Brian Daboll Takes Drastic, No-Nonsense Action to Finally FIX the Giants’ Incessant, Infuriating Problem That’s Doomed Them for Years

The New York Giants have an “incessant” problem, and head coach Brian Daboll is already resorting to drastic measures to get it under control at training camp.

Daboll is exasperated enough by the spate of pre-snap penalties to begin “yanking players” from the practice field, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan reported offensive linemen “James Hudson and Jake Kubas sent off for false starts already” on Friday, August 1.

Having to go to extreme lengths at this time of the offseason process is a sign of desperation. Daboll knows his offense must click to turn around a team that went 3-14 a year ago.

A defense led by star rookie pass-rusher Abdul Carter figures to be a force, but Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen know the offense remains a gamble. They’ve invested too much, including signing veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, before trading up to select Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, to have any improvement undermined by mental errors.

Many of those errors occurring up front puts the spotlight firmly back on an offensive line that’s been a weakness for too long.

Desperate Brian Daboll Taking the Right Stance

Adopting a zero-tolerance policy for pre-snap infractions is an aggressive move from Daboll, but it’s the right tactic. Creating jeopardy for mental errors is how the Giants establish the mindset to avoid them as much as possible.

Big Blue’s offense simply doesn’t have the talent to avoid self-inflicted wounds, so the Giants cannot beat themselves. Unfortunately, that’s just what has been happening through much of camp.

It’s been most evident up front, with Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News noting “Daboll chewed out the whole offense for at least 3 false starts (2 on TEs, one on OL by my count),” after practice on Monday, July 28.

Leonard also highlighted “#Giants practice sloppy & filled with penalties, though (delays, false starts, offsides, etc.). So Brian Daboll ran the players at the end,” of the session on Thursday, July 31.

Daboll needs to see continuity and efficiency in the operations up front. As well as chemistry between the O-line and a changed group of quarterbacks.

Key Factors Still Missing for Giants Up Front

Those things continue to elude the Giants because a of an unsettled picture in one half of the trenches. Star left tackle Andrew Thomas has been steadily recovering from a Lisfranc problem, and Duggan revealed “the Giants are taking a deliberate approach to ramping up Thomas, aiming to have him ready for Week 1. The plan has been for Thomas to see live action before the opener. It would be encouraging if he is activated from the physically unable to perform list next week so he’ll be on track to participate in joint practices and/or the second preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 16.”

Thomas’ absence has been compounded by right guard Greg Van Roten also missing time. The 35-year-old has been absent so he can be present for the birth of his second child.

What everything adds up to is the projected starting front five “hasn’t practiced together yet this summer,” per The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. It’s an obvious concern when the Giants need chemistry between starting QB Wilson and his primary blockers.

Daboll admitted as much when he stressed the importance of “seeing the game through the same set of eyes with five guys, but you have to … make sure people are ready,” per Dunleavy.

The Giants are still far from ready and Daboll knows it. He knows changes at football’s most important position will count for naught without eradicating the problems in an area where the G-Men have surrendered 133 sacks across the last two seasons.

Getting the basics right is the necessary starting point for getting better up front.