They say defense wins championships, but they fail to mention the impact of quarterback’s winning meaningless games in overtime at 3-11. However, if you include the word “rookie” before “quarterback’s,” you can inject a bit more value into the significance. The New York Giants enjoyed a bit of hope on Sunday afternoon when they overcame the Washington Redskins 41-35 in overtime on the back of Daniel Jones.
Jones‘ five touchdown passes and 352 yards not only set a record for rookie passers, but it also speaks volumes to the player development curated by head coach, Pat Shurmur. The Giants’ second-year coach has been under fire as of late for his time management mistakes and in-game adjustments, but the progress he has made with Jones has not wavered.
The rookie’s 2726 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions are astounding, considering he’s missed four games this season. He has logged four scores or more in three games this season, providing optimism for the future and further establishing himself as a viable franchise quarterback.
It’s fair to attribute a fraction of Jones’ success to Shurmur, though, who is known as the “quarterback whisperer.” Before accepting the job to become the Giants’ head coach, Shurmur had resurrected Brandon Weeden in Cleveland and made Case Keenum a household name. Considering where both of those players ended up after Shurmur left to pursue other opportunities, it’s fair to say that he played a significant part in their success.
Will Daniel Jones save Pat Shurmur’s job with the New York Giants?
Jones’ performance this season has been exciting and hopeful, as the rest of the team has holes that need to be filled with talent. Shurmur’s job was under fire after losing nine straight games, but the last two victories and Daniel’s fantastic outing could have salvaged his fragile position with the Giants. Ultimately, it comes down the available options on the market to fill the head coaching position, and if John Mara/Steve Tisch are inclined to believe they can supplement his loss with an established option. Ron Rivera makes the most sense in a theoretical scenario.