Presented by

10 things to watch in Giants vs. Titans

Sep 11, 2022 at 06:32 AM

Matt Citak

Digital Media Coordinator

2022 SEASON GETS UNDERWAY

After a long offseason and summer of waiting, the Giants are finally set to kick off the 2022 season when they travel to Nashville to take on the Titans in Week 1. After going 2-1 in the preseason under Brian Daboll and the new coaching staff, the Giants will take the field at Nissan Stadium for their first real test of the season. The Titans, led by head coach Mike Vrabel, lost to the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener before defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals.

After 25 years serving as a football coach, Sunday's game will mark the first of Daboll's head coaching career. While excited and grateful for the opportunity, Daboll reiterated to the media this week that the focus is on the Titans and nothing else.

"I'm just trying to do the best I can to help the players out in terms of their preparation, practice schedule, and really not focus on that," he said about his feelings towards his first game as head coach. "I'd be lying to say that I'm not honored, again, to be standing up here. But my focus is on the game and the players. There will be a time and place for that. I want to do everything I can to get ready for this game."

ALL-TIME SERIES

The Giants and Titans have split 12 games since their inaugural matchup in 1973, when the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers. The TItans won the last meeting in 2018, but the Giants got the win the last time they traveled to Nashville, 36-7.

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Questionable: S Dane Belton (Clavicle)

Doubtful: OLB Azeez Ojulari (Calf), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Knee)

Titans

Questionable: OLB Ola Adeniyi (Neck)

Out: DB Lonnie Johnson (Groin), DB Elijah Molden (Groin), LB Chance Campbell (Knee), OL Jamarco Jones (Triceps)

WHO STARTS AT LG, ILB?

With Shane Lemieux on injured reserve for at least the first four games, the starting left guard position is up for grabs. On the first unofficial depth chart of the regular season, Ben Bredeson manned the spot with rookie Joshua Ezeudu behind him. Bredeson was the team's highest graded linemen in the preseason with his 88.8 overall grade from PFF, including an elite 91.5 grade on 23 run block snaps, against the Patriots

"We'll let it go here again today," Daboll said before Friday's practice. "I think both those guys, Bredeson and Ezeudu, have done a good job all week. So, we'll practice today. We'll reconvene tomorrow morning with the coaching staff and watch practice today and then decide which way to go with it."

In addition to left guard, Coach Daboll has not yet announced who will start at inside linebacker next to Tae Crowder. Veteran Austin Calitro is listed as the starter on the unofficial depth chart, but rookie Micah McFadden is battling for the spot.

Calitro earned a team-high 90.4 overall grade in the preseason, which included elite 91.2 pass rush and 81.5 coverage grades. He picked up five total pressures on just 19 pass rush snaps. Meanwhile, McFadden earned an 81.9 overall grade across the three games, and graded out well in all areas. His final marks on the preseason included 77.4 run defense, 78.3 pass rush, 82.8 tackling and 67.0 coverage grades. His 13 total tackles was among the team's preseason leaders.

KAFKA CONTINUES AS PLAY-CALLER

Although it was only a limited sample size, the offense put up a good performance during the preseason, when offensive coordinator Mike Kafka called the plays. The Giants finished the three-game slate ranked first in the NFL in total yards (382.7) and passing yards (279.0) per game. They also finished at the top of the NFC in passing attempts (143), completion percentage (71.3 percent) and fewest sacks allowed (three).

Coach Daboll announced at the start of the week that Kafka would continue to call plays for the offense this weekend in Nashville.

"It's a special opportunity," Kafka said about calling plays. "I definitely don't take that for granted. Any opportunity you can to call plays in the National Football League is an honor. I'm working to put my best foot forward and give our guys the best opportunity to be successful."

Kafka added he's open to input from Daboll and the rest of the coaching staff.

"I think it's going to be collaborative," said the offensive coordinator. "When you are in the flow of a game, I think everyone has input and ideas. I welcome that, I love that. The best part of building that staff was all the ideas and everyone's vision of the game. Obviously, I've got to have a clear picture of what I'm feeling and what I'm seeing out there but I'm always going to rely on the eyes of my staff and the coaches out there."

DJ, SAQUON'S DEBUT IN NEW OFFENSE

Two of the most important pieces to the offense's success this year are quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. After they missed some time during the 2021 campaign, both players enter the season healthy.

"I think it's a versatile system.," Jones said Tuesday about the new offense. "I think it allows the quarterback to do a lot in the pocket, outside the pocket, in the run game. It allows us to get into advantageous looks depending on what the defense does, easily getting in and out of plays. I think from all those perspectives, it's very quarterback friendly for any quarterback. I've certainly enjoyed working with (Coach Daboll)."

"Good, he's looked really good since the spring," GM Joe Schoen said about Barkley last week. "He's quick, he's fast, good hands, I mean he's been impressive, and leadership wise he's been really good too, so I've been really impressed with Saquon."