It seems there is more to Tommy DeVito than meets the eye, and more than Giants head coach Brian Daboll may have thought for this new dynamic to work.
In his second NFL start and first win on Sunday over the Commanders, there seemed to be more belief instilled in DeVito, who went 18-for-26 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
“He did a good job of picking up our offense. I think he operates well in the pocket. He’s got quick feet. He throws with anticipation and timing, and he’s instinctive,” Daboll said Monday. “He does a good job of seeing defenders and feeling defenses. I don’t think he’s an over-processor and overthinker. He can make a variety of the throws.
“He’s had this opportunity and there’s plenty of things that he knows he needs to work on and we need to work on with him. … But he’s got the right mindset, the right approach. He’s done a good job since he’s been here.”
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, DeVito isn’t the most physically gifted player.
Nevertheless, some things are clicking.
Daboll said DeVito doesn’t overthink the simple drop-back, throw, repeat and that the rookie also has “quiet feet,” meaning he doesn’t move around much once he drops back.
“He stays in that pocket, if you will, and he doesn’t get moved too far to one side or the other side,” Daboll said. “He’s where he needs to be most of the time and when he’s not there [in the pocket], it’s usually for a reason.”
Daboll and DeVito meet Thursdays before the rest of the team makes its way into the practice facility, talking about situational decisions, offensive terms, different film tapes and other quarterbacks around the league.
He has also been working on the “tough” job of finding pocket presence and awareness with DeVito, putting him through drills to prepare him as much as he can for game-time decisions.
“Until you’re actually in the line of fire where you can take those shots from 310-, 330-[pound players], or edge rushers, blitzers, I don’t think you have a great feel,” Daboll said. “You evaluate it on college tape but the good ones that I’ve been around have a unique way of dealing with — call it the congestion that happens in the pocket.
“In the different drills, you work on those on a daily basis, but I think it’s something innate that they have that they are able to keep their eyes down the field, stay in the pocket, move a little bit, maybe get out when they have to, an instinctive feel that the good ones that I’ve been around have done a good job with that. I’d say that he’s got some good pocket presence.”
The undrafted free agent out of Syracuse only has been given the opportunity in the wake of injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, but he led the Giants to their third win of the season Sunday.
The Giants made two roster moves Monday, waiving running back Deon Jackson and offensive lineman Joshua Miles.
Daboll said an update on Darius Slayton will be given Wednesday.
The wide receiver hurt his arm on a hit from Jartavius Martin and Kendall Fuller in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
Slayton, who finished with four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, didn’t play after halftime.
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