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The New York Giants’ 28-10 preseason loss to the Houston Texans might have looked like just another rough game for quarterback Daniel Jones. But there was more going on than it seemed.
Head coach Brian Daboll was beginning a bold experiment to reshape Jones into a quarterback that Giants fans haven’t seen in years.
For many, it’s easy to forget Jones’s early promise or the legacy of the quarterback he’s often compared to. Still, Daboll appears determined to resurrect and redefine Jones’s potential.
Jones, who suffered a torn ACL last season, made a quicker-than-expected return to the field just nine months after his injury. He admitted the game didn’t start perfectly, but he felt good physically. “I feel good physically…the knee felt good. It was fun to be out there,” Jones said.
But his performance wasn’t perfect. His mistakes, like an interception that practically handed the ball to the other team, raised concerns about his decision-making—a problem he’s struggled with before.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) offers some insights into what makes a quarterback successful beyond the usual stats like touchdowns and yards.
Essentially, they rate every play on a scale from -2 to +2, with big plays, known as “big-time throws” (BTTs), getting positive marks.
Conversely, bad decisions, especially those that could lead to turnovers, get negative grades and are labeled “turnover-worthy plays” (TWPs).
And looking at Jones’s career through PFF’s ratings tells a pretty interesting story. In his rookie year, Jones showed promise with 24 touchdowns, 20 BTTs, and an average depth of target (ADOT) of 8.4 yards.
But things took a turn when the coaches became more conservative with their play-calling. As Jones took fewer risks, the big plays dried up. By 2022, his BTTs had dropped to just seven, which is far from what you’d expect from a top quarterback.
But something changed in Saturday’s game. Jones was encouraged to take risks for the first time in years, leading to three BTTs on just 19 dropbacks. His ADOT of 10.4 was the highest of his career in a preseason game.
Of course, with those risks came mistakes—three TWPs, to be exact, including some bad decisions that could have led to turnovers. But this mix of exciting plays and risky moves might be exactly what Daboll is trying to bring back in Jones.
It’s not like the Giants haven’t seen this kind of play before. Eli Manning, a fan favorite, was known for his daring throws, even if they sometimes led to mistakes.
Manning’s career, especially before his Super Bowl wins, was marked by a high ADOT and lots of BTTs, though he also had his fair share of TWPs as he got older.
Reflecting on the preseason, Jones’s numbers show hope and caution. His return to a more aggressive style, similar to his rookie year, suggests that Daboll’s experiment pushes Jones to rediscover his fearless side.
But with that comes the understanding that there will be great plays and costly errors. Thus, the Giants are betting that the good will outweigh the bad and that Jones can grow into the quarterback who makes big-time throws without all the turnovers.
As the 2024 season approaches, the Giants’ strategy with Jones is becoming clearer. And they’re committed to seeing what they really have in their quarterback, especially after giving him a four-year, $160 million contract.
Although, time is running out. With just one more preseason game before the real action begins against the Minnesota Vikings, Jones needs to sharpen his skills fast. Now, the pressure is on Jones and Daboll to prove that this gamble on Jones’s potential can pay off.
There are comparisons to be made with quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill, who struggled after a similar injury but eventually bounced back. However, patience is key.
If there’s one thing we know about Giants fans, it’s that they’re known for being passionate and critical, so they might not be so forgiving if things don’t turn around quickly.
Every mistake Jones makes will be under a microscope, potentially overshadowing his progress in adjusting to a more aggressive playstyle.
Daboll, however, remains optimistic. “Yeah, things like that are going to happen. We’ll work on it. We’ll learn from it. We’ll grow from it. We’ll be better the next time,” he said after the game.
The challenge for Daboll and Jones is not to improve but to do it quickly, as the success of the Giants’ season—and possibly their futures with the team—depends on it.
As we can see, the 2024 Giants are at a crossroads—they have the potential to either take off or face some major changes.
All eyes will be on Daniel Jones to see if he can finally live up to the expectations that once made him the future of the franchise.
Whether this bold experiment succeeds or fails will determine not just the fate of a season but the direction of the Giants for years to come.