Giants Stuff...

What Ben McAdoo had to say Monday

By John Fennelly | 5:45PM


The Giants will face the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday afternoon with rookie Dak Prescott at QB in place of the injured Tony Romo. Ben McAdoo, making his regular season debut as Giants head coach, isn't taking Prescott lightly.

"Dak is a winner. He's won everywhere he's been," said McAdoo of the former Mississippi State star on Monday. "He has taken advantage of his opportunities in the preseason and it'll be a challenge for us...He's looked good in the preseason and he's done a nice job for them. We're going to have our hands full. He's a good player."

The Giants will be looking to defend Prescott with a retooled defense that includes some major changes throughout. The club released veteran LB Jasper Brinkley on Monday to make room for QB Josh Johnson. That means Kelvin Sheppard could be the new starting MLB.

"It just came down to it's a numbers game at this point," explained McAdoo. "It came down to numbers. We thank Jasper for everything he's done for us. Coming in playing last year off short notice, he did a nice job for us. We wish him the best."

McAdoo also said Sheppard would be the MLB depending on the package DC Steve Spagnuolo calls. Keenan Robinson, Mark Herzlich and rookie B.J. Goodson will all see reps as well.

Injuries...LB Jonathan Casillas (ribs) and rookie safety Darian Thompson (shoulder) returned to practice, but were limited. McAdoo said Casillas could be turned loose on Wednesday but Thompson will be testing out a harness and remain limited for the time being. McAdoo also said DB Leon Hall and Goodson were still going through the league's concussion protocol process.

Quick quotes...

On the Giants' interest in former Green Bay Packers OL Josh Sitton..."You look at everything. I have history with Josh. Tremendous player, tremendous talent. We wish Josh nothing but the best but he's not on our roster."

On newly-signed QB Josh Johnson..."He has good rhythm in his body. He's been trained in a version of the system. He plays with his cleats in the ground, has a natural throwing motion and has some good experience."

On OT Will Beatty..."I look forward to going in and watching the film. He did some good things out here today. It's encouraging."

On if the Giants will look for offensive line help this week via the waiver wire..."No. Again, we're comfortable with the players we have on this roster right now. We have a good, strong football team. You never stop looking, but we're definitely comfortable with what we have."

On DT Robert Thomas, who the Giants picked up this past weekend off the waiver wire..."He plays with great energy. Leverage, he stays on his feet. Tremendous balance and he uses his hands well. He's active. Good player, glad to have him."

The first Stuff thread of the year.

Glad the Bears beat them out to get Sitton. He would have really solidified their OL.

boozeman said:

Glad the Bears beat them out to get Sitton. He would have really solidified their OL.

Click to expand...

Not sure their OL is going to have too much trouble dealing with our scrub DL anyway. I think we may be able to get some disruption from our DTs-- but man, our DEs are a joke.

Giants add insurance third QB, resolve middle linebacker job
By Howie Kussoy | September 5, 2016

Jasper Brinkley started the final nine games of last season and spent the entire preseason battling to again be the Giants’ starting middle linebacker, but the veteran was surprisingly cut on Monday to make room for someone the team hopes will never play.

After Giants coach Ben McAdoo said he was “very comfortable” with having two quarterbacks on the roster entering the season opener at Dallas, the team released Brinkley to sign veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, giving the Giants three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster for the first time since 2013.

Though Eli Manning has played in 183 consecutive regular-season games, backup Ryan Nassib provided little assurance in the preseason he could handle the role in an emergency, completing just 41.3 percent of his passes, along with three interceptions. Johnson, 30, joins his ninth team and has not thrown a regular-season pass since 2011.

McAdoo wouldn’t say whether all three quarterbacks would dress for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.

“We’re gonna give Ryan a little competition here with Josh,” McAdoo said after Monday’s practice. “He’s a good player, he’s been around the block and [it’ll] bring out the best in both of them.”

Brinkley, who finished third in tackles on the team and missed the final preseason game due to injury, signed a one-year deal in the offseason, giving him a guaranteed $1.7 million, but not a job.

“It’s a numbers game at this point,” McAdoo said. “Coming in playing last year on short notice he did a nice job for us and we wish him the best.”

Kelvin Sheppard had been competing with Brinkley for the starting spot, but McAdoo wouldn’t commit to using Sheppard exclusively at the middle linebacker position.

“Depends on what package we’re in, we could throw a variety of linebackers out there,” McAdoo said. “Kelvin has definitely earned an opportunity. He showed well in the preseason games, he’s done well in practice, he’s a great communicator and we’re excited to have him here.”

