I couldn't be more disappointed in the Jones injury. The biggest story going into this week should have been Jones hasn't turned the ball over in three consecutive games. That was a monumental change in the whole team dynamic that I think hasn't been talked about enough.
Did anyone else feel like Jones really started to come into his own these last few weeks in a way that says, this guy might be the franchise guy? Or am I crazy?
To me the turnovers and losses were major issues, but he really turned it around in an unprecedented way these last few weeks...
Now, as the pass protection has gotten better, that automatically leads to fewer fumbles and INTs.
I'm sold that he's our guy big-picture. This injury comes at a shitty time but thankfully doesn't appear to be that bad.
Very obvious statements, but with more time to make a decision, DJ is less likely to try and force a last second play causing a pick. And the opposition is getting to him less and less, which is obviously reducing the amount of fumbles. Just in general, playing behind a reliable line will give a young QB confidence, he is allowed to think about how to make the play rather than having that constant expectation of being slammed by a defender, as he knows the % chance of being allowed the time and space to make a play is in his favour.
But it's not just the O-Line. I think Sunday was his 22nd (?) start as Giants QB. He's effectively just leaving his rookie phase and is starting to accumulate the NFL experience needed to develop. He has made plenty of mistakes within those first 20 games, but he was meant to do that, we are now seeing him learn from that, and we are gradually seeing what a good football player he can be.
Lets hope the line continues to grow, DJ continues to grow, and the Giants continue to grow as a result. A competitive stretch ahead, and an improved receiving corps in 2021 will hopefully facilitate that continued development.
During the Bengals game, I think the offense was generally limited by the receivers, not the QB. That game would have been a blowout with better WR and TE play early (Slayton lost on another deep ball, Engram’s fumble). He is looking confident and appears to be seeing the whole field.
Generally a lot better, I think, and I sure hope this injury isn’t too bad.
Now, as the pass protection has gotten better, that automatically leads to fewer fumbles and INTs.
Can't tell if serious...at worst he would be like Eli?
So he wont be a hall of famer but he will be a superbowl MVP... awesome
Yes. Gates has made a huge difference. The pocket is no longer collapsing in the middle
And without doubt, the offensive line becoming decent gives him that extra 1/2 second. It is all related and intertwined. Better protection leads to more time, less chances to fumble, see the field develop for a split second longer, etc...
He did not "miss" games last year. He was not the starter in weeks 1-2, and his "ankle injury" was clearly a ploy to give Eli his last hurrah. Come on.
Now, as the pass protection has gotten better, that automatically leads to fewer fumbles and INTs.
It's funny how not getting drilled in the back while in the pocket leads to less fumbles.
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I figured at worst, he would be like Eli - always a few too many turnovers, but enough positive plays to justify him keeping his job.
Now, as the pass protection has gotten better, that automatically leads to fewer fumbles and INTs.
It's funny how not getting drilled in the back while in the pocket leads to less fumbles.
Crazy how that works isn’t it?
It was nice to see him stack good performances in a row.
But that is fixable, and obviously preferable to turning the ball over. The game is still slowing down for him, and as it does, he'll be more comfortable in the pocket.
But with a new coaching staff and a COVID training camp, I think he needs some benefit of the doubt.
The more he plays, the better he'll get I believe. Team will get better too.
I particuarly liked the last game seeing him climb the pocket more. That's both an improvement in Jones and the OL. So yeah his injury is very dissapointing.
And the turnovers are not as prevalent.
And last year when he had a good amount of TDs no one could stop talking about his fumbles. You can't have it both ways.
He looks much better but he still doesn't actually look good. He has 1 TD in his last 2.5 games. He looked much better last year.
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That was a good start, but for all the fulsome praise he's received the past few weeks, he still has all of 8 TDs in 11 games. That ain't gonna get it done.
He looks much better but he still doesn't actually look good. He has 1 TD in his last 2.5 games. He looked much better last year.
Ehhh....TD's can be somewhat deceiving. He threw to Engram and Mack who just missed getting TDs. He's also ran for one (and another was called back).
I am not much worried about "stats" that we can brag on, but what he's doing with the ball. He's a developing player. There's plenty of time to be at the top of the leader board in future years.
Phil Simms must have thrown a million passes where the receiver was downed inside the 5 yard line and the Giants would just bulldoze into the endzone after that.
You are sorta seeing that now in these mini-run of wins. Giants are executing as a team - in particular converting our 4th and 1's and getting the tough yards.
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In comment 15062895 Greg from LI said:
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That was a good start, but for all the fulsome praise he's received the past few weeks, he still has all of 8 TDs in 11 games. That ain't gonna get it done.
He looks much better but he still doesn't actually look good. He has 1 TD in his last 2.5 games. He looked much better last year.
Ehhh....TD's can be somewhat deceiving. He threw to Engram and Mack who just missed getting TDs. He's also ran for one (and another was called back).
I am not much worried about "stats" that we can brag on, but what he's doing with the ball. He's a developing player. There's plenty of time to be at the top of the leader board in future years.
