Jones decision could go down to wire Sunday
As the Giants ask everyone but the security guards for input into an evolving offense, it might be helpful to know who is starting at quarterback.
Alas, the dead-horse messaging of a coach-and-player “collaborative approach” around play-caller Freddie Kitchens continued Thursday, but there still is no answer on whether Daniel Jones or Mike Glennon will start Sunday against the Dolphins. Jones (strained neck) is officially listed as a limited practice participant, but there was no other sign that his status is in jeopardy as he took his customary spot first in line for individual drills.
“I fully expect it to be just like regular old times,” Kitchens said. “They have different skill sets, but that’s [not] to say one’s bad or one’s good from the standpoint of what you’re going to call. Our plan is going to be our plan, and we’re fully expecting to have everybody.”
The decision on Jones’ availability lies with the team doctors: Jones either is cleared for contact by Sunday or not. Calling plays for Jones means a heavy dose of runpass options. Calling plays for Glennon means a traditional pocket-passer.
Jones stayed about 20 minutes after Thursday’s practice ended throwing to receiver David Sills as a way to make up for team reps lost to Glennon, who has 27 career starts. It is unlikely the Giants will make a final determination Friday as they are willing to hold off until mere hours before kickoff, as has happened this season when receivers Kenny Golladay and Sterling Shepard and left tackle Andrew Thomas had injuries.
“I would have no problem doing that with Daniel,” head coach Joe Judge said. “To me, it’s a lot more about the experience a guy has, and can you depend on a guy with short preparation to carry out his job? Ultimately, I don’t really want to play anybody who hasn’t practiced. Quarterbacks always need timing and the reps, but the way [Jones] prepares and the fact that he’s out here doing stuff with us, that’s different.”
Jones’ limitations are the last thing the Giants need as they try to get in order an offense that scored just 13 points in the first game after coordinator Jason Garrett was fired in the quest “to score more points” than an average of 18.9 per game. In an effort to get more out of playmakers, the coaching staff is soliciting feedback on which plays are preferred.
“This is the way our staff believes: Why would you call something if a player’s not comfortable running it?” Kitchens, who maintains the title of senior offensive assistant, said in his first interview since replacing Garrett. “If you think it’s a good scheme or a good play or whatever the case may be, it’s your job to get them comfortable doing it. But if you can’t get them to that point, it’s kind of diminishing returns.”
The most important feedback should come from Jones, who sometimes needs prodding.
“Veteran guys are a little more forceful,” quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, rank these plays 1 through 10,’ and they’d say, ‘Well, this play is like 18.’ You’re like, ‘OK, we can’t call that.’ He certainly has always been very forthcoming, but sometimes you just need to ask him to get it out of him a little bit.”
The most noticeable change in the offense through one game was in process, not production. Specifically, the wristband with codes corresponding to plays attached to Jones’ wrist. And maybe now to Glennon’s wrist.
“The goal of a play-caller … is to get the play to the quarterback as quick as possible,” Kitchens said. “Not necessarily for him to dissect the play in his head. You want to break the huddle as fast as possible to get to the line of scrimmage and have more time to see and react.”
Kitchens said the terminology and approach “stayed the same.” But when he was asked if his offense could start to look different than Garrett’s with more than the three practice days they had last week, Kitchens curiously said, “I’m not going to get myself in trouble by saying something.”