The Giants defense had plenty of trouble with dazzling rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III last year. RG3’s fellow phenom, Andrew Luck, gave them further issues last night.
The Giants defense had all sorts of problems in their 20-12 preseason loss to the Colts at MetLife Stadium, delivering an uninspiring performance that prompts concern. The starters allowed two touchdowns on Luck’s four first-half drives, not a promising ratio.
“It’s very disappointing,” defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said.
Admittedly, it’s preseason, Luck is terrific and the Giants were playing without probably their two best defensive players (Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle) and one of their starting cornerbacks (Corey Webster). Still, the unit ranked 31st in the league last year and also struggled in run defense in its preseason opener against the Steelers. So Perry Fewell’s crew doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
“There were individuals out there giving great effort,” Kiwanuka said. “But as a group, we didn’t play well and we need to execute better.”
The Giants defense actually began superbly, forcing a three-and-out on the Colts’ first drive, including two tackles for losses on running back Vick Ballard. Coach Tom Coughlin later said the run defense “looked better.”
The Giants then forced incompletions on the Colts’ first two plays of their next drive, but Luck converted a third-and-10 with a 14-yard hook-up to Darrius Heyward-Bey. Three completions and a 14-yard Luck scramble later, the Colts were at the Giants’ 28.
Aaron Ross then could have bailed his teammates out with an easy goal line interception — but he dropped the potential pick when he lost it in the lights, the ball kicked into the air and Reggie Wayne grabbed it in the end zone for a touchdown.
“Once it hit my hands and I popped it backwards, I was like, ‘Aw, [crap],’ ” Ross said.
The defense drew a short field after Eli Manning threw and interception to put the Colts at the Giants 41-yard line, and to the Giants’ credit, Indy had to settle for a field goal. But on the Colts’ next drive, the Giants allowed them to go 60 yards in seven plays, capped by a Luck to T.Y. Hilton 18-yard TD, beating cornerback Jayron Hosley.
Next week’s defensive matchup figures to be far easier since the Giants face the Jets, but an improved performance wouldn’t exactly be telling either. And on Sept. 8, the Giants play for real, trying to stop Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.
According to Ross, “We’ll definitely be ready.” As of now, though, the Giants defense looks plenty shaky.