If you’ve watched the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints operate offensively, you’ve seen what quality looks like in the NFL. The New York Giants are far and away from being capable of that type of success, but that doesn’t mean that they are void of the talent to do so.
Quarterback Daniel Jones might be a turnover machine at this point in his young career, but he’s also seen flashes of success. His reliable accuracy and ability to create on the move is one of the traits that makes him potential-ridden, but his supporting cast is merely awful and does more bad than good on any given game-day.
Here’s what Daniel Jones needs to be a successful quarterback with the New York Giants:
1.) Wide receivers who can create separation
One of the significant issues for the Giants on offense the past few seasons is there inability to create separation among the receivers. Through three weeks, Darius Slayton ranks in the bottom eight in the league in separation yards (1.9). Sterling Shepard is close behind, which necessarily doesn’t promote a good opportunity for Jones in the passing game.
Heading into the 2020 season, the defense was supposed to be the weakest link, but through three weeks, they have proven to be stronger and more robust. The offense has fallen off a cliff with new coordinator Jason Garrett. Basic zone-blocking and a lack of creativity have doomed them from the start. The one time they tried to get zesty, Daniel Jones tossed an errant pitch to Evan Engram, which should’ve been caught but ended up dropping to the turf for a turnover.
This is just a small sample of how the offense has looked through three weeks. They have yet to break 20 points, and they seemingly take steps backward on any given day.
It is disappointing that the New York Giants can’t look at some of the more successful teams in the league and try to mimic their style of play. Specifically, running back Saquon Barkley could be used so much more effectively.
Instead of running Barkley up the middle into a sea of defenders, utilizing it more in the passing game would be beneficial. For example, Alvin Kamara of the Saints recorded 13 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday, while Barkley averages maybe five receptions per game when healthy.
Signing a downhill running back and being more creative with Barkley is a necessity moving forward, but I am not convinced that Garrett is the right coordinator to get it done.
You’re probably asking yourself, how does this relate to Daniel Jones? Well, having a successful running game and elite receiving back helps him significantly. Not only does it force opposing defenses to commit to the run, but it also creates mismatches with running backs against linebackers. Check downs aren’t always a bad thing if you’re getting the ball to your most electric playmaker.