NY Giants vs. Lions: Takeaways from preseason opener in Detroit
DETROIT - Tommy DeVito's final throw in his NFL preseason debut Friday night was the most significant example yet of how much he has developed as a quarterback with the New York Giants.
And it was an interception in the waning moments of a 21-16 loss to the Detroit Lions.
As an undrafted rookie just trying to prove he belongs in this league, acknowledging that every play matters not only in his growth, but his staying power, DeVito sent a message to Giants coach Brian Daboll and the rest of the coaching staff: he's listening, he's learning and he is no longer afraid of taking a risk when it is the right play.
That wasn't the case back in the spring when DeVito, on a fourth-and-15 in practice, chose to dump the pass off to a running back, a give-up play that drew the ire of Daboll and sharp critique of Shea Tierney, his quarterbacks coach.
Don't be fearful of making a mistake, they said, not when it is a winning play.
Refuse to settle for a losing play, even if the result turns out to be a loss.
That's why when DeVito and the Giants faced a fourth-and-14, his team needing a touchdown to rally and prevail, he did what he was taught to do in that spot: give a teammate a chance to keep the game alive.
There was no storybook ending for DeVito, though, as the pass wound up in the arms of the Lions' Brandon Joseph for a game-sealing pick in Detroit's 21-16 win over the Giants.
But you want to know how far DeVito's come? Look no further than that lesson learned.
"I think it's a step in the right direction," said DeVito, who finished 15-of-24 passing for 155 yards, a touchdown and that interception.
As for the touchdown - well, that's certainly something memorable. DeVito threw a 14-yard scoring strike to tight end and fellow Don Bosco grad Tommy Sweeney. Sweeney was a senior when DeVito was a freshman. Now they're both fighting for their football lives with the hometown team, together again.
"[DeVito] was a gunslinger in high school, he's still a gunslinger," Giants tight end Tommy Sweeney told NorthJersey.com, sharing what it was like to play on the same high school team at Don Bosco in Ramsey, N.J. "And here he is now."
Asked by NorthJersey.com how different of a quarterback he is right now than the one who walked into the building back in the spring, DeVito said: "Very. In between the ears."
When you grow up in the shadow of the Meadowlands, when a 20-minute drive to work from his family's Cedar Grove home is to the office across the MetLife Stadium parking lot, there is plenty to appreciate about the opportunity.
As an undrafted rookie and currently the third quarterback on the roster behind Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, the 24-year-old DeVito also knows his place - and it's not easy to block all that pressure out and excel at what he's been doing since he was 6 years old when his future employment is essentially on the line with every snap.
DeVito led Don Bosco to a Non-Public, Group 4 title as a junior and the offense was tailored around his skill set, giving him more freedom at the line of scrimmage. He threw for 3,238 yards and 33 touchdowns with 11 interceptions over two seasons.
After 259 picks through seven rounds without hearing his name called, DeVito agreed to a deal with the Giants that includes a $10,000 signing bonus and $10,000 base salary guarantee as an undrafted free agent.
DeVito has certainly endured the ups and downs of being a pro. There have been plays where he missed a read, overthrew a receiver or skipped a pass at another's feet. But as much as that was prevalent early on, DeVito seems to have settled in, and there have been as many good plays than bad ones, maybe even more.
The best chance for DeVito to stick with the Giants is on the practice squad as a developmental quarterback behind Jones and Taylor, and with the opportunity to not only learn from them, but from Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney as he progresses through his rookie season.
After his first preseason game, DeVito went home with the football Sweeney caught for the Giants' lone TD.
The moment was one he'll never forget, and the best thing for the Giants and his chances, this wasn't too big for him, either.
Here are other takeaways from the Giants' preseason debut:
John Michael Schmitz takes big step forward
No one has declared the center competition over, but rookie John Michael Schmitz took a big step forward in that quest to claim the job. He played the entire first half in his preseason debut and seemed to have good command with no communication issues. He was stout both in the run game and in pass protection, and was a steady presence as the rest of a makeshift line due to the starters not playing Friday struggled in spurts.
Jason Pinnock does it again
In five plays, Pinnock put on a show. He intercepted Nate Sudfield, then on the next series, picked up a tackle for a loss and then broke up a pass on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. One of the few starters penciled into the lineup since the start of camp, Pinnock looked to be playing with the speed of a major leaguer on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues. He was that good.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants: Takeaways from preseason opener in Detroit
