The New York Giants are currently 0-2. The San Francisco 49ers injury bug has currently derailed Kyle Shanahan’s personnel and the Giants look to take advantage. The Giants have had a constant problem thus far: showing up for only two quarters each game. The poor momentum spread last week as the Giants second half momentum against the Pittsburgh Steelers slid into the opening quarters against the Chicago Bears. The Giants allowed 17 points on defense in the first half and shut out the Bears in the second half. The offense failed to reach the ceiling’s momentum and lost, 17-13.
How the New York Giants Can Take Advantage of the 49ers Injury Bug
The incoming opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, are coming in with some of their best players sidelined. The Giants are still an underdog for the game, but if they can attack the 49ers at the right spots where they are missing their key players most, the Giants will have their first home victory and a steal.
Taking Control of the Hapless 49ers
Taking advantage of the 49ers Injury Bug is key for the New York Giants, especially when they are still without their first win of the season. The Giants will have to attack multiple positions in order to win. This is especially true when considering the fact that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan claims that the new turf at Metlife Stadium was the blatant cause of the injury hiccups.
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo will most likely not play against the Giants, as he injured himself with a high ankle sprain last Sunday against the New York Jets. Instead, the fourth-year man out of Southern Miss, Nick Mullens, will be taking Jimmy G’s role on Sunday. If most Giants fans remember, the Giants beat the 49ers with Mullens at the helm in 2018.
While relieving Garoppolo in the second half of the Jets game, Mullens completed 8 of 11 passes for 71 yards with a 72.7 completion percentage, a 51.7 passer rating and threw an interception to Pierre Desir.
As far as the defense goes, things have flipped for the Giants. They spent money on defensive lineman Austin Johnson and drafted three run-stopping linebackers, allowing Joe Judge to emphasize the importance of stuffing the run.
The Giants, believe it or not, are the second-best in the league when it comes to allowing passing yards and passing yards per game. Big Blue is also tied for fifth in sacks with six. That is good, especially for a pass-rush that did not have high expectations.
If the Giants can put pressure on Mullens and make first and second down difficult, in which they rank the best in the NFL as far as success rate on, third down will be a lot easier for them.
Running Back
At the 49ers running back position, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert will be out for weeks with knee injuries. Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson will be the lead backs on Sunday along with fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Wilson only had three rushing yards on two attempts last week. Meanwhile, McKinnon rushed for 77 yards on three attempts and a touchdown against a Jets defense that allowed 182 yards on the ground. McKinnon hauled in 55 of his 77 rushing yards on the ground on a 3rd and 31.
Patrick Graham made a mistake last week when Austin Johnson replaced Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams on a couple of plays towards the end of the game that allowed David Montgomery to accumulate more yards. Putting both run-stoppers in would have given the offense more time.
The Giants are twenty-fourth in the league when it comes to rushing yards per game (138) and eighteenth when it comes to yards per carry (4.5). Patrick Graham will have to utilize Blake Martinez, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams wisely when it comes to stopping the run against a team that is seventh in rushing yards per game (152.5).
Defensive Line
Defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas were attacked by the 49ers injury bug and placed on injured reserve with torn ACLs. D.J. Jones returned to practice yesterday after being sidelined with an ankle injury. Dee Ford is unlikely to play Sunday as he nurses a back injury. This is something for the New York Giants to take advantage of on Sunday.
The Giants have been struggling on the offensive line for the past two weeks, giving up a total of seven sacks. The hog mollies rank twenty-eighth in the league pass block win rate and twenty-sixth in the league in run block win rate. The 49ers defense still ranks one of the best in the league, however, the defensive line is twenty-third in pass rush win rate and has only accumulated three sacks compared to the Giants six.
As far as the run game goes, the 49ers allow 142 yards per game on average, which ranks twenty-sixth. Devonta Freeman is likely not fully adjusted to Jason Garrett‘s playbook yet. Thus, the Giants are likely to rely on a running back committee style with the other running backs being Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman, and Elijhaa Penny. This is no doubt a perfect opportunity for the Giants to get their rushing game going, especially after two raw weeks relying on the pass.
Main Image:
