The Giants’ secondary — and defense, as a whole — has not intercepted a pass through three games, and that unit will face another daunting matchup Monday night against the big and speedy receiving corps of the Seahawks.
“That’s one of those things that it’s still early. We need to keep going, keep clicking, with the same intention and mentality, and we know those things will come,” nickel-back Adoree’ Jackson said after a walk-through practice Tuesday in East Rutherford. “Obviously, we want more turnovers and more sacks, but you never know how this league turns. We were 7-2 last year, and we didn’t have too many sacks or turnovers. We know things are gonna change in our favor.”
Indeed, the Giants’ defense didn’t snare an interception until Week 6 last year, when Julian Love — who now plays for the Seahawks — picked off Lamar Jackson late in the fourth quarter of a comeback win that lifted them to 5-1 under first-year coach Brian Daboll.
That is why Jackson and others stressed they aren’t overly concerned about the lack of turnovers through the Giants’ 1-2 start.
Coordinator Wink Martindale’s defensive unit also has registered only two sacks so far, both last Thursday against the Niners.
“It just hasn’t happened yet. But it will open up and once we get one, they’ll start rolling,” safety Xavier McKinney said of the lack of interceptions. “And then the narrative is gonna change.
“We’re not gonna get all wrapped up in the outside stuff. Last year, the first three games, we didn’t get any [interceptions] either. We were just winning, so nobody was talking about that. We’ll be fine, and once things start rolling for us, we’ll be good.”
Of course, the Giants also have coughed up 98 points in their first three games, including a 40-0 season-opening stinker against the Cowboys at home and last Thursday’s 30-12 road loss to the 49ers.
Brian Daboll’s team is looking to avoid falling to 1-3 this week, especially with their following two games at Miami and at Buffalo.
“We’re three games into the season, going on the fourth one, so it’s still early, still have 14 left to play,” Jackson said. “Just keep jelling, keep bonding and keep going forward and keep being there for each other. We know how things can change, tides can change.
“So for us, it’s not worrying too much and just focusing on the little picture instead of the bigger picture.”
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith has thrown for more than 600 yards over the past two weeks, and the Seahawks have scored 37 points in each of those victories.
Star receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, as always, are a handful to cover, combining already for 28 catches for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
“There’s a sense of urgency every game. The way I see it, I want to win every game,” McKinney said. “We haven’t been able to do that. But I know where this team can go, I know what we can do and what we have the potential to do. We just gotta go out there and do it.”
The Giants’ secondary features two rookie starters on the outside in cornerbacks Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins.
Banks said that he expects to be available to start on Monday after suffering a bruised left arm against the Niners, saying the injury has “calmed down a little bit.”
“Just trying to win this week, and we should be straight,” Banks said. “We’re not really trying to look too far ahead, I’m always excited for every opportunity I get every week, and I’m excited for the challenge [against the Seahawks].”
Read more
