A former NFL head coach isn’t buying the hype on New York Giants’ starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who’s coming off the best season of his career.
After three lackluster and inconsistent seasons to begin his career, Jones broke out under first-year head coach Brian Daboll in 202. Jones completed 67.2 percent of his pass attempts for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions to go along with 708 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
But former New York Jets’ head coach Herm Edwards still isn’t sold on the Duke product. During an appearance on NFL Live (h/t Tyler Henry of Giants Wire), Edwards suggested that opposing defenses aren’t intimidated of Jones and the passing game.
“When you think about this offense, they were last in the National Football League in passing with explosive plays; in other words 20 yards or more. Now, Waller will help them. Hyatt — the receiver you mentioned they brought in.
The star player is the runner; it’s (Saquon) Barkley. And when you think about his numbers, he touched the ball for these guys 352 times — 295 were runs, and he caught 57 passes. And by the way, he was their leading receiver. So when you think about the Giants, trying to defend the Giants’ offense, the first thing you say is this: Stop the runner. If we can stop the runner, we can beat the Giants; make the quarterback throw the ball.”
In Jones’ defense, the Giants didn’t exactly have a deep set of pass-catchers last year. Darius Slayton led the team with 724 receiving yards, while running back Saquon Barkley and Richie James co-led the team in receptions with 57 apiece.
New York GM Joe Schoen prioritized upgrading the receiving unit around Jones. He traded for ex-Las Vegas Raiders’ Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller and spent a third-round pick on speedy Tennessee wideout Jalin Hyatt.
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The Giants declined the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie deal last offseason. But after a career year, he was handed a lucrative four-year contract extension worth $160 million.
Jones and the G-Men will open their 2023 season with a home contest against the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10.
