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It may seem odd to consider this coaching staff slept on after Brian Daboll won coach of the year. As a whole, this is one of the best groups of coaches in football. Most of the media doesn’t give enough credit to either Daboll or Martindale. Coming into the 2022 season, the Giants were seemingly far from reaching the playoffs. The team then drastically improved, and they managed to make it to the Divisional round. I had very high hopes for Brian Dabboll, and he exceeded them in year one. Like Kevin O’Connell, he got the team to play above their talent level and finished close games. Taking the team from 4-13 to the divisional round within one season is absurd. Especially when you consider the minuscule amount of talent they added in 2022.
After an offseason with some lovely additions, this team could very well take a step up this year. However, a lot of that is riding on Daniel Jones, who isn’t an ideal franchise QB. Paying him the contract they did was a wise move as it potentially allows them to move on in two years. With a legitimate weapon to rely on, he could take a step up, but that’s a big if. His success in 2022 was primarily due to the play-calling, as he never looked anything but mediocre before that. You feel okay about Jones at QB, but it’s hard to expect him to take this team to the Super Bowl without perfect circumstances. Even if they’re not a legit Super Bowl contender yet, this is an ascending team determined to win games.
I watched all-22 footage on every team and reconciled it with advanced stats such as PFF. Based on film and stats, I develop grades for every position by using a formula that takes into account every player on the depth chart. Shout out to TFG for inspiring this kind of content. Please use code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.
Grading scale: 20-100.
(+): The player is expected to improve.
| Power Ranking – 12 (Tier Three) | OVR Grade – 81.4 | Projected Wins – 8.6 |
| HC – Brian Daboll (Hired: 2022) | OC – Mike Kafka (Hired: 2022) | DC – Wink Martindale (Hired: 2022) |
Long before Brian Daboll was hired as a head coach, I was a fan of his. He was best known for being the offensive play-caller for Buffalo, but there’s a long list of teams he’s coached with. Daboll started his career in New England and later became an OC for Cleveland. In addition to having ties with Belichick, he was the OC for Alabama in 2017. He’s been around multiple elite football minds, and it’s clearly rubbed off on him. Additionally, his impact on the culture has been remarkable as players play hard and fight to the end. We also saw a lot of player growth last year, which is a good sign for this culture.
He runs a spread offense, but his influence from McDaniels and Saban has led him to have more pro concepts in the offense. There’s a healthy balance of gap and zone running schemes here. Roughly 40% are zone-running schemes, and approximately 45% are gap-running schemes. There’s heavy play-action usage in the passing game, and many quick-hitting passes over the middle. Crossers are a staple of the Daboll offense, although we saw less last year. With a better Waller, I expect them to go back to using crossers heavily. Mike Kafka is also here to add an extra layer to the offense and comes from Kansas City. The spread coast scheme influences him, and he could bring some pleasant aspects to the table.
Wink Martindale had a bit of a rough stretch with the Ravens but bounced back last year. It’s not like this defense was great, but the personnel was mediocre for the most part, and he consistently kept the score relatively low. It’s a 3-4 front, and he’s a very aggressive defensive coach, as he loves to run man and blitz. In 2022, he led the league in blitzing at nearly 40%. He also ran the second-most man coverage, right behind Miami. He loves to play cover one press with five rushers. It can be a tricky scheme to play against at times, but it can also lead to many explosive plays. It fits well with their personnel, and I expect it to be a tough and physical-minded team.
| Playcalling – 91 (4) |
| Scheme – Modern Pro-Spread |
| QB – 77.5 (19) |
| Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito |
| Receiving Options – 80.3 (25) |
| WR1 – Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Collin Johnson WR2 – Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard SWR – Parris Campbell, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jamison Crowder TE – Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Tommy Sweeney FB – Chris Myarick HB – Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell |
| Pass-Pro – 77.2 (T19) |
| LT – Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart LG – Ben Bredeson, Joshua Ezeudu C – John Michael Schmitz Jr. (+), J.C. Hassenauer RG – Mark Glowinski, Shane Lemieux, Jack Anderson RT – Evan Neal (+), Tyre Phillips HB – Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell |
| Run Blocking – 78.1 (T17) |
| LT – Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart LG – Ben Bredeson, Joshua Ezeudu C – John Michael Schmitz Jr. (+), J.C. Hassenauer RG – Mark Glowinski, Shane Lemieux, Jack Anderson RT – Evan Neal (+), Tyre Phillips TE – Darren Waller, Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Tommy Sweeney FB – Chris Myarick |
| Run Options – 91.1 (4) |
| HB – Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell |
Brian Daboll will undoubtedly make a significant difference as the play-caller, but this offense has various weak spots that cause concern. Additionally, Jones isn’t a high-end QB and can’t just carry a team. He will need an excellent supporting cast to compete for a Super Bowl. The surrounding cast here is good but not elite. Jones can make the right reads and be accurate, but I just don’t see it when it comes to improvising and elevating the talent around him. For a more detailed analysis of Jones, read “Ranking The 37 Best QBs In the NFL (Part Two).”
Moreover, the weapons here are an improvement from last year, although they still don’t stack up too well compared to the rest of the NFL. Darren Waller is a superb talent at Tight End, but there’s no X-Receiver. While there’s a ton of hype around Jalin Hyatt, he may not even start for this offense in year one. I do like Darius Slayton and Parris Campbell. It’s just those two won’t be true dynamic difference-makers. The receivers will do, but it’s not like this will be an explosive passing attack. They at least will have Saquon Barkley to rely on, who had a phenomenal year in 2022. His level of athletism is in another world.
