Welcome to this weeks edition of Random Thoughts with Austin Kimbrough. I decided to stick to one topic this week, and since my Giants are playing Monday Night Football this week, I might as well preview the game. Enjoy!
The Dallas Cowboys will be coming to visit the Meadowlands for Monday Night Football to take on the New York Giants. This game figures to be a good one, even if Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott is out with injury. The Giants(2-0) have surprised everyone this season so far by starting the season undefeated, and the Cowboys(1-1) despite losing Dak, beat the defending AFC Champion Bengals last week. A win in this game would prove vital to each team as they both try to establish early season momentum.
Cowboys Season Leader’s:
Passing Yards: Cooper Rush, 299
Rushing Yards: Ezekiel Elliot, 105
Receiving Yards: Noah Brown, 159
Tackles: Leighton Vander Esch, 16
Sacks: Micah Parsons, 4
Interceptions: Donovan Wilson, 1
The Skinny:
The Cowboys season didn’t necessarily start the way they envisioned, but all of their goals are still right in front of them. Dak Prescott’s thumb surgery went well, and his rehab is currently underway. The Cowboys decided against putting their star QB on short term injury reserve so they could be looking to bring him back as soon as they play the Eagles on October 16th. Regardless, in his place Cooper Rush looked very comfortable when they played the Bengals last Sunday. Dallas did a good job of staying consistent in the running game with both Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard, which allowed Cooper Rush time to find Ceedee Lamb and Noah Brown in open space when Dallas ran play action. What impressed me with Cooper Rush last week was his patience, calm eyes and feet, and his ability to make the right play at the right time. With the likely addition of Michael Gallup to the lineup this week, the Cowboys offense hopes Cooper Rush can continue his steady play.
As for the Dallas defense, the gold star goes to Micah Parsons. I said it in an earlier article, and I’ll say it again. “What I love about Micah Parson’s game so much is that he always stands out on tape. He is constantly making plays for this Dallas defense as a do it all defender who makes clutch plays and causes a lot of disruption.” This was before the season, and it holds even more true today. Yes, the Dallas defense is playing better as a whole, and making less self inflicted errors than last season, but Micah Parsons(aka Big Play Parsons) is a man amongst boys. Through 18 career starts, Parsons has 17 sacks and it seems as if every sack comes at a vital moment for the Cowboys defense. Having only allowed two touchdowns in two games, it appears the second year jump under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is legit. If Parsons and Co. can keep playing like this, look out.
Giants Season Leader’s:
Passing Yards: Daniel Jones, 364
Rushing Yards: Saquon Barkley, 236
Receiving Yards: Richie James, 110
Tackles: Julian Love, 11
Sacks: Oshane Ximines, 1
Interceptions: NONE
The Skinny:
Neither of the Giants wins were especially pretty, 21-20 and 19-16 respectively, but according to safety Julian Love neither are the Giants. The Giants are a “grimy, grind it out, physical football team” Julian said in his media availability on Wednesday. I agree with Julian’s assessment. What I like about this Giants team so far this season, is the commitment to fundamental football. The Giants made sure that this team was going to run the ball, play good special teams, and get all eleven hats to the football on defense. Saquon Barkley has certainly backed up his talk from the offseason, leading the NFL in rushing after two weeks. He’s running harder, faster, and you can tell that head coach Brian Daboll’s belief in Saquon has given him the confidence to go out and perform like he has. While Saquon has been fantastic, Jones and the rest of the offense need to kick it up a notch. Now I will give Daniel Jones credit where he deserves it, he is making much better decisions then I have ever seen him make before and its leading to less incompletions, and more points. The only problem is, those points have been field goals and not touchdowns. Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka are creative enough to get the ball in the redzone, but once the Giants are in the redzone it rests on Daniel Jones shoulders for them to score touchdowns.
Defensively the Giants leaders have stepped up to lead a top ten unit, with Xavier Mckinney, Dexter Lawrence, and Adoree Jackson all making big plays so far this season. The biggest influence on this team except for maybe Brian Daboll is defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. His energy and intensity give this Giants defense edge and they play with that edge all four quarters. Martindale, known for his exotic blitzes and pressures, will be delighted to see pass rushers Azeez Olujari and Kayvon Thibadeaux back at practice this week as both try to ramp up to play Monday night.
Game Preview:
I expect this to be a tough, physical game where both teams try to establish the run early and often. Whichever team can set up a run game should have the early advantage. Ultimately though, this game will be in the quarterbacks hands. I imagine Wink Martindale and the Giants will send an array of blitzes at Cooper Rush to make him uncomfortable and make throws he doesn’t want to. If Rush can continue to stay calm amidst of heavy pressure and find his playmakers, he should be successful. Daniel Jones on the other hand is also going to be facing heavy pressure but with less playmakers to deal with. Most of Jones weapons should be available on Monday night with the exception of rookie wide receiver Wan’dale Robinson who is still nursing a knee injury suffered in the season opener against Tennessee. Sterling Shepard, Richie James, David Sills, Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay are all available and expected to suit up Monday night and they have to step up and make some plays for this offense. Especially Golladay and Toney. The lack of a true number one receiver will be the death of this Giants team if they don’t find one soon!
Game Prediction: 24-21 Dallas
(This is my professional opinion, the fan in me is rooting for the Giants!)
Austin Kimbrough
Creator of Say What w/ K2
IG: @say.what.k2
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