With how much of the New York Giants roster previously played for John Harbaugh, we’re not sure whether their moving from Baltimore to New Jersey truly constitutes a “fresh start.”
Those previously under contract with the Giants found themselves in a far different situation. Only a select few had previously played for Harbaugh or any of the double-digit assistants with ties to the Ravens. The roster situation could have quickly become Harbaugh’s guys vs. everyone else, which never bodes well at any level.
Instead, Harbaugh and his staff seemingly offered a clean slate to the players they inherited, and the results speak for themselves.
First impressions definitely mattered to John Harbaugh and the New York Giants
It would have been incredibly easy for a new coach to decide it was time to move on from Kayvon Thibodeaux or Deonte Banks, yet both had legitimate opportunities to show they belonged. The Giants reportedly declined a trade offer from the Saints for Thibodeaux, who is playing on the fifth-year option.
Although Thibodeaux and Banks will primarily come off the bench, they’re nonetheless expected to see first-team snaps in Week 1. The Giants recently listed Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter as co-starters at the SAM spot, and Banks profiles as a rotational cornerback. The more depth, the better, and they can potentially parlay strong seasons into multi-year contracts.
Not all of Harbaugh’s ex-Ravens were automatically safe. The Giants signed veteran lineman Daniel Faalele, who’d played his first four seasons with Harbaugh in Baltimore, but traded him to Jacksonville during the preseason.
Conversely, you have running backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo, neither of whom did much to help their stock this summer. Questions immediately arose about Tracy’s job security following a missed block that led to Jaxson Dart being evaluated for a concussion, and Skattebo’s viral backflip left fans divided. Harbaugh and Skattebo have both gone out of their way to compliment one another, though that didn’t stop the Giants from adding Najee Harris in August.
After missing nearly all of last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, Harris surged up the depth chart and even played during the final preseason game. He’ll likely factor into the Giants’ offensive game plan against the Cowboys, and we won’t be surprised if he leads the team in carries.
But what’s interesting is that the concerns about Tracy and Skattebo really only ramped up during the preseason. We never heard credible rumors about either’s job security during free agency or after the draft, and the only noteworthy pre-Harris move involving a running back was Devin Singletary restructuring his contract.
Upon reflection, we take back what we said. Harbaugh does want his guys, though that doesn’t mean they needed to have suited up for the Ravens. Instead, he and Joe Schoen are committed to building a roster with whoever fits their new approach and stands out for the right reasons, which is far easier said than done.
Giants fans will take whatever mindset Harbaugh applies so long as it results in victories. They’ll have their work cut out for them against Dallas, though, as the Cowboys have won 16 of the last 18 head-to-head matchups.
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