Daniel Jones' dismal performance this season has left Giants fans and analysts alike in a state of shock and confusion. After a disappointing showing in the season opener against the Vikings, where the Giants were trounced 28-6, questions have arisen about what has gone wrong for the once-promising quarterback.
Expectations for Jones were tempered coming into the season, especially after his ACL surgery and a rough stint in 2023. The hope was that in his third year under Brian Daboll’s offensive scheme, and with new playmaker Malik Nabers at his disposal, Jones would appear capable and steady. No one expected him to reach superstar status, but competence and control were anticipated.
Instead, Jones’ performance was alarmingly subpar. In the opener, he struggled with every aspect of his game, failing to execute basic passes and showing none of the poise or precision he displayed in 2022. The game exposed him as a shadow of the quarterback who once managed to limit mistakes and lead the Giants to a winning season.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger noted the regression, saying Jones seemed like a player who has not advanced in his understanding of the game. "He didn’t look like an experienced quarterback with awareness and anticipation," Baldinger remarked. "He should be comfortable with the offense by now, but he didn’t seem at ease."
Jones was selected as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft by former GM Dave Gettleman. When Joe Schoen took over as GM, one of his first decisions was to decline Jones' fifth-year option, making it clear he needed to prove his worth. Jones responded by having a solid 2022 season, leading the NFL with a league-low interception rate and guiding the Giants to a playoff win.
Despite this, the Giants decided to invest in Jones with a four-year, $160 million contract, structured to allow a potential exit after the 2024 season if necessary. The belief was that Daboll's system would further develop Jones' potential.
However, since signing the contract, Jones has been anything but impressive. He’s 1-6 as a starter this season, with just two touchdown passes and eight interceptions, including three pick-sixes compared to only two scoring passes. His recent performances raise doubts about his ability to lead a coherent offense.
Injuries and poor offensive line play have contributed to Jones’ struggles, but the current level of incompetence is disheartening. Despite the addition of new offensive line starters this season, the line’s performance in the opener was lackluster, with only left tackle Andrew Thomas showing any real effectiveness.
As Baldinger put it, the offensive line was “awful” overall, with only Thomas providing a solid performance. The collective struggles of the line have only compounded Jones' issues, leading to a crisis of confidence and an inability to effectively manage the offense.
The Giants are left grappling with the question of whether Jones can recover his previous form or if they will need to reconsider their investment in the quarterback position.
Against the Vikings, Daniel Jones struggled significantly, completing 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards and tossing two interceptions, including one returned for a 10-yard touchdown by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. For much of the game, trailing behind, Jones was pressured on 36.7 percent of his dropbacks, ranking 21st in the NFL for Week 1, according to NextGen Stats. His throws into tight windows were limited to just 9.5 percent—one of the lowest rates in the league—suggesting that his completion percentage should have been higher. In contrast, he threw into tight windows 14.7 percent of the time in 2022 and 10.8 percent in 2023, indicating more opportunities were available in this game that he failed to capitalize on.
Further insights from NextGen Stats reveal that Jones’ completion percentage over expected was -16.5 percent, the worst in Week 1, with only Jordan Love of the Packers faring worse. This metric compares a quarterback's actual completion percentage to the expected completion percentage, accounting for pass difficulty. For Jones, this figure was +1.2 percent in 2022 and +0.5 percent in 2023.
Former NFL offensive lineman and current analyst Brian Baldinger criticized Jones for his lack of anticipation in his throws. “Daniel Jones doesn’t throw the ball with any anticipation,” Baldinger said. “He’s too late, which leads to him running. Passes to the sideline, for example, need to be released as soon as the receiver makes his break. He wasn’t accurate or anticipatory, and that’s on him.”
Baldinger was also unimpressed with Brian Daboll’s game plan, noting that the use of multiple tight ends and the absence of deep passes were concerning. “It’s the same approach as under Pat Shurmur,” Baldinger remarked. “They don’t seem to believe they can move the line of scrimmage. With all those tight ends, the play design was lacking. They didn’t attempt a single deep shot, not to Malik or Jalin [Hyatt].”
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, now an analyst for Fox Sports, added that Daboll’s pre-snap motions may have complicated matters for Jones. “It almost looked like it confused Daniel Jones,” Daniel told The Post. “He seemed overwhelmed by shifts, motions, and identifying the Mike linebacker, which may have caused him to forget the play. Sometimes, simplicity is key, but the approach was anything but simple.”
Identifying the issues is straightforward, but understanding why Jones, once a promising quarterback, has become a liability for the Giants is more challenging. Compounding the situation is the fact that Jones was aware throughout the summer that the team considered trading up in the draft to replace him, a fact highlighted by “Hard Knocks.” It’s reasonable to assume that such knowledge weighs heavily on his mind.
.jpeg)
0 Comments