Giants GM Jerry Reese Speaks About State Of Team, Refuses To Talk About Josh Brown
New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese doesn’t speak with the media very often. He only does so about four times a year. When Reese does get in front of the microphones, it’s definitely an event.
Reese gave what has been called the State of the Giants Address Monday in the team’s first official media session after the bye week.
The Giants’ record is 4-3, tied for second place in the NFC East with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. If the season were to end today, the Giants would qualify for the postseason with the second Wild Card berth.
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Reese is generally an even-keeled individual: never gets too high or too low. Since the Giants sit a game over .500, his responses were what one would expect given the up and downs of this season.
His main concern is improving an offense that averages 19 points a game (ranked 26th in the NFL), converts only 42.1 percent of its red zone possessions (ranked 29th in the NFL), and averages a paltry 70.3 rushing yards a game (ranked 32nd in the NFL).
“Obviously, we definitely need to pick up the pace in a lot of categories,” Reese said. “I believe we did some things over the break and self-scouted a little bit to look into what is going with our offense. Obviously, we need to run the ball better. We need to score some points.”
Last season, the Giants averaged 26.2 points a game, tied for sixth in the NFL. Only the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks scored more. All of those teams made the playoffs.
Reese was asked why the Giants are scoring seven fewer points than a year ago in spite of having a quarterback that is top-10 all-time in some major statistical categories and one of the best group of receivers in the NFL.
“It’s a combination of everything. It’s personnel, it’s play calling, it’s execution,” Reese said. “It’s really everything involved. We have to put it all together and get going. I think we really have the right play callers and the right personnel.”
“We just have to go out there and do it. We have to make it happen. We can’t go out there and think it’s going to happen. We have to go out there and make it happen.”
The Giants uncharacteristically spent nearly $200 million to upgrade a defense that gave up the third most yards in NFL history. The additions of Damon Harrison, Janoris Jenkins, Keenan Robinson, and Olivier Vernon have helped the defense erase some of the futility of a year ago.
Today, the Giants defense is ranked 17th in yards allowed (361.0) and 10th in scoring (20.1 points). In spite of the strides, Reese is not completely satisfied.
“Jackrabbit (Jenkins) has played the best of the group stat-wise. Everybody is playing hard. I think Snacks (Harrison) is playing hard in there. O.V. is playing hard, even though he’s playing with an injury (Vernon hurt his wrist). He’s playing really hard in there. Keenan Robinson is also playing well.”
“I think the defense has shown signs of being a good defense. Some things we do to be more consistent, but I do see signs of a good defense out there.”
Reese had praise for the Giants special teams, though he didn’t mention punter Brad Wing and return specialist Dwayne Harris by name.
One subject Reese refused to talk about was former kicker Josh Brown. Brown was re-signed by the Giants in April in spite of knowing about his arrest on domestic violence charges nearly a year earlier.
Brown was released by the Giants last week. When reminded that he was the one who re-signed Brown, Reese lost some of his customary cool.
“I’m not taking any questions with respect to Josh Brown, guys. Stop asking. I’m not taking any questions (on that subject) at all,” Reese said.
When asked why he didn’t want to speak about Brown, Reese said, “Because I don’t think it makes sense for people to keep talking about that situation right now.”
Reese did wish the best for Brown and his family, but reiterated that he didn’t want to talk about it.
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