Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are six takeaways from the New York Giants’ Week 2 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The New York Giants fell to the Cleveland Browns, 17-13, in their Week 2 preseason game in Cleveland on Sunday.
Here are six takeaways from the game.
New York Giants OL Brett Heggie and DB Quincy Wilson earned the team’s highest Pro Football Focus grades in Week 2 of the preseason.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
The New York Giants rested the majority of their starters on Sunday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns, giving way to reserves and back-end of the depth guys.
The result was a mixed bag — as it usually is — but there were more positives than negatives this week. Several players showed up in big ways and displayed impressively unique versatility.
[listicle id=673233]
Pro Football Focus didn’t necessarily see it that way, however.
PFF gave wide receiver Matt Cole, who got thrust into action at cornerback, a grade of just 54.9 on offense and 47.5 on defense despite not allowing a reception (two targets) and making one stop to force a field goal.
Cole did fare better on special teams, earning the team’s second-highest unit grade at 76.2. Unsurprisingly, linebacker Cam Brown topped that list (82.3).
Offensively, backup center Brett Heggie led the way with a grade of 82.8. He was followed by running back Devontae Booker (77.1) and fullback Eli Penny (75.6).
Other noteworthy offensive grades include offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison (70.7), wide receiver David Sills (68.6) and tight end Kaden Smith (67.2).
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Quincy Wilson led the way with a grade of 81.7. Just behind him were linebacker Oshane Ximines (80.2) and safety Julian Love (73.1).
Rookie cornerback Rodarius Williams also took a step in the right direction with a 64.4.
The lowest-graded players on the Giants were defensive lineman Willie Henry (27.1), linebacker Trent Harris (35.3) and linebacker Cam Brown (37.3). Wide receiver Alex Bachman earned the team’s lowest offensive grade at 43.8.
[vertical-gallery id=673268]
WATCH: Brian Lewerke throws TD in first preseason game with the New York Giants
Brian Lewerke has another shot at an NFL career with the New York Giants, and it couldn’t have started much better than how things went this Sunday.
Lewerke tossed a touchdown pass to David Sills in the fourth quarter to mark the beginning of a new chapter with the Giants.
You can watch it below:
Brian Lewerke (@brianlewerke14) with a passing TD in his first preseason game with the @Giants!
🎥: @NFL
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) August 22, 2021
Here are six things to watch on Sunday when the New York Giants take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of the preseason.
After a week of joint practices, the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns will square off in Week 2 of the preseason on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
With another cutdown day looming, the pressure is on several players to perform. There is also pressure on some of the starters — assuming they play — to take a step in the right direction.
Here are six things to watch during Sunday’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
David Moa and Carter Coughlin earned the New York Giants’ highest PFF grades in a preseason Week 1 loss to the New York Jets.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
The New York Giants dropped their first preseason game of the year, 12-7, against the New York Jets on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.
It was the first game hosting fans since December of 2019, but the Giants provided little to cheer about. There were more negatives than positives, but it’s important to note that the team’s starters saw very little action — some not at all.
[listicle id=672768]
Pro Football Focus completed their grading breakdown on Sunday morning and there were some legitimate surprises.
Linebacker Reggie Ragland, who earned our Player of the Game, was the lowest-graded Giant with a 32.6. Although he did grade out fairly well in terms of tackling and run defense, his coverage grade of 32.1 really drug him down.
Veteran defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who had a drive-changing stuff on fourth down, also graded out at just 39.1.
Some of the team’s other low grades belong to defensive end Raymond Johnson (39.7), rookie cornerback Rodarius Williams (45.5), running back Alfred Morris (45.0) and running back Corey Clement (45.1).
The team’s highest grade belonged to defensive tackle David Moa, who earned a remarkable 92.0 on 41 snaps. Linebacker Carter Coughlin checked in just behind him with a 91.8.
Also earning a 90+ was linebacker T.J. Brunson (90.4).
On the offensive side of the ball, left tackle Andrew Thomas led the way with a 76.0, followed by right tackle Matt Peart with a 73.2.
Meanwhile, wide receiver David Sills earned a 73.0 and offensive lineman Kyle Murphy a 72.2.
Other noteworthy grades include quarterback Mike Glennon (72.2), guard Will Hernandez (60.1) and edge rusher Azeez Ojulari (56.6).
[vertical-gallery id=672689]
Here are the winners, losers and those in between from the New York Giants’ preseason Week 1 loss to the New York Jets.
The New York Giants opened the 2021 preseason on Saturday night with an embarrassing 12-7 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It was an ugly game for both teams from the jump, but the Giants appeared lightyears behind where they should be. The saving grace is that the vast majority of their starters didn’t play or played very little.
Here’s a quick look at our immediate winners and losers (and those in between) from Week 1 of the preseason.
The New York Giants avoided a shutout but fell to the New York Jets, 12-7, in the preseason opener at MetLife Stadium.
The New York Giants opened the preseason on Saturday night in a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
With fans in attendance for the first time since December of 2019, the Giants gave them little to cheer about through the first half. They were sloppy, confused and hardly looked like a team ready to compete.
But the second brought about change, right? Wrong.