The O-Line is in solid shape, although it doesn’t necessarily boost the offense as a whole. Andrew Thomas is the one guy you feel confident about, but he is an elite player. In pass-pro, he is already very refined and has some of the best physical traits to aid him. He doesn’t have the same impact as a run blocker, but he certainly gets the job done. Evan Neal had a rough first year, but his ceiling is through the roof. Center was a massive problem for New York last season, but John Michael Schmitz Jr. was drafted to fix that. However, you’re still worried about the Guards, as the two starters didn’t perform well in 2022. Mark Glowinski and Ben Bredeson struggle in pass-pro, and overcoming that’ll be a challenge. They’ll be fine with excellent play calling and a good QB, but they do drag this offense down.
I’m excited to see this offense with Waller and, hopefully, Barkley back. It’ll be an efficient offense, and I expect Jones to do an excellent job of finishing games again. However, this is an average offense considering how good some of these other offenses are.
| Coaching – 84 (T11) |
| Scheme – Attacking 3-4 |
| Secondary – 79.1 (20) |
| CB1 – Adoree’ Jackson, Amani Oruwariye CB2 – Deonte Banks (+), Tre Hawkins SCB – Cor’Dale Flott, Darnay Holmes, Aaron Robinson FS – Xavier McKinney, Jason Pinnock, Gervarrius Owens SS – Bobby McCain, Dane Belton, Nick McCloud |
| Pass Rush – 84.9 (8) |
| ED1 – Kayvon Thibodeaux (+), Oshane Ximines, Elerson Smith ED2 – Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward IDL1 – Dexter Lawrence, A’Shawn Robinson, D.J. Davidson IDL2 – Leonard Williams, Rakeem Roches-Nunez, Vernon Butler |
| Off-Ball Linebacker – 74.0 (T27) |
| LB1 – Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Cam Brown LB2 – Jarrad Davis, Darrian Beavers, Carter Coughlin |
| D-Line Run Defense – 81.6 (3) |
| ED1 – Kayvon Thibodeaux (+), Oshane Ximines, Elerson Smith ED2 – Azeez Ojulari, Jihad Ward IDL1 – Dexter Lawrence, A’Shawn Robinson, D.J. Davidson IDL2 – Leonard Williams, Rakeem Roches-Nunez, Vernon Butler |
The Giant’s defense saw numerous players step up last year, which helped them make it to the playoffs. If it happens again this year, there’s the chance we see this become a legit defense. I loved the Deonte Banks pick, as he is a prototypical press-man corner who can be this team’s number-one guy. They also have Adoree Jackson here, who had an exceptional year in 2022. Xavier McKinney, the Free Safety, is one of the players that stepped up last year. He was a versatile player in coverage and one of the team’s best tacklers. Additionally, Bobby McCain is a serviceable Strong Safety, and Cor’Dale Flott is an ascending Slot Corner. I love the balance between youth and experience in this secondary.
Moreover, this Linebacking room is thin, although Bobby Okereke was an exceptional signing. He’s a high-end run defender, coming off his best career year. I am genuinely worried about Jarrad Davis as the second starter. However, Martindale should be able to shelter his role in coverage schematically.
Furthermore, these two EDGEs, while still growing, are two pieces you feel good about. Azeez Ojulari was hurt most of last year but still put up 20 pressures, which isn’t bad for being the fourth-best pass rusher. I was a massive fan of Thibodeaux coming out, and he didn’t disappoint in year one. I could see him becoming an elite pass rusher in no time. Dexter Lawrence was a stud player before 2022 but fully arrived last season. His size-power-explosiveness combo is too overwhelming for any Guard to handle. As a two-way player, he is a covetable asset for New York. They also still have Leonard Williams and signed A’Shawn Robinson. Robinson will be a quality run stuffer, and Williams has good pass-rush ability. The D-Line is an enormous strength for New York. The personnel and the blitz-heavy playcalling will make for a fun defense to watch.
| Special Teams – 78 |
| K – Graham Gano P – Jamie Gillan LS – Casey Kreiter KR – Gary Brightwell PR – Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes |
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| – Brian Daboll – Saquon Barkley – Receiver Depth – Darren Waller – Andrew Thomas – Dexter Lawrence – Ascending EDGE Duo – Talented Young Corners | – Ben Bredeson – Lack Of X-Receiver – EDGE Depth – Jarrad Davis – Linebacker Depth |
Total Win Projection – 8.6
| WK | N.Y. Giants | Win % |
| 1 | vs Dallas | 50% |
| 2 | @ Arizona | 67% |
| 3 | @ San Francisco | 33% |
| 4 | vs Seattle | 57% |
| 5 | @ Miami | 43% |
| 6 | @ Buffalo | 20% |
| 7 | vs Washington | 80% |
| 8 | vs N.Y. Jets | 43% |
| 9 | @ Las Vegas | 57% |
| 10 | @ Dallas | 33% |
| 11 | @ Washington | 57% |
| 12 | vs New England | 57% |
| 13 | BYE | |
| 14 | vs Green Bay | 67% |
| 15 | @ New Orleans | 57% |
| 16 | @ Philadelphia | 33% |
| 17 | vs L.A. Rams | 67% |
| 18 | vs Philadelphia | 43% |
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