Tight end/fullback Will Johnson (burner) was surprised and disappointed to be placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Johnson, who missed the final three preseason games, said the team’s decision came down to the doctors’ inability to determine when he would be able to return from the nerve injury.

“I tried to push the doctors to let them know that I’m good to go, but I just couldn’t get the final nod,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of a surprise to me. I thought I was making strides, getting better throughout the preseason. I didn’t show the doctors enough strength to be able to protect myself on the field … just a lateral movement I didn’t pass apparently.

“It sucks.”

Johnson said the injury would not require surgery.

Safety Darian Thompson was limited in his return to practice and wore a harness on his injured shoulder, but the rookie was optimistic he would play Sunday. Linebacker Jonathan Casillas (ribs) was also limited. … Linebacker B.J. Goodson (concussion) and cornerback Leon Hall (concussion) also returned to practice.

Giants vs. Cowboys Storylines: What to watch for

Dan Salomone
Staff Writer
@NYGsalomone

Here are the storylines to follow for Week 1 as the Giants prep for the Cowboys:

No more resting starters. No more vanilla game plans. No more saying that “it’s just the preseason.”

Now they count.

The New York Giants begin their 92nd season this Sunday with a road trip to play the rival Dallas Cowboys. Big Blue is looking to make its first postseason appearance since winning it all in 2011.

“It's always exciting,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “It's always exciting to start the season just because you get to start over. You don't know what the possibilities are, but everybody starts in the same spot and we've got a chance to do something special this season and it starts right here.”

With that said, here are the main storylines to follow throughout the first week:

NEW ERA BEGINS AGAINST OLD FOE

From East Rutherford to Arlington, fans had déjà vu when the NFL announced in mid-April that the NFC East rivals would open against each other for the fourth time in five seasons. But this will be the first game for Ben McAdoo. The former offensive coordinator will make his debut as head coach on the road in a rivalry that dates back to 1960. However, now’s not the time to reflect for the second-youngest coach in the NFL (Miami’s Adam Gase is the youngest at 38 years old).

“It’s going to feel like the first regular-season game,” said McAdoo, who turned 39 shortly before training camp opened. “I’m going to feel excited and ready to go.”

PROVE-IT TIME FOR THE DEFENSE

After signing Olivier Vernon, after signing Damon Harrison, after signing Janoris Jenkins, after drafting Eli Apple 10th overall, after selecting Darian Thompson in the third round, after taking B.J. Goodson in the fourth, the Giants knew they had a better defense on paper. But doing it on the field is another thing.

“The possibilities are what we make it,” Vernon said at the time of his signing.

The test starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, where the Giants last season allowed two touchdown drives in the final five minutes of a one-point loss to the Cowboys. From there, the Giants defense went on to finish the year last in yards and 30th in points allowed. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is trying to flip the script in 2016.

OFFENSE FLUSHES THE PRESEASON

“No, no concerns,” said Manning, who is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 4,400 yards and 30 touchdowns in McAdoo’s system. “Feel good about where we are right now and what we can do. So we’ve just got to go and obviously do it on Sundays and do it when it counts and so, I feel good about where we are, how I feel within the offense, the players that we have and I think we'll be able to go out there and move the ball.”

GIANTS PREP FOR ROOKIE QB-RB TANDEM

Even before Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo suffered a fractured bone in his back, rookie Dak Prescott was already turning heads in Dallas. While the Cowboys have not ruled anything out in Romo’s recovery timeline, Prescott is in line to start Week 1 after completing 78 percent of his passes for 454 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in three preseason outings. The fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State also ran for two scores, so the Giants will have their “hands full,” said McAdoo. Meanwhile, they’ll prepare for running back Ezekiel Elliott, the No. 4 overall pick out of Ohio State. Elliott played in just one preseason game, running for 48 yards on seven attempts against a stingy Seattle defense.

THE PLAN AT SAFETY; INJURY REPORT

Safety Darian Thompson returned to practice this week, but the rookie was still limited by a shoulder injury. “He’s testing it out,” McAdoo said on Monday. Thompson quickly earned a starting role opposite Landon Collins this offseason but missed the last two preseason games because of the injury. After Saturday’s final cuts, the position group also includes Nat Berhe, who started the preseason finale, and Mykkele Thompson.

Meanwhile, linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who had a big preseason but has been dealing with a rib injury, worked on the side on Monday. “He’s getting his wind back right now,” McAdoo said. “We’ll dust him off on Wednesday and give him an opportunity to get back on the field.” Veteran cornerback Leon Hall and rookie linebacker B.J. Goodson are returning from concussions.