The Giants got no better in the second half and arguably played even worse until midway through the fourth quarter. They were unable to generate any offensive momentum and had entirely too many defensive mishaps, but they did get one touchdown to avoid a shutout.
The Jets certainly weren’t dominant, but the Giants were not at all competitive until there was under 7:20 left to play and then that faded quickly.
The New York Giants have made a series of roster moves, including the release of RB Devonta Freeman and the signing of QB Joe Webb.
The New York Giants cut veteran running back Devonta Freeman from injured reserve on Thursday evening in what amounts to a procedural move.
Teams are required to cut impending free agents who finish the season on IR once they are able to pass a physical. And given that Freeman had joined the team on a one-year deal, his time in East Rutherford was up.
Prior to landing on IR with ankle and hamstring injuries, Freeman rushed for 172 yards and scored one touchdown on 54 carries.
Meanwhile, the Giants also signed quarterback/wide receiver Joe Webb, who had been released prior to the team’s Week 17 game in order to make room for linebacker Kyler Fackrell on the 53-man roster, to a Reserve/Futures deal.
Congratulations to #TeamDEC client @JoeWebb_14 on signing with @Giants
— DEC Management (@davidcanter) January 8, 2021
The Giants initially signed Webb in early December, but he appeared in just two games for the team, taking 13 snaps on special teams.
Finally, the Giants activated wide receiver David Sills from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and renegotiated his contract. Sills was an exclusive rights free agent.
Despite the season being over, Sills remains on the Reserve/Injured list.
The New York Giants have placed WR David Sills (IR) on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and designated DB Madre Harper (knee) to return from IR.
[jwplayer 9XFNYAPO-ThvAeFxT]
The New York Giants have placed wide receiver David Sills, who is currently on injured reserve with a fractured foot, on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
For Sills, this is the second time since July that he’s been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Clubs are not allowed to disclose whether a player has tested positive or is quarantining due to close contact with someone who has.
Prior to landing on IR, Sills had a tremendous training camp for the Giants and was frequently referred to as a “rep stealer.”
“David Sills has done a really good job,” wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said in August. “He’s a really smart guy, he’s working hard. He’ll go in there and play all of the positions. I told you guys the other day, he’s a rep stealer. He has his reps, he’s going to go in and run his reps, then he’ll steal some other reps. If he sees guys running down the field, he’ll jump in there and say ‘I got them, I got them.’ I like that about him. He jumps in there, doesn’t matter what position it is. He goes in there and plays and executes his assignments.”
Additionally, the Giants also announced that defensive back Madre Harper (knee) has been designated to return from IR and could return to practice as early as Wednesday afternoon.
In nine games for the Giants this season, Harper recorded five tackles and recovered one fumble.
[lawrence-related id=662571,662568,662566]
New York Giants QB Daniel Jones is learning his second offense in two years, but has nothing but good things to say about Jason Garrett.
Daniel Jones is going through his first camp as the starting quarterback of the New York Giants and some things are working and others are not. Jones is learning a new system under a new coaching staff for the second consecutive summer.
Last year, Jones went through Pat Shurmur’s camp as the second-stringer behind Eli Manning. This year, he’s Jason Garrett’s starter and is expected to get a grasp of Garrett’s system very quickly.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’m trying to do my best to learn the system,” Jones told reporters on Friday. “Understand what he wants and the detail of what he wants us to execute and how he wants us to see it as quarterbacks. He’s an experienced guy who has had a lot of success in this league as an offensive coordinator and obviously as a head coach. I’ve enjoyed learning from him and enjoyed learning this system and trying to do my best to execute it the way it’s supposed to be done.”
One thing that seems to be going well is the Nick Gates experiment at center.
“Gates is someone who we have worked with a lot and I have enjoyed working with,” said Jones. “I think he has done a good job. Last year he was moving around a little bit position wise. He’s moved around a little bit in this camp so far. Like you said, he is playing a little bit at center. I thought he has done a good job.”
I just went thru my notes and counted Jones as 14 for 25 with two TDs and an interception today. His best series was the 11-play drive for a TD. He was 5 for 6 there with the TD Smith to cap it.
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) August 21, 2020
Jones’ two touchdown passes were to tight end Kaden Smith — who Jones is forming a solid rapport with going back to last season — and another second year player, David Sills, an undrafted free agent out of Virginia last year, is climbing up the depth chart at wide receiver.
“I think he is a guy out there you can trust, a guy in the right spot a lot of the time and can get open and make plays,” Jones said of Sills. “He’s a good player and he’s had a good camp so far.”
One pass that Jones would like to have back is the interception he threw down the left sideline to a very covered Golden Tate that ended up in the hands of rookie defensive back Darnay Holmes.
Holmes isn't messin' around 😳@ProwayDarnay | @DriveToyota pic.twitter.com/Pjfn8YxQqm
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 21, 2020
“Just a poor decision there,” Jones explained. “We had a double move called, a situation where I have to be smart with the ball and take care of it and make sure we get points. It was a bad decision and something to learn from.
“As we got going and got into more of the play it out situations where we were moving the ball down the field and executing a drive in a game, I thought we settled in on offense and started to play better. That was part of getting more comfortable out there. I think we will continue to get more comfortable as we get more reps.”
