Can the Giants’ pass rush regain its form against the Saints even without Dexter Lawrence II?
Heading into the season, there was essentially only one part of the Giants’ roster that looked like a true strength: the pass rush. And in September, that looked to be true. Through Week 5, the Giants led the league in sack rate at 12% and were tied for fourth in pass rush win rate at 50%. But since then, they’ve been nowhere near as good, ranking 17th and 28th in those two metrics, respectively.
Little quells pass-rushing ills like the Saints’ offensive line, which ranks 29th in pass block win rate. Of particular concern for the Saints is rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga, whose 82% pass block win rate ranks 64th out of 66 qualifiers at the position. That should mean a great chance for Kayvon Thibodeaux to record his first sack since returning from his wrist injury in Week 12 — and for the Giants to get their pass rush back on track.
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys win streak has fans feeling a little bit better about franchise direction
It was assumed McCarthy would be done after the season but Jerry Jones recently floated the idea of re-signing McCarthy. Tom Brady gave him praise during a recent broadcast and then Dak Prescott went to bat for him. Stephen Jones even followed up with encouraging words.
Conventional wisdom still holds that the Cowboys will have a new coach in 2025, but this recent uptick has muddied the waters a bit. If the Cowboys win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, the late-season turnaround talk may get stronger. How many Cowboys fans think Dallas will win on Monday night? Turns out that number is 43%.
That’s more positive than the general public. The Cowboys are 5.5-point underdogs according to FanDuel. So if the Cowboys won they would also cover the spread. While 43% of Cowboys fans think that will happen, only 24% of NFL fans think the Cowboys will cover the spread.
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles-Panthers Final Injury Report: DeVonta Smith and Darius Slay are back, 4 players ruled out
The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report on Friday in advance of their Week 14 home game against the Carolina Panthers.
The big news is that DeVonta Smith and Darius Slay are listed without game statuses.
Smith, who was a full participant in practice this week, is set to play for the first time since Week 11. The Eagles’ passing attack stands to benefit from his return.
Slay will play after missing Week 13 due to a concussion. The starting cornerback’s return sends Isaiah Rodgers back to the bench.
The Eagles ruled four players OUT: Dallas Goedert, Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, and Britain Covey.
Blogging the Boys
New report makes it unlikely that Ben Johnson would take Cowboys head coaching job
It seems really unlikely that Ben Johnson could be an option for the Dallas Cowboys.
The most notable piece of Breer’s report concerned the two sets of criteria Johnson is looking for in his next team.
“Number one: he’ll be looking for organizational alignment, in particular between the GM and the head coach. And then he’ll be looking for a recognition from the organization of the things that have gone wrong and a willingness to fix them.”
To many outside spectators, this criteria would seemingly eliminate the Cowboys from contention before they even have an opening for Johnson to consider. Much of this season has been filled with sharp criticism of the way the Cowboys have handled their roster, whether it be a lackluster performance in free agency or how long they waited to extend both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, or even the decision to make McCarthy coach into the final year of his contract as a lame duck.
Through all of the criticism, Jerry and Stephen Jones have refused time after time to admit any mistakes or any fault of their own. Instead, they have doubled down and insisted that the roster is built to win now and that they’ve been “all in” on winning games in 2024.
Big Blue View
Depleted New York Giants make slew of roster moves before facing New Orleans Saints
Giants reinforce defensive line, several other spots ahead of Week 14
The New York Giants, ravaged by injuries along the defensive line and a few other spots on their roster, made a series of roster moves on Saturday.
Those were:
Waived:
- QB Tim Boyle
Reserve/Injured:
- DL D.J. Davidson
Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad:
- DL Elijah Garcia
- DL Casey Rogers
Activated from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation):
- T Tyre Phillips
- CB Greg Stroman
Claimed off Waivers from Seattle Seahawks:
- CB Dee Williams
The Giants placed star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on IR this week, and had placed defensive tackle Armon Watts on IR the week before. With Davidson, a third-year player, unable to play this week due to a shoulder injury, the short-handed Giants placed him on IR.
Interview with the Enemy: New York Giants
Ed Valentine joins us for Week 14 of “Interview with the Enemy.”
New York’s 2023 NFL Draft picks—CB Deonte Banks and WR Jalin Hyatt—have gotten their respective careers off to a slow start. What do you think is the reason for this: limited opportunities, a lack of effort, or is it simply that they’re struggling to adapt to professional-level competition?
