Know Thy Enemy! New York Giants

As with every season, it is the NFC East matchups that will go a long way in determining a repeat of post-season action for the burgundy & gold.

Two of those games, will, of course, be vs. the New York Giants.

UKHTTC founder Christian Burt took time out with NYG aficionado James Masini aka Sunday Night Lights to discuss the fortunes of the Big Blue, who the Commanders will face off late in the season.

James, it is a new era in the New York with the hire of Brian Daboll and new coaching staff. On paper, this seems an exciting Head Coach appointment, particularly with his resume at the Bills and work with Josh Allen. New DC Don Martindale was successful in Baltimore, so might the Giants finally be trending up?

JM: Daboll is certainly a more inspired selection than the past few Head Coach appointments.

Daniel Jones was in desperate need of a QB-whisperer who’d try and maximise his talent.

We’ve invested in skill position talent around him since he was drafted, now he has a coach who has a track record of getting the most out of young QBs, if Jones can’t crack it this year, he really is out of excuses.

Draft 2022 saw New York take two high ceiling and likely high floor players in DE Kayvon Thibodeaux who can be explosive off the edge and stout Alabama OT Evan Neal. Were you happy with these choices and any later round gems that you feel will contribute in 2022?

JM: With the quality of the QBs coming out in 2023, I’d have been delighted to trade down and recoup an extra First next year.

However, once it became apparent that there wasn’t a market, we got the best possible outcome. Both are instant starters who were considered potential first overall picks at various points in the process.

Of the late round guys, I was really hopeful that 4th round Tight End Daniel Bellinger was in line for significant snaps. However, he's just come down with a quad injury that will limit significantly his involvement in training camp.

Kadarius Toney started to show his talent after a slow start, but stats show the rookie didn’t record a single TD. Might Toney be a guy ready to lift off in his in second year in the NFL? Any other under the radar guys in New York that you feel will be much better known by season end?

JM: there was a rumour he was on the trade block which surprises me but there’s freaky business in the Giants front office (as usual) so nothing is out of the question.

It’s easy to point to a lack of production, but last year was a disaster on offense so like to think Coach Daboll and Coach Kafka make better use of him.

By all accounts we’ll be seeing Daniel Jones release the ball out faster which would suit Toney’s profile as a YAC-monster. However, the question remains as to why they drafted Wan’Dale Robinson in the second round who has effectively the same skill set as Toney?

On the other side of the ball, Thibodeaux should make life slightly easier for Azeez Ojulari who had a quietly productive rookie season. Wink Martindale is bound to have a few tricks up his sleeve to maximise the effectiveness of his pass-rushers so I'm expecting some solid progression there.

Saquon Barkley: finally healthy and ready to take the league by storm?

JM: I’m not so sure. Averaging around 3.5 yards per attempt was not particularly encouraging but a porous O-Line was partly to blame. I’d be pleased with a 1,000 yard season.

How do you view the off-season of the Commanders from the outside looking in?

JM: the off the field stuff is a colossal mess, short of getting embroiled with Deshaun Watson, it couldn’t have got much worse.

In terms of roster moves I’m not sure how much I buy into Wentz (admittedly, I’ve never bought into him) so QB remains a big question mark.

However, getting McLaurin signed to a long term deal, plus the addition of Dotson means Washington are very much part of the NFC arms race. I’d worry about the secondary which seems a bit feast or famine but the quality of the front seven goes some way to balancing that out.

And lastly, your predictions for the 2022 season records and placing for the Giants and Commanders?

JM: Once again, anything around .500 is good for the Giants. The Commanders might get slightly closer to a positive record but I think the playoffs are still beyond reach for both of us.