Yeah, my bad.
As he assessed what has gone right and what has gone wrong as the Giants enter their bye week at 4-8, general manager Joe Schoen took the blame for one specific failing that hurt the team earlier this season: The lousy punt return game.
“I understand where you are going with that,’’ Schoen said Monday. “That’s on me.’’
Rookie running back Eric Gray, a fifth-round pick in last spring’s draft, was given the first shot at the job despite a less-than-stellar showing in the preseason.
Gray’s ball-security issues — he lost two fumbles in a four-game stretch — prompted a benching but Sterling Shepard, the veteran wide receiver with no real experience as a punt returner, struggled mightily in the Week 7 victory over the Commanders, fumbling one of his three returns.
The next day, the Giants signed to the practice squad Gunner Olszewski, a former All-Pro punt returner with the Patriots, even though his own ball-security issues led to his release by the Patriots and later the Steelers.
“We tried to address the punt returner,’’ Schoen said. “We knew it was an issue. In the draft some of the guys we liked went probably higher than where we deemed you would take a guy. Eric had done it at Tennessee, and he had done it at Oklahoma and the coaches were comfortable, we were comfortable going into the regular season based off what we were seeing.
“And Eric’s got a bright future and we probably put him in a spot that wasn’t most comfortable for him either, but he went out there, didn’t bat an eye and did what he could, but again that’s on me, early on. We couldn’t do everything overnight and as much as we wanted to and that was a position we continued to look for and Pittsburgh let Gunner go and we were able to get him.’’
Gray averaged 4.0 yards on his seven returns.
Schoen could have kept Jamison Crowder, a veteran receiver, on the roster for his value on special teams. Crowder hooked on with the Commanders and is averaging 7.4 yards per punt return.
“I know Crowder is having success in Washington, you bring him up — we kept seven receivers; we couldn’t keep eight,’’ Schoen said. “Do the math, who do you move on from, from the group if you kept Crowder? So, there were some moving parts in there and that’s me being candid with you and that’s on me, the returner. I’m glad we got Gunner here, though. He’s done a really good job for us.’’
Olszewski is averaging 9.3 yards on his 12 punt returns with the Giants and has not had any issues securing the ball.
Coach Brian Daboll would not address whether Tommy DeVito will remain the starting quarterback if Tyrod Taylor is ready to play in two weeks against the Packers.
Taylor (ribs) missed the past four games and is eligible to come off injured reserve.
“I’d say we’re just getting started on that process now,’’ Daboll said.
TE Darren Waller (hamstring) is eligible to come off injured reserve.
Daboll said “We’ll see’’ when asked if Waller and/or Taylor will play again this season.
As for RT Evan Neal (ankle) playing again this season, Daboll said “Not for certain, but I think he’s getting better so I’m hopeful. I don’t think he’s ready to play quite yet but he’s getting there.”
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