Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
2-0 New York Giants
We’ve heard individual player assessments from Giants’ beat writers and team ‘analysts’ ad nauseam for two days. Now it’s time to get performance supported evaluations from the thorough folks over at Pro Football Focus, who break down every single position on every single NFL play. Notable grades from the Giants 20-16 victory over Pittsburgh are as follows:
TEAM OFFENSE
Overall: -17.1
Run Block: -16.1
Pass Block: -1.8
Screen Block: +1.0
QUARTERBACK
When under no pocket pressure, Ryan Nassib completed 10/15 passes for 85 yards and a +1.9 pass rating. When the pocket collapsed, however, he completed 2/6 passes for -4 yards and a -1.2 rating.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle Charles Brown, who was responsible for the kick out block on Rashad Jennings‘ 73-yard touchdown, earned a +2.2 run block grade on 16 rushing snaps. That success was cancelled out by a -2.3 pass block grade, with a QB sack and QB hit under his watch.
Center J.D Walton played to a -2.0 run block grade on 16 run block snaps. He laid an effective block in the screen game (+0.5), which supports his greatest strength… that of mobility.
Depth piece James Brewer graded out the best of any offensive player on the roster: +3.0 overall rating (+1.7 run block and +1.2 pass block) on 33 total snaps.
RUNNING BACK
Former UDFA Kendall Gaskins was an effective rusher (+0.6) and receiver (+0.3) in his 25 snaps, but a -0.9 pass block effort won’t go overlooked.
Michael Cox wants to run well so badly that he refuses to let his blocks develop. That lack of patience resulted in a -1.2 run rating on just six carries. He needs to let the game slow down. Even when there is a crevice, Cox visibly tightens up.
Rush direction: +3.9 over LT; -3.5 LG; -3.2 C; -3.6 RG; +0.9 RT; -1.0 FB
WIDE RECEIVERS
Nothing of note, snaps dispersed.