EV: Banks: He had a promising rookie season. He was drafted as a press man cornerback in a blitz heavy man coverage defense coordinated by Wink Martindale. This year, the Giants defense is a zone heavy scheme coordinated by Bowen. Banks is being asked to cover No. 1 wide receivers, hasn’t been up to the task in a scheme that doesn’t suit him and his attitude and effort have suffered. He needs a coordinator who lets him do what he was drafted to do, and he needs to grow up some.
Hyatt: He was drafted in Round 3, and there were questions about his route tree, his ability to adapt from a simple Tennessee offense to a complex NFL one and about his ability to deal with physicality since he is really thin. I think we have seen all three come into play. There is no question about his speed. The simple fact is that he is WR4 for the Giants and they have three guys who are better — Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton. They play a lot of two-tight end sets, and there just aren’t consistent snaps for the fourth wide receiver.
NFL league links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
Kirk Cousins is slumping, and the Falcons might be facing a choice
The Falcons need to accommodate their old-school pocket passer or move on to his nimble backup. And time might not be on Cousins’s side.
Cousins, 36 and making $62.5 million in 2024 (including his signing bonus), has not thrown a touchdown pass since Nov. 3 — okay, there was a bye week in there, but still — when he carved up the mediocre Dallas Cowboys. At the time, he seemed to be finding his footing — figuratively and literally, given his ankle and Achilles’ issues.
Since then, the Atlanta offense has been a disaster, scoring 36 points in 31 drives, the third-worst rate in the NFL during that span. Cousins has no touchdown passes and six interceptions in those three games for a 59.1 rating. Outside evaluators and executives question the soundness of his ankle, his fit in Atlanta’s offense and his ability to shake himself out of this rut. He faces a homecoming Sunday at Minnesota, with which he spent six seasons after leaving Washington. And some people in the league believe Penix could take over as the starter by Week 15.
Cousins is coming undone right as the league’s rookie passers are ascending. Caleb Williams has thrived since the Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Jayden Daniels had a record-setting start for the Commanders before he got injured, and he played his best game in weeks Sunday. Drake Maye has given the New England Patriots more than they could have hoped for with an inept roster around him. Bo Nix has been nothing short of a revelation in Denver. Penix was seen as potentially the most polished and pro-ready of them all, and his athleticism and mobility might better fit what the Falcons want to do offensively.
Penix also could help unlock an Atlanta running game that remains middling at best — it is 16th in yards per carry and tied for 23rd with nine rushing touchdowns — despite the Falcons investing a top-10 pick on running back Bijan Robinson in 2023. That’s something Cousins couldn’t provide even at the height of his prowess — and especially can’t now.
NFL.com
2025 NFL Draft: Top 20 Senior Bowl prospects following 2024 college football regular season
18) Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 205)
Egbuka may not be considered an explosive playmaker by some because he’s averaged around 12.5 yards per catch over the past two seasons. Don’t underestimate his ability to be a primary target in a pro offense, however; I think he can put up similar numbers to his former teammate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has exploded for 441 receiving yards and three scores the past four games with the Seahawks. Egbuka can win at all three levels with savvy routes, quick feet and reliable hands. He’ll earn an NFL quarterback’s trust early in his career.
17) James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee (6-5, 243)*
After a slow start to the year, Pearce has racked up 5.5 sacks in the past six contests. He is speed personified on the edge when one-on-one against either offensive tackle, getting upfield fast on the outside or cutting inside to create chaos in the pocket. Pearce has a leaner build with more linear movement than other defenders on this list, but he can chase plays, shed run blocks and long-arm bigger tackles into the lap of the quarterback. He’ll be a great fit for a team seeking an effective designated pass rusher in Year 1 who can blossom into a starter in time.
15) Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia (6-5, 265)*
Williams inevitably draws comparisons to former Bulldog (and 2022 No. 1 overall pick) Travon Walker. Williams registered just 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 10 games this season because of an ankle injury and regular alignment in a three-man front; Walker had similar numbers (7.5 and six, respectively) during his final year at Georgia but has 18.5 sacks in the past two years with the Jaguars. Production is an important evaluation factor, but if Williams excels at the NFL Scouting Combine like Walker did, a pro team will spend a premium pick on his size and length off the edge.
12) Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 261)
Warren’s been more than just a tight end for the Nittany Lions this season. Sure, the guy just set the Big Ten record for TE receptions in a season (81), but Penn State also relies on him to be a ball-carrier (21-189-9.0, four TDs), Wildcat quarterback (3-for-5, 35 yards, one TD passing) and blocker. Warren’s outstanding hands and short-area agility should earn him similar grades to this past April’s No. 13 overall pick (and 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate), Brock Bowers.
11) Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-9, 215)*
Averaging an astounding 190.7 rushing yards per game this season, Jeanty needs 341 more yards in the postseason to break Barry Sanders’ 36-year-old FBS single-season rushing record (2,628 yards). His combination of short-area agility and strength allow him to avoid would-be tacklers in the box and run through defenders in space. He’s a home run threat on every touch because of his vision, balance through contact and open-field acceleration. Jeanty ran for 226 yards in his latest game (a 34-18 win over Oregon State), but fumbled for the third time in seven weeks, dropped a pass and missed a blitz pick-up. Still, he’s an elite prospect at the position.
10) Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (5-11, 205)*
Burden’s stats are not as impressive this season (61-676-11.1, six receiving TDs) as they were in 2023 (86-1,212-14.1, nine receiving TDs), but his elite traits are still obvious. He wreaks havoc on defenses when he gets the ball in space, spinning off tackle attempts, accelerating downfield in a hurry or powering through defensive backs for extra yards. Burden also possesses the body control and strong hands to adjust to high throws and back-shoulder passes. His numbers this year may not scream “top-10 pick,” but don’t be surprised if he ultimately goes that early.
9) Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-4, 320)*
Banks is a smooth mover off the snap at left tackle, getting into perfect position to stop advances from even the quickest pass rushers. He handled probable first-rounder Landon Jackson when the Longhorns took on Arkansas (though Jackson got a sack when Quinn Ewers stepped up in the pocket). Banks looks like an All-American guard getting out in front of screens and pulling in the run game, as well. He bends at the waist and misses his punch on some run blocks, but assuming the ankle injury suffered against Texas A&M is not serious, Banks will be a highly sought-after tackle prospect.
8) Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia (6-2, 245)*
Pop on some Micah Parsons tape from his days at Penn State and then watch Walker; the similarities don’t end with the jersey number. Walker is tied for the Georgia team lead in sacks with 5.5 this fall (after leading the Bulldogs with five as a reserve last year) but also looks right at home playing off the ball. His closing speed allows him to reach either sideline, while his thick upper body and strong hands help him beat blocks inside when playing the run.
7) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-5, 212)*
McMillan’s large frame and strong hands will be quite enticing to NFL teams. The Hawaii native ranks top 10 nationally in receptions (84) and receiving yards (1,319), often working inside to take advantage of his size (and surprising quickness in his cuts) against smaller corners. His long strides and physicality make him a tough cover for outside corners, as well. And the big-bodied wideout unsurprisingly excels in the red zone, racking up 26 receiving scores in his 37 games at Arizona.
6) Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6-2, 202)*
Johnson’s junior season has been derailed by injury; he missed one game with a shoulder injury and the last five contests with a foot issue. He worked through leg injuries last season, as well, while helping lead Michigan to a national title with four interceptions. Johnson possesses the hip flexibility, speed, length and quickness to star on the outside in the NFL. He returned both his interceptions for touchdowns this season (against Fresno State and USC) and is not afraid to bring physicality to coverage or run support. General managers will consider him an elite prospect if his injuries are not deemed long-term problems.
5) Will Campbell, OT, LSU (6-6, 323)*
Scouts have seen plenty of Campbell over the past three seasons, as the elite high school recruit stepped into LSU’s starting left tackle job as a true freshman. He’s continually gained strength in college, allowing him to overpower defenders in the run game, but is still mobile enough to climb to linebackers. Edge rushers do not get much traction outside when Campbell’s hands land quickly and he widens his base to anchor. The Louisiana native is my top tackle prospect in the class and has a great future in the NFL.
3) Abdul Carter, Edge/LB, Penn State (6-3, 252)*
The departure of Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac to the NFL pushed Carter from linebacker to the defensive line, where his quick get-off, straight-line speed and flexibility to turn the corner have helped him rank among national leaders with 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Rushing the passer wasn’t exactly new to the impending All-American, though, as he led the team with 6.5 sacks as a freshman. Carter also hustles down plays to the opposite side of the field and stacks and sheds larger tackles to force plays inside — two signs he’s ready to contribute immediately on a three-down basis at the next level.
2) Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-3, 320)*
The Wolverines’ 2024 season was saved by a win over Ohio State in “The Game,” and Graham was a significant reason why they got the huge road victory. While not among the NCAA leaders with seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, he’s consistently stopping run plays near the line of scrimmage by squaring his shoulders and playing with leverage. Graham can play inside or at five-technique because of his quick hands and feet off the snap, forcing quarterbacks to unload passes before they wish and chasing plays outside the box. In other words, he’s a complete player.
