The New York Giants 2022 schedule has been known for some time now and fans are excited. New York has one of the easiest schedules in the league, which is great news for a team coming off of a 4-13 finish last campaign. However, new Giants head coach Brian Daboll won’t have the easiest of games to start thee season. The G-Men will travel to Nashville Week 1 to take on the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee has one the more impressive offenses in the NFL, which has resulted in reaching the playoffs three straight years. Daboll and defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale should already be preparing for this matchup, setting up game plans to shut down the key members of the Titans offense. Here’s a look at three players in particular.
3. TE Austin Hooper
Austin Hooper has the versatility that’s needed at the tight end position in today’s league. The Titans suffered from a lack of skill at tight end last season after the departure of Jonnu Smith to the Patriots last offseason.
Last year Tennessee fielded a trio of Anthony Firkser, Geoff Swaim and MyCole Pruitt. Firkser would primarily play passing downs and Swaim and Pruitt would come in on running downs. The result of this was that teams could easily figure out when the Titans were going to pass or run the football.
Hooper made the pro bowl twice in 2018-19 with the Atlanta Falcons and he then signed with the Cleveland Browns, but a change in his role occurred and with it a dip in performance came. The addition of Hooper to the Titans offense will boost both the passing and the running game and will allow Tennessee the freedom and ability to run a dynamic offense in 2022.
The Giants defense will have to get the right matchups and defensive packages to prepare for a Titans offense that wants to be more versatile. This will be a tough week 1 game for a rookie head coach and a New York defense that got weaker in the secondary, but stronger at the line of scrimmage.