Giants are still playing hard for their embattled head coach, who could be on his way out after 2019. While I expect Big Blue to put up a fight in this one, a motivated Eagles team is not going to be denied a playoff berth.

A struggling Giants secondary is just what the doctor ordered for an injury-riddled Eagles receiving corps., and the return of Jordan Howard comes just in time for this game and will help Philly return to a two-headed rushing attack that can take pressure off Carson Wentz.

Serena Burks: Eagles 28, Giants 21

Daniel Jones may have put up 41 points on the Redskins last week, but the Eagles are a far cry from Washington. Jones hasn’t faced the Eagles yet, a team which has the third-best run defense in the league. The Eagles held Saquon to 66 yards in their last meeting, so the offense is going to run through Jones.

Still, this game is more about coaching than the players on the field. Pat Shurmur and James Bettcher are not known for making effective adjustments. The second half will be the story of the game, and the Eagles have a playoff spot on the line. As much as the Giants want to hold them back, the Eagles want a win just as much and they have the tools to get it done.

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Giants promote Garrett Dickerson, place Scott Simonson on IR

The New York Giants have promoted TE Garrett Dickerson from their practice squad and placed TE Scott Simonson on IR.

The New York Giants have taken relentless hits at tight end for most of the season and just before the season finale, they has taken another one.

Scott Simonson, who had been the team’s second tight end over the last few weeks, has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a concussion last week against the Washington Redskins, the team announced on Saturday.

To take Simonson’s place, the Giants have signed tight end Garrett Dickerson from their practice squad and he will be active for the finale at MetLife Stadium against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dickerson has already had one stint on the team this season, playing in three games, but has yet to record a reception. Dickerson also played in four games for the Giants back in the 2018 season, which was his rookie year.

Simonson is the third tight end the Giants have lost for the season due to injuries, as Evan Engram (foot) and Rhett Ellison (concussion) are also on injured reserve.

Dickerson will be the backup to rookie Kaden Smith, who has made a significant impression as the Giants starting tight end since he went into action in late November.

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5 reasons Giants could upset Eagles in Week 17

The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles square off in Week 17, and here are five reasons Big Blue could come away with the win.

As the 2019 season comes to a close, the New York Giants will finish with a losing record for the third straight year.

On a brighter note, they have a chance to finish the season strong by closing out on a three-game winning streak by beating the Philadelphia Eagles. By doing so, the G-Men would ultimately be playing spoiler against an Eagle team that must win to clinch the NFC East division title.

If the Eagles lose and the Cowboys beat the Redskins, then Dallas will be crowned division champions. The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak of their own, which started against the Giants in Week 14. Now, Philadelphia is looking to cap off their season with a fourth straight divisional win, along with the crown in the east.

Let’s take a look at five reasons why the Giants could fulfill the act of spoiler on Sunday.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Momentum

Both teams are riding respective winning streaks, but the pressure is 100% on the Eagles, who must win to get into the playoffs.

The Giants received promising performances last week from Daniel Jones, who threw for a career high 352 yards and five touchdown passes to go along with Saquon Barkley and his two touchdowns on 279 yards from scrimmage (Giants single-game franchise record, 189 rushing, 90 receiving).

While the defense has remained shaky, the offense was clicking on all-cylinders and if Jones and Barkley can put up similar numbers this week, they could potentially play spoiler against this red-hot Eagles team.

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Giants vs. Eagles: 3 keys to victory in Week 17

Three keys to victory for the New York Giants as they host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 at MetLife Stadium.

The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in their final game of the season. The Giants look to close out the season with a win, and end the Eagles hopes of making the playoffs at the same time.

A win could save the jobs of Pat Shurmur, James Bettcher and Dave Gettleman, and cement Daniel Jones’ position as the team’s quarterback and offensive leader.

There are three keys to making this happen:

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

FINISH

When these two teams faced off in Week 14, the Giants had all of the momentum going into halftime. But Pat Shurmur and James Bettcher failed to make adjustments, showing the Eagles more of the same, something which is easy to defend and exploit.

This time, the Giants need to make the adjustments they didn’t make a few weeks ago. They need to stick with what works, like feeding Saquon Barkley, and show the Eagles different looks. Getting creative with play calling, much like they did last week, will go a long way toward keeping the Eagles on their toes and giving the Giants an edge.

The Giants almost beat the Eagles in their last meeting, and there’s no reason to think that they can’t this time. But making those adjustments is imperative.

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Flashback Friday: Giants’ Jeremy Shockey outduels Brian Dawkins for TD

In our latest Giants Wire Flashback Friday, we look at one of the most memorable regular season plays in New York football history.

In running back Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants possess a well-respected weapon that the rest of the NFL has to account for. When healthy, he is as “beast-mode” as they come in this game.

But when it comes to being a beast in the NFC East, no Giant offensive player was more feared — or successful — than tight end Jeremy Shockey.

When the Giants selected the Miami star with the 14th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, general manager Ernie Accorsi didn’t look at him as just another tight end.

”I look at him as a weapon, something that we really needed,” Accorsi said.

Shockey turned out to be as special as the Giants had hoped. He would make an immediate impact on the Giants, becoming the standard for today’s pass-catching, physical tight ends and qualifying for the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons with the club.

But Shockey was a lighting rod of a player that angered his own team and fans with too much swagger and lacked focus both on and off the field. There were times when he had no peer. Then there were the times that had us all shaking our heads. He was traded after the 2007 season.

One thing is for certain, though. He made the Giants a team to respect, especially in the NFC East. In Shockey’s 10-year NFL career (six with the Giants), his teams had a 21-13 record against the Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles.

Here is a signature play where Shockey outdoes future Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins for a touchdown.

To most NFL observers, this is a play between two players that were hated around the league. It was especially gratifying moment for Giant fans, though, who had a particular distaste for Dawkins.

As great a competitor as Dawkins was, all of his bravado wasn’t enough when it came to dealing with Shockey. Dawkins earned himself a place in football history with his aggressive play, but on this particular play, it was Shockey that got the last laugh — and word.

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