Facts of the Matter: 5 Things Cowboys fans should know about NY Giants

By: Peyton Link | 9 minutes ago

There may never have been so much excitement and mystery surrounding a Cowboys team quite like this 2016 version. With rookie quarterback Dak Prescott at the helm, fourth-overall pick Ezekiel Elliot debuting, and a defense no one is sure what to expect from, several questions will start to be answered come September 11th. The Giants are coming off a disappointing 2015 campaign, but have made significant improvements over the offseason. With so many changes New York, here are five things to know about the Cowboys opening opponent.

1. $204 Million

That is the amount of money the New York Giants spent on opening day of free agency. With the signings of cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defense end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, and resigning of their own DE Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants made it clear that they were looking to revamp their defense. After finishing last in the league in yards allowed last year, it would make sense why the defense was a focal point over the offseason. It will be fun to watch the best offensive line in the NFL battle it out with one of the best defensive lines on Sunday.

2. New-look secondary

Janoris Jenkins was not the only new addition to the Giants secondary this offseason. With their first-round pick, New York selected CB Eli Apple out of Ohio State with the 10th pick. He should be an immediate contributor for their secondary. In addition, free safety Darian Thompson from Boise State was selected in the third round and will play a key special teams role when the two teams clash this weekend. With veteran CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and second-year strong safety Landon Collins in the fold already, the Giants will look to see major improvements.

3. Ben McAdoo

Tom Coughlin is out the door after coaching the Giants for 12 years. Ben McAdoo, the team’s offensive coordinator last year, has taken over head coaching duties for the 2016 season. With big shoes to fill, McAdoo will need to have the team prepared from the start to dodge the unforgiving fan base and the New York media outlets. High expectations could force McAdoo out the door if the team does not have a successful season.

4. More Weapons for Eli

With all of the attention turned to the defensive side of the ball for the Giants, they were still able to add pieces for QB Eli Manning. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard, the team’s second-round pick from Oklahoma, has reportedly had a strong camp showing so far. He will be the No. 2 wideout come Sunday ahead of returning veteran WR Victor Cruz, who will do most of his damage in the slot. In addition to Shepard, the Giants drafted another of K.D. Drummond’s pet cats in Paul Perkins. A fifth-round running back, Perkins can make plays not only on the ground, but through the air as a receiver as well, although he may not get much action early in the season behind Rashard Jennings. Star-studded WR Odell Beckham Jr. will still be the focal point of Dallas’ defense, but there are other weapons to worry about now.

5. Slow Starters

The last time the Giants won their first game of the NFL season was back in 2011. Three of these losses were at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will need to get hot right away to keep the team in the playoff hunt until QB Tony Romo returns from his back injury. Expect a dog fight none the less from a Giants team that has a lot to prove. When it is all said and done, thank God football is back.

Why Cowboys O-line will provide formidable test for Giants
By Paul Schwartz September 8, 2016 | 2:48am


The NFL stars who've taken over New York couldn't be more different
Usually, offensive lines are seen and not heard, but usual is not the way it works with the Cowboys. They have assembled the best five-man unit in the NFL, a state of reality the Giants know all about and have been reminded of, repeatedly, leading up to their season opener Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

So much so, they could be sick of hearing about the mighty Dallas O-line.

“Nah, you just really got to respect it,’’ defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins said Wednesday after practice. “They are one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, you got to give ‘em the credit.’’

Credit, sure, but …

“You got to step up to the plate and let them know who’s really the big guys, who’s really gonna dominate the NFC,’’ Hankins said.

The Giants have not dominated the NFC, or the NFC East, for that matter, for several years. If they are going to find a way to finally win a season opener, they must come out ahead in what figures to be the marquee matchup of this game: their rebuilt defensive line vs. the Dallas front wall.

There really is no disputing the supremacy of the Dallas offensive line, the result of a well-executed plan. The Cowboys took offensive linemen in the first round three times in the draft in a four-year span (2011-14) and every pick has paid off. Center Travis Frederick, left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zach Martin made the Pro Bowl last season, and together, those three have a combined seven Pro Bowl appearances. All three are 25 years old.

“We made a concerted effort when I became the head coach to rebuild the offensive line in the process of rebuilding our team. We placed a premium on that,’’ Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We put a lot of resources into that group, and those guys are in many ways the leaders of our team.’’

This is a powerful, versatile group that plays with confidence and swagger, equally adept at pass protection and run-blocking, with a special emphasis on clearing the way on the ground. No wonder it did not take long for rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott to take a look around and declare “I probably have one of the easiest jobs in America. I get to run behind the best O-line in America, run through those huge holes.’’

