Tag: Oshane Ximines

Stock up, down after Giants’ 25-3 victory over Panthers

Whose stock is up and whose is down following the New York Giants’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7?

Sunday was a pleasant surprise for a lot of people because most were not expecting a win for the New York Giants.

Most, like us here at Giants Wire, expected a loss, and some of us even picked the Carolina Panthers to blow out the Giants. And yet, things went the other direction as Big Blue picked up a 25-3 victory at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants still have a long way to go before digging themselves out of the hole they currently find themselves in, but for at least a week they can feel good about a win.

So before the Giants square off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, let’s look at whose stock is up and down.

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Giants great Carl Banks shreds team’s tackling, run defense

Giants great Carl Banks didn’t mince words when talking about the team’s tackling and run defense.

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The New York Giants’ defense has struggled so far in 2021, with the unit ranking in the bottom five of the NFL in total yards and rushing yards allowed — but there’s more to the unit’s struggles than that.

The Giants have also had issues in the pass-rush with just eight sacks, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL, and the tackling has been terrible, to put it nicely.

But Giants great Carl Banks isn’t putting it nicely. As is the case with all Giants fans, he’s fed up with what he has watched on the field this season.

“It’s bad. You can’t be this bad of a tackling team. Not with the players you have,” Banks said on his podcast. “This is awful. You can’t sit there and say: ‘Well, the backs that we’re facing have all been great.’ No, they’ve been great against you.”

Banks is also frustrated with the fact that players are not trying to make an impact when they go unblocked on some plays, which makes things much easier for opposing offenses.

“If I’m not blocked on the backside, I’m sprinting down the line of scrimmage to knock the (expletive) out of somebody,” Banks explained. “The running back doesn’t see you. You haven’t been accounted for. And it’s like they sprint down there just to kinda put two-hand touch on them.

“But if you’re running down the line of scrimmage and you’re not in full sprint to hit that running back, you’re not helping your defense. Then when you sprint down there and you don’t lay that guy out, you don’t get a good shot on him, you’re not helping your defense.”

Banks named Oshane Ximines, Azeez Ojulari and Lorenzo Carter specifically, while also giving them some advice.

“That’s my message to Ojulari, Carter and Ximines: Be that other guy when they aren’t counting on you to be that other guy,” Banks said. “Because once they have to account for you, then you just made two or three other guys better.”

The two-time Super Bowl champ had one final, blunt message for the Giants:

“Get off your ass and let’s go. There’s too many games left for you guys to be this (expletive) bad.”

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Giants are among NFL’s worst in pass rush win rate

The New York Giants are among the NFL’s worst in pass rush win rate despite not drawing many double-teams.

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When judging the success of a team’s pass rush, one should look beyond just the sack numbers. That’s something you consistently hear from the New York Giants’ front office, as well as their coaches and players.

Just ask linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who summed it up earlier this week.

“It depends on what you’re looking at, perspectives,” Carter told reporters. “Honestly, if that’s how you rate football players or edge groups, then that’s one thing. But we do more than rush the quarterback. We affect the game in multiple ways. We try set the edge, play the run and do different things.

“We drop, we help in different ways more than just sacks and there’s different ways to affect the game. Yes, of course, sacks are the pretty thing that people like. It’s the popular statistic, but we’ve got to — like you said, we’ve got to get pressure. That’s a part of the game.”

The problem is the Giants aren’t getting much pressure. They aren’t generating sacks, they aren’t setting the edge and more often than not, they aren’t playing well when they drop into coverage, either.

But specific to the edge defenders, they simply aren’t getting the job done anywhere on the field. In fact, the Giants are third-to-last in pass rush win rate.

Compounding the issue for the Giants is that their edge defenders aren’t even drawing double-teams. They’re losing one-on-one’s with remarkable frequency.

This is a recipe for disaster and that’s how things have played out for Patrick Graham’s defensive group this season. Running backs are eating them up inside and out, the secondary is getting beat without help up front and even when the Giants are in the vicinity of a ball-carrier, they are struggling to tackle.

Carter and Oshane Ximines were supposed to develop into more disruptive players. That hasn’t happened. And despite Azeez Ojulari’s three sacks in five games, he’s seeing the team’s fewest amount of double-teams and still finds himself among the bottom of the league in pass rush win rate.

Unless the Giants can figure out a way to turn this around and generate more pressure, do not expect the defense to improve as the season goes on.

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Giants fall to Broncos: Winners, losers and those in between

Here are the winners, losers and those in between from the New York Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos.

The New York Giants played host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon in front of the first packed house since 2019.

However, just as it was in 2019 and again last season without fans, there wasn’t much to cheer for. There was, however, a lot to boo over. And boo the fans did.

Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos dominated the Giants from the open whistle until the final whistle. The 27-13 score doesn’t actually represent just how one-sided the game actually was.

Let’s take a look at the winners and losers (and those in between) from the latest and all too familiar Giants loss.

Brett Heggie, Quincy Wilson were highest-graded Giants vs. Browns

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.

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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.

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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.

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Giants fall to Browns: Winners, losers and those in between

Here are the winners, losers and those in between from the New York Giants’ preseason Week 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns concluded Week 2 of the preseason in rather dull fashion.

After an eventful week of joint practices, Sunday’s game was relatively quiet and slow-paced with both team’s starters out. In the end, the Browns walked away with a 17-13 victory.

