New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll often likes to keep people guessing what his personnel plans are. But when it comes to the quarterback position, Daboll has removed any guesswork by being straightforward with his decisions.
That, again, has been the case this week as Daboll is sticking with rookie Tommy DeVito over veteran Tyrod Taylor despite DeVito’s struggles Sunday in the 24-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
“He’s earned it,” Daboll said on Monday. “It’s not always going to be perfect, but he’s earned the opportunity to play.”
DeVito holds a 3-2 record in the five games DeVito has started. He’s also won two Rookie of the Week honors and the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors over the three-game winning streak he’s authored that ended with Sunday’s loss.
Against the Saints, DeVito had his struggles, showing some questionable decision-making and being unable to find open receivers. To be fair, no one on the offense stood out–the blocking was spotty, and the receivers couldn’t break free from the Saints’ defenders.
But DeVito, who at least continued his streak of pristine ball security, reverted to some bad habits that he appeared to have shed in the team’s Monday night win over the Packers, most notably holding onto the ball too long on several of the seven sacks he absorbed and failing to take the check-downs that the Saints were giving him.
DeVito finished 20 of 4 for 177 yards and a long of 33 yards, which came in garbage time when he found Darius Slayton open (most of his production coming in garbage time). DeVito, who also had two early game passes dropped by his receivers, also ran for 36 yards on four carries, his rushing yardage leading the team.
DeVito also took an unnecessary hit yet again as he continues to wait until the last minute to slide when he takes off as a runner, his latest decision resulting in him being pulled from the game to be evaluated for a concussion.
That said, DeVito still hasn’t attempted many, if any, passes into tight windows, especially into the teeth of the zone.
That said, DeVito still hasn’t attempted many, if any, passes into tight windows, especially into the teeth of the zone.
That said, DeVito has shown a mental toughness and a willingness to not let any setbacks linger to the point where they affect his future performances. And with the Giants likely planning to move on from Taylor, sticking with DeVito for the rest of the season makes too much sense.
