Although the importance of avoiding downfield turnovers is not denied, the New York squad is encouraging their passer to shoot the ball without fear of mistakes
The head coach of the New York Giants, Brian Dabolldoes not want that Daniel Jones be limited. Instead, he’s fostering an aggressive mindset that invites his new quarterback out onto the field and throws the ball without hesitation or fear of making mistakes.
Especially in practices.
“Yeah, look, we want to make sure we protect the ball,” said Daboll before the third practice of the Giants as part of their organized team activities, this Thursday. “But then again, you can’t go out there and play scared. Be smart, not foolhardy, if you will. If he has a chance on the right read, let him fly.
“There are going to be things that happen every game. The defense is going to make a good play, there could be a fumble. We’re going to have to do a good job of protecting the ball, but I want him to loosen up.”
It’s a change from the last couple of years, when Jones He worked tirelessly to eliminate turnovers. That seemed to lead to a more conservative game with fewer interceptions. Jones he threw 17 interceptions in the last couple of seasons, tied for 20th in the NFL.
Josh Allenwho had Daboll as his offensive coordinator in Buffalothrew 25 interceptions during the same span, tied for second-most among all quarterbacks. Allen he also threw 75 touchdown passes and was a candidate for Most valuable Player in both seasons.
“The facts were that we gave the ball away too much. I was giving the ball away too much,” he admitted. Joneswho has 49 total turnovers since entering the league in 2019, tied for the third-most in the NFL. “But, I don’t know. I think as a quarterback, you have to be able to do both: be aggressive, take risks, but also protect the ball. It’s finding the balance and the best ones do that. So I always work to improve that piece in making decisions and being smart.
Daboll, in his first offseason as head coach, isn’t trying to completely reprogram his quarterback. He is simply looking for an acceptable happy medium that includes some of the aggressiveness shown by Jones in his first professional season, under head coach Pat Shurmurand the most responsible version that played in the last couple of years under the command of Jason Garrett y Freddie Kitchens in play selection.
It starts at spring practices. Jones he threw a deep pass down the middle of the field during Thursday’s session. He was intercepted by safety Julian Love.
“Yeah, you never want to throw interceptions,” he said. Jones. “But, just the idea of being aggressive. Taking risks. Making things happen. Letting receivers know we’re going to do that. We’re going to give them every opportunity to make plays and we’re counting on you to make plays in those situations. I think it’s a mentality that he should attack defense, attack downfield. And as a quarterback and the decision maker, you’re a big part of that. That’s something we’ve talked about and he wants to see it in practice.”
Jones he’s not stressing too much though. He insists that it is not a great contrast to what he did under Shurmuro Garrett y Kitchens.
“It’s not like a big change in mindset. It’s just a lot of understanding plays, understanding situations, understanding philosophies about when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive. I think all of that is specific to certain situations,” he said. Jones. “I don’t think it’s a big general mindset that you apply to every piece play. I think it’s specific to the play you’re trying to run, the coverage that’s out there, and understanding that piece.”
But, the hope is that, perhaps, it will deliver better results.