Here are the winners and losers (and those in between) from Sunday’s game.

Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines provide hope for Giants’ pass rush

Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter have been flashing this summer, proving hope that the New York Giants have found their pass rush.

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The New York Giants have been loading up at linebacker the past few offseasons under general manager Dave Gettleman to the point where it could become overkill.

The last few seasons they put their chips on Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines to step up and lead them on the outside, only to be bitten by the injury bug last year.

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Last year, Gettleman drafted Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown to compete for roster spots and both have shown promise, although Coiughlin has been moved inside. This offseason, the team brought in free agents Ifeadi Odenigbo and Ryan Anderson, and drafted Azeez Ojulari in the second round.

It’s a crowded room now. Carter is coming off a season lost to an Achilles injury and Ximines missed the final three months with a shoulder injury. Combined with all the new faces, the Giants have a whale of a complexion brewing at outside linebacker.

But the cream rises when the conditions are right. Both Carter and Ximines are healthy now. Just ask the Cleveland Browns, who had a difficult time containing both players during the Giants’ joint practice with them on Thursday.

The two former third-round picks showed their pass rushing ability against the Browns’ top two tackles — Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin — beating both of them for what would have been sacks had the drills been full contact.

The Giants have a pleasant problem at linebacker now. Both players were poised for breakout years in 2020 only to be cut down by injuries. Now, they will be challenged by a talented bunch of backups and the rookie Ojulari.

The pass rush the Giants have been so desperately seeking may finally have arrived.

Giants’ Dave Gettleman has ‘no regrets’ over drafting Saquon Barkley

New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman has no regrets over drafting Saquon Barkley, maintains his faith in Daniel Jones and praises Joe Judge.

The New York Giants are deep into their 2021 training camp and preseason and with multiple questions still to be answered, the team decided to empty the offices and send the powers that be out in front of the media.

The first person up was general manager Dave Gettleman, the man who has the most to lose — and gain — by this season. The media was waiting with a fusillade of questions regarding Gettleman’s personnel decisions and future plans.

Here are a few of the hot points from Gettleman’s media season on Tuesday.

Oshane Ximines praises Giants’ coaching staff, Joe Judge

Oshane Ximines is the latest active player to heap praise on Joe Judge and the New York Giants coaching staff.

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The New York Giants activated edge rusher Oshane Ximines from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Monday and to say he was thrilled to be back would be an understatement.

“It felt great to be back out there, man. It was a long, long offseason to finally be back right. Today was just a first step to a long journey to getting where I was,” Ximines told reporters.

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“It [was a tough year], but it’s in the back seat now. Injuries are a part of the game, it’s something that, listen, everybody has to deal with. So, as soon as I got hurt, I just wanted to do everything I could to get back, and that’s what I did.”

During his time on the sideline, Ximines heard a lot of outside criticism of head coach Joe Judge and the remainder of the Giants’ staff. And while he’s only gotten a little field time since Judge & Co. took over, Ximines has nothing but good things to say about the group.

“This is my favorite coaching staff that I’ve played with. I just know we’re going to bust our tails here and we’re going to work hard every day. Coach is going to make sure the best guys play, so that’s something that I respect highly. I’m glad to be here,” Ximines said.

The disconnect between those inside the building and those outside the building grows…

Meanwhile, like running back Saquon Barkley who was also activated from the PUP list on Monday, Ximines is unsure about his Week 1 status.

“I just hope to come in every day and work as hard as I possibly can. That in itself is going help the defense take it to another level because you come in there, you’re putting your head down, and working, and that’s all you can really do,” Ximines said. “I’m just going to work every single day to get back and we’ll see when the season begins.”

The Giants intend to ease Ximines back in over the next several weeks.

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Giants activate Saquon Barkley, Oshane Ximines from PUP

The New York Giants have activated RB Saquon Barkley and EDGE Oshane Ximines from the physically unable to perform list.

As expected, the New York Giants activated running back Saquon Barkley (knee) from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Monday and announced that he would be returning to practice.

Barkley has been sidelined since Week 2 of last season when he suffered a torn ACL (plus MCL and meniscus damage) against the Chicago Bears.

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Barkley, who erupted onto the scene as a rookie in 2018, has appeared in just 15 games over the previous two seasons, dealing with an ankle issue in 2019 and the aforementioned knee injury in 2020.

Although Barkley is set to return to the practice field, the Giants still intend to take it slow with their former first-round pick.

“He’ll be doing mostly individuals,” head coach Joe Judge told reporters. “We’re not going to put him in 11-on-11s or 7-on-7s at this point right now.”

Judge also officially ruled Barkley out for Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets.

In addition to Barkley, the Giants have also activated edge rusher Oshane Ximines, who was recovering from a torn rotator cuff, from the PUP list.

A 2019 third-round pick, Ximines has appeared in 20 games (five starts) for the Giants, recording 30 tackles (six for a loss), 4.5 sacks and one pass defensed.

Ximines will re-join a positional group that consists of Lorenzo Carter, who is also returning from injury this year, Ifeadi Odenigbo and rookie Azeez Ojulari, among others.

With Barkley and Ximines now off the PUP list, that leaves the Giants with just tight end Kyle Rudolph and rookie cornerback Aaron Robinson remaining sidelined.

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