KUBAS LATEST ROOKIE TO STEP UP
The Giants have gotten plenty of contributions from their rookie class this season. The latest first-year player to step up when his number was called was undrafted guard Jake Kubas. With Aaron Stinnie out due to a concussion, Kubas started the first game of his NFL career and put together a solid performance. The 24-year-old played well in the run game and was credited with just one total pressure allowed on 44 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Jake was a bright spot for me,” assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka told reporters Thursday. “I think seeing a young guy step in, he played physical. Sure, there was things he can get better at, plays that maybe he missed here or there. But, overall, I thought it was a big step forward for him.”
Kubas is looking at another opportunity to start this weekend. Stinnie has progressed to a full participant at practice as he continues to work through the concussion protocol, but center John Michael Schmitz was ruled out on Friday after being unable to practice all week due to an ankle injury. Brian Daboll said veteran Greg Van Roten would take some practice reps at center in case Schmitz can’t suit up Sunday, and if that’s the case, Kubas would slot in to replace Van Roten at guard. Van Roten was added to the injury report Thursday and Friday as a limited participant due to a knee injury, but he was not given an injury designation on the final injury report.
No matter what the alignment is up front on Sunday, Kafka is confident that Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz will have their guys ready to go.
“Whoever’s in there will be ready, will be ready to rock and roll. Carm does a great job with that group and James, getting those guys prepared, whether it’s guys that have been here for a while or guys who are just stepping in. Young guys, old guys. Older guys, I should say. But they do a really good job with that, getting those guys prepared.”
ANOTHER TOUGH TEST FOR RUN DEFENSE
Over the last three weeks, the Giants have faced off against three of the top running backs in the NFL. Starting in Week 14, the defense has been tasked with slowing down the likes of Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry, and Bijan Robinson, all of whom have enjoyed a ton of success this season. While Robinson did total 94 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries last week, the Giants’ run defense has seen an improvement over the last few games compared to earlier in the year.
“I think the guys are playing hard,” Bowen said. “I think they’re battling up front; they’re fighting. I think the backers are doing a good job to get downhill. They’re effective, I think tackling has been improved in some areas, especially from the back end moving forward here. Just really haven’t seen the really, really big ones. So, we’ve been able to do a good job of eliminating the really big ones. Where those, there might be a 10-to-12-yard gain here and there. But it’s not turning to 40, so it’s been a big part of it. And the guys are playing hard, they’re flying around. And they’re accepting the challenge and they’re taking advantage of their opportunities and they’re making the most of it.”
As if going up against Kamara, Henry and Robinson the last three weeks wasn’t enough, the Giants will now try to slow down Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who is fresh off one of the best games of his NFL career. Going up against the Titans’ solid run defense, Taylor exploded for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, good for an average of 7.5 yards per carry. Attempting to contain Taylor and the Indianapolis run game will be yet another tall task for Shane Bowen’s unit.
“Another really good back,” the defensive coordinator said about Taylor. “Obviously, coming off a really big game last week. Got some experience with him, obviously, being in division with him for a few years there. Patient, if you give him a crease and he finds it. Really good vision. Burst through the hole, gets on second and third level really quickly and obviously able to hit the home run at any moment. So, we got to do a good job, hopefully setting edges and building a wall and not giving him creases inside that he can find and exploit.”
BURNS’ LEADERSHIP
Brian Burns did not register sack or pressure against the Falcons, according to PFF. This snapped a two-game streak with at least one sack and marked just the second time all season the veteran outside linebacker was held without a pressure. However, Burns was able to pick up a tackle for loss, which gives him four TFL over the last three games and 14 on the season.
Despite Sunday’s relatively slow outing, along with the Giants’ overall defensive struggles, Burns is still enjoying a solid season while dealing with various ailments throughout the year. His 52 total pressures on the year are the third-highest he’s picked up in a season, as he has seven different games with five or more pressures. His eight sacks across 15 games matches his 2023 sack total over 16 games, and if he’s able to pick up two more sacks, he’ll reach double-digit sacks for just the second time in his career. As productive as he’s been on the field, Burns has also earned praise from his coaches for his leadership, both on and off the field.
“I wouldn’t say he’s our most vocal leader, by any means. But I think he’s really good at kind of grabbing guys one-on-one and being in guys’ ears one-on-one and addressing things that way,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “We’re young. We’re young. And any veteran presence you can have when you’re a young defense is helpful. Whether it’s outside linebacker to defensive back, outside linebacker to inside linebacker or outside linebacker to defensive line, I think it’s helpful. The thing I’m going to say about him is he’s been dealing with stuff throughout the year and he goes out there and plays. There’s Wednesdays and Thursdays where we’re not so sure and then he’s out there Sunday flying around and putting everything on the table.”
SCOUTING THE COLTS’ DEFENSE
The Colts jumped out to a 38-7 lead in the second half of their Week 16 win, but a furious, late comeback by the Titans saw Tennessee score 23 unanswered points to make it a one-possession game late in the fourth quarter. Despite allowing the large lead to slip away last week, the Colts’ defense has shown some flashes this season.
Led by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the Colts rank 23rd in points and 29th in yards allowed on the year. A lot of that production came in the run game, as they rank 28th in rushing yards allowed on the year. Despite allowing some big plays throughout the season, Bradley’s unit has found a tendency to get after the football. The Colts’ 24 defensive takeaways are tied with the Broncos for the sixth-most in the league, aided in large part by their 15 interceptions, which are tied for the fourth-most.
“Coach Bradley, he’s done it for a long time,” Daboll said about the opposing defensive coordinator. “Gus has been in this league for a long time. They got two really good interior players, and they have a good team defensive scheme. They play their certain style that they’d like to play with. Every team in the league is a good football team. They got a lot of good players. They got good coaches.
“They did a heck of a job, I know it ended up being 38-30 against Tennessee, but they really started out the game really strong. It was 38-7 with three minutes left in the third quarter going into the fourth. So, I think Shane (Steichen) has done a nice job. So has Gus.”
The unit features talented players at all three levels. Defensive ends Kwity Paye (seven sacks) and rookie Laiatu Latu (four sacks) help get pressure off the edge, while interior defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart have combined for 10 sacks. Meanwhile, linebacker Zaire Franklin leads the NFL with 151 total tackles to go with his two interceptions, three forced fumbles, five passes defensed and 2.5 sacks. In the secondary, safety Nick Cross and slot cornerback Kenny Moore are tied for the team-lead with three interceptions apiece. Cornerback Jaylon Jones leads the unit with 12 passes defensed.