This time around, it might be a fair fight, as the Giants have refortified their defensive line — opening the coffers for Olivier Vernon ($85 million), Damon “Snacks’’ Harrison ($46.25 million) and Jason Pierre-Paul (one-year deal for $10 million).

“They really upgraded [in free agency], and it’s going to be a great challenge for us,” Frederick said.

Pierre-Paul gets to go against right tackle Doug Free. Vernon, in his first game for the Giants, gets the tough assignment of knocking heads with the massive, athletic Smith. Harrison, in the middle of the line, gets Martin, and Hankins gets La’el Collins, last year’s sleeper pick by the Cowboys. All the interior defenders must deal with Frederick.

“We feel that we’ve added some nice pieces to the mix for us,’’ Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. “We have good scheme, good coaches and good players. I’m looking forward to Sunday.’’

With rookie Dak Prescott making his NFL debut, subbing at quarterback for injured Tony Romo, the run-oriented Cowboys figure to try to pound it out on the ground even more than usual. Sure, they have Dez Bryant, always a long-distance threat, but the best way to protect Prescott is to set up the pass with the run. And run is what the Cowboys do best.

“It doesn’t matter to me who’s playing for them at the skill positions,’’ McAdoo said. “They’re always going to lean on that offensive line. It’s one of the best in the league, if not the best. They’ll take their shots down the field, but they’re going to lean on that line.’’

The Giants will try to lean back with a defensive line that should be more capable of putting up a fight.

“I feel like we have the guys who can do that,’’ Hankins said. “Not saying we didn’t have the guys who could do that last year, but we got a lot more new guys that can do that.’’

Giants planning to 'ruin' Dak Prescott's debut


By Kevin Patra
Around the NFL writer
Published: Sept. 9, 2016 at 09:59 a.m. Updated: Sept. 9, 2016 at 10:04 a.m.

Dak Prescott dazzled in the preseason, but the New York Giants defense plans to let the quarterback know the regular season is a different beast.


"He's a rookie so we have to treat him as a rookie," linebacker Keenan Robinson said, via NJ.com. "That means that we have to get him rattled. It's his first big game. He's played preseason games, but he hasn't played on Sunday in the NFL yet. So this will be a test for him."

Added Robinson: "We basically have to ruin this kid's debut in the NFL."

Prescott, a fourth-round pick, enters an ideal offensive situation for a rookie quarterback. The Cowboys boast the top offensive line in the NFL, a potentially explosive running game with Ezekiel Elliott and fresh backup Alfred Morris, a go-to target in Dez Bryant (finally healthy) and a security blanket in veteran tight end Jason Witten.

Even with all the buffers in place, it's not a given a rookie quarterback will perform when the pressure is ratcheted up.

"We'll make sure that we pressure him and if he does scramble, be there to make him pay," Robinson said. "Obviously in the NFL everybody is fast, so if he thinks he's going to get away from us, we have to make sure that our presence is felt and he knows that he has to get out of bounds or slide right away if he is going to scramble."

Prescott's performance is one of the most intriguing elements of opening weekend. The rookie seems unflappable so far. Now that games count, the Giants, with a revamped defense line, want to wreck the young signal-caller's confidence right off the bat.

It is a complete mystery to me how Dallas will fare tomorrow. I can see reasons for them to be competitive and I can see reasons that there are several chinks in the armor. The running game should be improved but the passing game still has to be effective as well. The defense will have to play over their heads or it could be a long day even if they get a lot of help from a ball control offense.

It is really iffy this season opener.

Week one primer is up...sorry for it being a little late.

http://www.dallascowboyscentral.com/showthread.php?6059-2016-Dallas-Cowboys-Primer-Series-Week-1-New-York-Giants&p=289976#post289976

boozeman said:

Week one primer is up...sorry for it being a little late.

http://www.dallascowboyscentral.com/showthread.php?6059-2016-Dallas-Cowboys-Primer-Series-Week-1-New-York-Giants&p=289976#post289976

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Good job.

boozeman said:

Week one primer is up...sorry for it being a little late.

http://www.dallascowboyscentral.com/showthread.php?6059-2016-Dallas-Cowboys-Primer-Series-Week-1-New-York-Giants&p=289976#post289976

Click to expand...

great writeup booze

Jiggyfly said:

“It doesn’t matter to me who’s playing for them at the skill positions,’’ McAdoo said. “They’re always going to lean on that offensive line. It’s one of the best in the league, if not the best. They’ll take their shots down the field, but they’re going to lean on that line.’’

The Giants will try to lean back with a defensive line that should be more capable of putting up a fight.

Click to expand...

+1 for the Giants.