The NY Giants have a chance to pick up their first win of the season, if they can contain Washington Football Team rookie Chase Young, protect the football, more
Washington Football Team rookie defensive end Chase Young has the chance to be a problem for Daniel Jones and the NY Giants. A big problem.
Young, 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, has shown that his elite pass-rush ability has translated from his dominant collegiate career at Ohio State to the NFL.
NY Giants’ rookie class offering very little through first 5 weeks
The NY Giants' 2021 NFL Draft class has so far been disappointing, beginning with first-round pick Andrew Thomas' struggles at left tackle.
In three games since being chosen by Washington with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, Thomas has already produced 2.5 sacks, 10 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and forced one fumble.
“He has a great knack for finding the ball in the pocket and really going and attacking the quarterbacks as they’re trying to step up in the pocket.,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said Wednesday. “He’s a good tackler. This guy plays with a high motor. Look, whether it’s him or (Montez) Sweat on the other side, these guys come off the edge, they’re dangerous players.”
Through five weeks, Jones has already been sacked 16 times, tossed five interceptions, and lost three fumbles.
Jones, who lost a fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the Dallas Cowboys last week, is going to need to account for Young on every snap.
“He’s really athletic,” Judge said of Young. “That kind of goes, yeah, I got you. But he’s really athletic, which enables him to do a variety of things. His speed off the edge is very good, his reaction on the counter moves, the way he plays off contact. He has great instincts to find the ball.”
There might not be an aspect of Sunday’s game more important to the Giants’ chances of winning it than making sure Young doesn’t get to Jones and doesn’t force any fumbles. If Young has his way with rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas and is able to wreak havoc in the backfield, it could be a very long afternoon for the Giants.
Scroll through for three more keys to the Giants’ beating Washington and notching their first victory of the season: