There may be extra optimism contained in the Giants‘ constructing than there was shortly.
The constructive vibes are actual popping out of an undefeated preseason with a league-high 107 factors scored in three video games.
However none of that issues on Sunday if the Giants don’t beat the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
That’s the message Brian Daboll is trickling all the way down to his group: It’s put up or shut up time.
“I have a lot of confidence in our guys,” Daboll mentioned. “But again, we have to go out there and do it.”
Doing it will imply profitable a season opener for the primary time since 2023. Daboll’s Giants have misplaced their final two Week 1 video games by a mixed rating of 68-6.
Russell Wilson spoke in lock step with the coach on Wednesday.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to go do it,” he mentioned.
However there may be an undercurrent of tightness and strain to the optimism because the Giants’ first actual sport attracts close to.
Daboll received’t give an inch, refusing to talk about his depth chart, the winners of place battles at nook and proper guard — something resembling a football-related element.
“That’ll all come out on Sunday,” Daboll mentioned firstly of the week.
The clear implication is that Daboll believes these particulars may be utilized by Commanders coach Dan Quinn for aggressive benefit functions in Sunday’s sport.
What it comes throughout as, although, is trepidation, concern and concentrate on the flawed issues.
It’s harking back to Invoice Belichick screwing with NFL scouts this weekend by printing an empty depth chart for North Carolina’s season opener — after which shedding 48-14 to TCU.
Daboll, after all, got here up underneath Belichick in New England earlier than ultimately making a reputation for himself as Josh Allen’s offensive coordinator in Buffalo. So it’s not onerous to hint the affect to his techniques.
Belichick has received six Tremendous Bowls, although. Daboll has a 9-25 file previously two seasons and is coming off a 3-14 12 months in 2024.
Wilson is being thrust towards the media in a calculated method because the face of the group and the first motive for brand new hope in Week 1.
Wilson will get his personal solo press convention earlier than the Giants’ locker room even opens for the remainder of the group on Wednesdays. It’s odd how a lot the franchise is deferring to a participant on a one-year contract and his fourth group in 5 years.
Rookie Jaxson Dart, essentially the most thrilling participant within the constructing, all of the sudden should take a public again seat. Jameis Winston, who didn’t get an opportunity to compete for the beginning or backup jobs, is an afterthought within the group’s on-field plans.
GM Joe Schoen raved not too long ago about Wilson’s management influence.
“As far as Russell, the leadership’s been tremendous from the minute he walked in the building, not just on offense or in the quarterback room but across the entire team,” Schoen mentioned.
However Wilson’s management up to now has been so much like this Giants group heading into Week 1: all speak with out outcomes to again it up.
On Wednesday, for instance, Wilson continued to speak about summary ideas like group “bonding” and in contrast the fixed apply of his deep ball to when “you see Steph Curry shoot a thousand shots.”
Bonding received’t save Daboll’s job, although. Successful will. And evaluating oneself to the best shooter in NBA historical past, nicely, some might name that management. Others would possibly name it one thing else.
The actual fact is the Giants have talked so much. They’ve had Wilson speak so much for them. Daboll is reluctant to speak a lot in any respect because the strain mounts heading into Sunday.
That’s as a result of he’s nicely conscious of the stakes if he’s unable to get a minimum of one win within the Giants’ first two video games in opposition to the Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in division.
“We got to go beat Washington,” defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence mentioned.
That’s the one factor that may carry the preseason optimism into video games that matter. In any other case, the tone of all that speak will begin to change.
THOMAS STILL UNCERTAIN
Giants franchise left sort out Andrew Thomas (restricted, foot) was the one participant on the harm report Wednesday. Commanders defensive finish Dorance Armstrong (knee), wideout Noah Brown (knee) and nook Jonathan Jones (hamstring) have been restricted.
