Giants Country

New York Giants Mailbag: The "Stretch Run" Edition

Let's check in with the readers to see what's on their minds.

Patricia Traina

New York Giants Mailbag: The "Stretch Run" Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: The "Stretch Run" Edition /
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If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please use this link to avoid having your question land in spam. You may also post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

(From Joe G.) From what you have seen so far, do you feel, as I do, that Daboll needs more time as Giants HC, but that changes are needed in some of his assistant coaches, i.e., OC play caller, OL, WR?

Next, our OL has been putrid for most of the 10+ years. My opinion differs from some in that our greatest need is not drafting a QB high that isn't needed, but fixing our OL 1st in the draft, drafting another CB like Banks, drafting another good pass rusher and DT. If we discover that once the many holes are filled, and we still need a QB, draft one next year. Your thoughts?

Joe, I do no doubt that changes are coming to Daboll's staff. I've said before that I believe he'll move on from Mike Kafka, and I also wouldn't be stunned if Thomas McGaughey finally moves on. At the assistant level, they're already losing running backs coach Jeff Nixon to Syracuse. I don't know what will happen with Bobby Johnson, but I believe he didn't do a good enough job getting the depth ready. I also believe that if he had recommendations as to who to keep and who to pass on, he came up short in that area.

To your point about fixing the offensive line, someone in the scouting community told me you'd never have the perfect line. But if you can land three solid studs, that should be enough to field a functional line. I question not only the drafting of some of the linemen but the coaching and development and a reason for the lien's issues. That said, I still think it helps if you have a quarterback behind center who can process a lot quicker than what we have seen from Daniel Jones this year.

(Frank N.) Do the Giants still have their 50-yard line brunch before home games?

Frank, I didn't know they even had a brunch. If it's for the players, you mean, no, not that I'm aware of. If it's a fan-run event, then I don't know. I show up for work and don't really take notice of that stuff.

(From Kenneth M.) Do you think Waller will come back from IR this season? The initial thought was that it would be more than just the initial 4-week IR period that he would miss. Follow up: do you think they will retain him this offseason?

Kenneth, I would be surprised if he returns. Seriously, at this stage of the game, what's the point? If the plan is to retain him for next year, let him get healthy. And speaking of that, I think if the Giants land a No. 1 receiver, I could see them moving on from Waller, especially if that hamstring is a chronic issue.

I don't know, Jeff. That might be a better question to ask one of the national reporters who hops from team to team. I've heard the expression "show team" before from other coaches. It's kind of like how I refer to the trenches as the pit--I've had people tell me they never heard of the trenches being called the pit. It's a matter of personal preference, though.

Joe, I understand that fans like the positive stuff, but I'm sorry. I won't be a pollyanna--that's not my job. My job is to be objective and fair in my reporting, regardless of the circumstances. That doesn't mean that. As for the rest of the sports media, all I can control is what I do--what others do is their business.

Stogie, it's too early to be having this discussion. I understand everyone is looking forward to the draft, but right now, there are far too many unknown variables for anyone to say for sure what a team should do. Where will the Giants end up drafting? What underclassmen are going to declare? Let's let all the dust settle, and then once we roll around to mid- to late January, we can look at a clearer picture.

What's up, Tim? Neal has to get through practice on a limited basis before we can guess when he will return. I'm starting to wonder if he WILL return this year--that ankle injury he had was pretty bad, from what I heard. I hope he does make it back, though, as he's missing out on some valuable developmental time.

My five favorite Italian foods, in no particular order, are lasagna with meat sauce, shrimp scampi, chicken parmesan, Sunday sauce, and fresh caprese salad.

I'm not sure what allowing the clock to wind down an extra second will fix that having good clock awareness and getting the play off on time can't. Can you elaborate on how this would solve the problem? 

I don't get the feeling he'll play this year. He's sort of been a forgotten man on this roster, and I have to wonder if he's so far behind in his development at this point if they'll look to move on from him.

Nope. If I'm the Giants and go the young quarterback route, I let Daboll and Schoen pick and develop the guy they want.

(From Gary T.) First, did you see Kiss like you wanted, and if so, how were the shows? Second, if you could pick one thing that caused the Giants' season to fall off the tracks, what would it be and why?

What's up, Gary? Yes, I saw the last three Kiss concerts, including the one in Baltimore and the two at MSG. I don't unplug any given week, so last week was the first time I did, and it was something I needed, given how the season has been going.

One thing that caused the Giants' season to derail? I suspect many people will say injuries, which would be hard to argue, but I will go down on record as questioning how ready this team was for the start of the season. I didn't like how the offensive line never got settled until after training camp concluded.

And I disagreed with not giving the starters more reps i the preseason, especially on offense where they had some new pieces and were looking to open things up more. I get that they were trying to prevent injuries, but injuries happened anyway. And when they came out against Dallas, I felt like the Cowboys punched them in the mouth so hard that they never recovered.

I also felt that the roster construction lacked in some areas. Did they need to sign a half dozen slot receivers like they did? They screwed up on the punt returner role, and I don't think they really ever solidified the swing tackle position. So that would probably be my second biggest factor.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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