Phil Simms must have thrown a million passes where the receiver was downed inside the 5 yard line and the Giants would just bulldoze into the endzone after that.
You are sorta seeing that now in these mini-run of wins. Giants are executing as a team - in particular converting our 4th and 1's and getting the tough yards.
4 straight runs on the goal line this past Sunday, scoring a TD on 4th down.
That's the identity they are trying to establish.
How could you expect him to win with an unproven rookie OL, no running game but himself, an unpredictable TE, and no #1 WR?
I've said all along, and the o-line wasn't just below average they were atrocious, that if they could just get to average and give him some average protection you'd see the turnovers (especially fumbles) cut in half. That's what we're seeing now.
So no, I don't think Jones has turned the corner in any meaningful way other than getting over his rookie mistakes. I'd say you're just seeing the natural growth and progression of what he's been since day one.
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In comment 15062895 Greg from LI said:
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That was a good start, but for all the fulsome praise he's received the past few weeks, he still has all of 8 TDs in 11 games. That ain't gonna get it done.
He looks much better but he still doesn't actually look good. He has 1 TD in his last 2.5 games. He looked much better last year.
Ehhh....TD's can be somewhat deceiving. He threw to Engram and Mack who just missed getting TDs. He's also ran for one (and another was called back).
I am not much worried about "stats" that we can brag on, but what he's doing with the ball. He's a developing player. There's plenty of time to be at the top of the leader board in future years.
Phil Simms must have thrown a million passes where the receiver was downed inside the 5 yard line and the Giants would just bulldoze into the endzone after that.
You are sorta seeing that now in these mini-run of wins. Giants are executing as a team - in particular converting our 4th and 1's and getting the tough yards.
Fair points, Bill. I think Jones looks better for sure, but I don't see the potential I saw last year (which is my larger point other than the TDs).
I'm not trying to be negative. He's flashed. But I don't think QBs take 4 years to develop anymore and think what we get from Jones next season is probably going to be what he is. I know there's some exceptions, of course.
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In comment 15062999 BrettNYG10 said:
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In comment 15062895 Greg from LI said:
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That was a good start, but for all the fulsome praise he's received the past few weeks, he still has all of 8 TDs in 11 games. That ain't gonna get it done.
He looks much better but he still doesn't actually look good. He has 1 TD in his last 2.5 games. He looked much better last year.
Ehhh....TD's can be somewhat deceiving. He threw to Engram and Mack who just missed getting TDs. He's also ran for one (and another was called back).
I am not much worried about "stats" that we can brag on, but what he's doing with the ball. He's a developing player. There's plenty of time to be at the top of the leader board in future years.
Phil Simms must have thrown a million passes where the receiver was downed inside the 5 yard line and the Giants would just bulldoze into the endzone after that.
You are sorta seeing that now in these mini-run of wins. Giants are executing as a team - in particular converting our 4th and 1's and getting the tough yards.
Fair points, Bill. I think Jones looks better for sure, but I don't see the potential I saw last year (which is my larger point other than the TDs).
I'm not trying to be negative. He's flashed. But I don't think QBs take 4 years to develop anymore and think what we get from Jones next season is probably going to be what he is. I know there's some exceptions, of course.
He's the highest ranked deep ball thrower in the league. We just play in a more conservative offense. Last game he could have easily had 2 TDs on deep balls. One where Engram was tackled inside the 5 and one that Slayton dropped. Some of it is just luck and some of it is scheme. Some of these great QBs (for example Brees historically) throw it in goal to go situations quite a bit. Now, it's not easy to do and they get the responsibility because they're good but if you play in an offense where you run in those situations you'll have fewer TDs.
I'm not trying to be negative. He's flashed. But I don't think QBs take 4 years to develop anymore and think what we get from Jones next season is probably going to be what he is. I know there's some exceptions, of course.
No doubt about it. 2021 is going to be huge for NYG and Jones.
In fairness, that roster was loaded already. Look he Eli was throwing to in year two: Plaxico, Amani Toomer, and Jeremy Shockey. Tiki Barber was having an MVP level campaign, and the defense featured Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora coming off the edge. There just is no way to compare these two year two campaigns. It's not fair to Jones.
Also, in Jones very first start he won a game, down 2 scores, in the 4th quarter.
You want to know the funny thing about that Denver win? A year later people on BBI were still saying that throw was a lucky heave that Amani Toomer bailed him out on, and that he wasn't even looking where he was throwing it.
Some things never change.
Did Eli look like a championship QB in his second season? The thing giving me pause is that I've felt he hasn't been as good in crunch time as Eli. But Eli didn't look great until the end of his 4th season.
I still think he has a step (or two) more to go, but he is trending in the right direction. Right now he is a solid NFL QB, and hopefully he will continue upward to be a top 5 guy
And Jones had one of the best rookie seasons in history other than fumbles that he has had under control more or less this year. He HAS regressed this year but has also played in a much more conservative offense with not half the talent the 05 Giants had.
Go back to the early games and look at how much pressure he was under.