No NFL workforce can replicate Lamar Jackson‘s talents on the practice field to prepare for him in a game.
“Can’t do it!” Giants working again Devin Singletary shouted Friday.
“Damn near impossible,” edge rusher Brian Burns mentioned.
However the Giants (2-11) needed to attempt.
So Ihmir Smith-Marsette, the Giants’ kick and punt returner, performed scout-team quarterback in follow this week and did his greatest Jackson impression forward of Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Ravens (8-5).
“I just tried to give those guys a great look on defense with him being able to scramble the way he does, how fast he is, and make good reads on zone reads and stuff that he does,” he added.
So how properly does Smith-Marsette spin the ball when he drops again to move?
“I can spin it sometimes. The weather was pretty tough up here the last couple days. But indoors, I’m a god,” Smith-Marsette boasted with a sarcastic grin. “I’m just like Lamar. You might as well call me L.J.”
He’s kidding, clearly. There could also be nobody else within the NFL who instructions extra respect and reverence from fellow gamers than the two-time MVP Jackson.
Giants gamers have been filling out NFL ‘Top 100′ ballots in the locker room on Friday, and Jackson was in the top three of virtually every list.
“He’s simply considered one of a sort,” Singletary mentioned.
The Giants did hand Jackson his first profession loss to an NFC workforce, 24-20, early within the 2022 season. However that was keyed by Wink Martindale’s protection forcing two Jackson turnovers within the fourth quarter, together with a Julian Love interception return to the Ravens’ 13-yard line to arrange Saquon Barkley’s successful landing run.
In addition they had Tyrod Taylor, a real quarterback, working scout workforce to imitate Jackson’s actions and expertise heading into that sport.
This weekend, coming off Baltimore’s bye week, Jackson is touring north to MetLife Stadium with a chip on his shoulder after not working and creating sufficient in a house loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
His mother truly gave him a tough time about it, and he vowed after that loss to unleash his abilities on the Giants this Sunday.
“My momma just told me that,” Jackson mentioned two weeks in the past. “She just cussed me out. I’m mad. We’re going to get after it. I’m not going to lie to you. We’re going to get after it. I can’t wait for this bye to get on. We got the Giants coming up. I’m ready to go.”
Daboll was requested what he considered that remark.
“This guy’s one of the best players, not just best quarterbacks, best players in the National Football League,” the Giants’ coach mentioned as he tries to snap an eight-game shedding streak. “He can do it all. He is really a fun player to watch — not when you’re getting ready to play him.”
To get the Giants prepared for Jackson this week, Smith-Marsette mentioned he requested the task as a result of he had carried out it earlier than as a rookie for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.
“I was Lamar my rookie year with the Vikings, and I never took a snap or anything. I just used to hold the ball and say ‘hut’ and then act like Lamar,” he mentioned. “But [this week] they let me actually go from the shotgun and take a snap from the center.
“I would say I went up to them and said, ‘Let me try to be Lamar,’” he added. “And Daboll has seen me throw the ball, he said, and he was like, ‘Shoot, why not? It’ll be a better accurate look, so.’”
Smith-Marsette simply took again a 56-yard punt return for a landing in opposition to the Saints that acquired referred to as again as a consequence of a Greg Stroman holding penalty. So it was contemporary within the Giants’ minds how shifty the extensive receiver may be with the ball in his fingers, as properly.
It’s not like he needed to memorize any performs both.
“Just show me the cards and let me go to work,” he mentioned with a smile.
Burns mentioned Smith-Marsette’s dual-threat quarterback work was useful in making ready for the one-of-a-kind Jackson.
“He did good,” Burns mentioned. “He looked like him on certain plays.”
However the edge rusher smirked when requested if Smith-Marsette had earned the proper to run some Wildcat performs now with the offense.
“Nah, he’s good for what was needed. He can’t do that sh– for real,” Burns joked. “He’s better as a receiver.”
DEVITO, BOYLE WILL BE GIANTS QBs
Drew Lock (heel/left elbow), who’s listed as uncertain for Sunday’s sport, is predicted to be inactive because the Giants’ emergency third quarterback in opposition to Baltimore. So Tommy DeVito will begin, and Tim Boyle will probably be elevated from the follow squad because the backup.
4 Giants gamers have been dominated out as a consequence of accidents along with security Tyler Nubin (ankle) and nook Tre Hawkins (again) happening injured reserve this week: linebacker Bobby Okereke (again), guard Jon Runyan (ankle), defensive sort out Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder) and nook Dru Phillips (shoulder).
Nook Cor’Dale Flott (quad) and Lock are uncertain. Nook Deonte Banks (rib), sort out Chris Hubbard (knee), linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle) and offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann (fibula) are questionable.
Initially Revealed: December 13, 2024 at 3:56 PM EST
