Brian Daboll continues downplaying Dallas Cowboys rivalry ahead of Week 1
Giants coach Brian Daboll followed GM Joe Schoen’s lead on Tuesday and downplayed the Dallas Cowboys’ lopsided success in this NFC East rivalry ahead of Sunday night’s season opener.
“I think we’re focused on this week and trying to get ready for a really good team,” Daboll said when asked if Dallas’ winning four straight and 11 of the last 12 can get into players’ heads. “I think the only thing that we’ve got to focus on is coming out here, practice, prepare, do the things we need to do to get ready to go on Sunday.”
Momentum is building towards an enormous prime time Week 1 clash at MetLife Stadium, however, and the players know it’s a big one: both because it’s their opener and because of who they’re playing.
“Growing up in a house with my parents, NFC East fans, I know the history, I know how heated and competitive these games have been over the years,” tight end Darren Waller said approaching his Giants debut. “And I know what I’m about to step into on Sunday. I am honored to take the field.”
“I think it’s just time to shine,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “You just worked wherever you were, in the dungeon — a figure of speech — and now it’s just time to shine… A little more juice knowing it’s a division team, but I think the mindset is the same for everybody… We’re going to go out there and play football and do our best.”
Waller’s father, Dorian, is a Queens native and a lifelong Giants fan. Waller was a senior at Georgia Tech when Odell Beckham Jr. turned in his all-time 2014 rookie season.
So, fascinatingly, even though Waller and OBJ are both 30 years old — and Beckham is still active with the Baltimore Ravens — Waller said that’s the player he remembers most from the Giants-Cowboys rivalry.
“I didn’t really hate the players,” he said with a smile. “I just know my parents were kind of like anti-Cowboys as far as their team, so I understood what the deal was. But as far as the players, I always loved the players. But probably the biggest one [has] to be Odell probably.”
Quarterback Daniel Jones, who is 1-6 in his career against the Cowboys with four TD passes and three interceptions, said “it’s a big divisional game for us.”
“All the divisional games are certainly big and match up with a lot of tradition and history so yeah, it’s a big deal,” Jones said. “But it’s about what we do, it’s about how we play and taking care of our business first.”
It will be interesting to see if Schoen and Daboll are pressing the right button by trying to take the air out of the rivalry, the stakes and the lopsided recent history.
Nothing matters more around here than beating the Cowboys and the Eagles. The Giants will have their chance to do it on Sunday to set a new tone for 2023.
DEPTH CHART CONFIRMS ROLES
The Giants’ first unofficial depth chart of the 2023 season confirmed some new roles that took shape on the practice field this summer. Adoree Jackson is now listed as the slot/nickel corner, with rookie draft picks Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins outside. Bobby Okereke is the middle linebacker, and Micah McFadden is the starter on the weak side. On offense, Ben Bredeson and Mark Glowinski notably remain the top guards at left and right, respectively, despite the three-man rotation that occurred throughout training camp (and promises to bleed into regular season action, too). Rookie running back Eric Gray is listed as the top punt and kick returner … New practice squad wide receiver Cam Sims wore No. 87, and Daboll admitted he has some special teams value. “He definitely has had some production in the league, I’d say both at receiver and as a gunner, too,” Daboll said. “He’s a big body guy. I had him at Alabama back in 2017. Really haven’t spoken to him really until yesterday since he left. He had a good workout [before we signed him].”
INJURY UPDATES
Daboll wouldn’t provide any injury updates. The first official injury report for Giants-Cowboys will be released on Wednesday. Encouragingly, though, tight end Lawrence Cager & linebacker Cam Brown both returned to practice from ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Corner Cor’Dale Flott and safety Gervarrius Owens, meanwhile, continued to work on the side. Wide receiver Cole Beasley (practice squad injured reserve) was in the building and walked out to practice to watch at one point. Beasley must sit out at least the Giants’ first four games.
