logo
Could New York Giants' Tyrone Tracy Jr. struggle with a less mobile QB?

Could New York Giants' Tyrone Tracy Jr. struggle with a less mobile QB?

USA Todaya day ago
The New York Giants have a brand new quarterback room this summer, and there is plenty of excitement as they have an interesting mix of established veterans and a promising rookie vying for playing time.
The Giants added 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, the well-traveled former first overall pick in Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart, a player they hope will one day be their franchise quarterback.
All three are capable of getting the football down the field, which has the club and its fan base optimistic that the Giants are headed in the right direction.
One downside to this group is that none of them are as mobile as one would like in this day and age. That could lead to other issues and affect the offense as a whole.
One player to focus on this season is second-year running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who is poised for a possible breakout year. Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes the lack of a rushing quarterback, however, could hinder Tracy's production this season.
Tracy averaged 15.8 carries for 86 yards in his first six starts last season. He then averaged 12.1 carries for 42 yards in his final seven games. There are a variety of factors that contributed to that decline, but it's notable that Tracy's plummeting production coincided with quarterback Daniel Jones' benching. For all of Jones' limitations as a passer, he was a legitimate running threat who created lanes on zone reads. Replacements Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito were non-factors on designed runs. Wilson's effectiveness and usage as a runner have declined as he has aged. He had designed runs on 3.3% of his plays last season compared to 10.1% for Jones. It will be interesting to see how having a less mobile quarterback impacts Tracy's production.
The 36-year-old Wilson was once a proficient scrambler, but he only runs out of necessity these days. Winston has never been noted for his ability out of the pocket, and Dart showed that he can run out of trouble in college, but this is the NFL.
This is a situation to keep an eye on. Tracy is a multi-faceted back, and his value as a receiver has to be taken into account. The Giants have other early-down options in the running game, such as veteran Devin Singletary and rookie Cam Skattebo, so Tracy's usage this year is still to be determined.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

$104 million DT reveals reason for once disliking Patriots
$104 million DT reveals reason for once disliking Patriots

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

$104 million DT reveals reason for once disliking Patriots

New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams admitted he hasn't always been a fan of the team due to them winning too many football games. An 18-year window of the Patriots winning six Super Bowls and nine AFC Championships might have been a blast for fans of the team, but for others, like Williams, it was likely viewed as a reign of terror. The Patriots were one of the most dominant sports franchises of all time. That often left other fan bases out in the cold when it came to competing for championships. Williams claimed there was a time when he had Patriots fatigue. "Didn't always love them. You know when a team wins too much? It's like, man, let somebody else win," Williams said on the Who Cares?! podcast. Williams has obviously changed his mind since signing on with the team in free agency. He finally got a taste of what winning a Super Bowl feels like last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, and now, he's looking to bring that feeling back to New England. The Patriots' willingness to make him the highest-paid player in franchise history in the offseason is proof that they believe in his talent. He signed a four-year, $104 million contract to serve as one of the cornerstone pieces on New England's defense. It's a unit that could spearhead a dramatic turnaround for a Patriots team desperately looking to return to playoff contention. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

4 Panthers players who are under the most pressure in 2025
4 Panthers players who are under the most pressure in 2025

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

4 Panthers players who are under the most pressure in 2025

The Carolina Panthers may not be in "win-now mode" just yet, but the burden to break their losing ways remains heavy. Not since 2017 has the team clinched a playoff berth. That seven-year drought, now the longest such streak in franchise history, has yielded zero winning seasons and a combined record of 36-80. And even despite finishing the first campaign under their new regime on an encouraging note, the Panthers should be feeling some pressure over the coming months. Here are the four players who may be feeling it most here in 2025 . . . QB Bryce Young Young put his nightmarish start to 2024 behind him with a strong resurgence down the stretch. The 23-year-old totaled 2,327 yards, 20 touchdowns and six picks over the season's final 10 outings, helping lead the Panthers to a relatively respectable 4-6 mark. But Young will need more than just a 10-game sample to really scrub his underwhelming rookie campaign and last year's benching away. Luckily, he's in a pretty good spot to do so in Year No. 3—where he should benefit from the continuity under head coach Dave Canales as well as the capabilities of a solid offensive line and wideout room. If the former No. 1 overall pick cannot prove he's the franchise quarterback the organization drafted him to be, then Carolina might have to pivot at the position for 2026. WR Xavier Legette That aforementioned wideout room includes Legette—who, unlike Young, didn't inspire much hope to close out last season. The 2024 first-rounder amassed just 497 receiving yards while leading the team with eight drops—one of which cost the Panthers a huge upset win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Legette failed to stake his claim as the No. 1 target, a role that'll likely be seized by 2025 first-round selection Tetairoa McMillan. He might also lose ground to fellow second-year receiver Jalen Coker, who was more consistent as a rookie. 2025, however, will offer up a fresh slate for Legette. He should be healthier than he was in 2024 and should have a more defined role, perhaps as a Deebo Samuel-type weapon, in Carolina's growing offense. OT Taylor Moton The Panthers don't seem to be committed to Moton beyond the upcoming campaign. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, some within the organization have questioned the ninth-year veteran's ability to maintain his health moving forward. Moton, who turns 31 in August, missed the first three games of his NFL career in 2024 because of triceps and knee injuries. As he enters the final year of his contract, Moton might have to prove to Carolina—and maybe the rest of next offseason's tackle-needy teams—that he can still handle the wear and tear of the trenches. OLB D.J. Wonnum All things considered, Wonnum gave a decent account of himself in the first season of his two-year deal in Carolina. Even after missing a bit more time than expected due to complications from multiple quadriceps surgeries, he still managed to post 4.0 sacks and 22 pressures over eight contests. He'll likely head into the regular season as one of two starters off the edge for the Panthers. But Wonnum could eventually see his duties overtaken by Nic Scourton or Princely Umanmielen, the team's promising picks from Day 2 of the 2025 draft. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

Ex-Eagles Star Drops Honest Take on Nick Sirianni's Viral Message
Ex-Eagles Star Drops Honest Take on Nick Sirianni's Viral Message

Newsweek

time2 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Ex-Eagles Star Drops Honest Take on Nick Sirianni's Viral Message

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. When the Philadelphia Eagles throw on the pads for training camp this month, the void of No. 55 will be massive. Brandon Graham won't suit up for the first time in a long time, as he called it a career following his second Super Bowl victory. Still, Graham is very much in the mix. The veteran defensive end has been making his rounds to discuss Eagles football, adding more fuel to the team's Super Bowl defense. While discussing the Eagles on 'Gallen of Questions,' Graham made it clear that he feels like the Eagles could seriously make their way back to the Super Bowl stage and do an encore. "We've got to address things that pop up in the season," Graham explained. "That happened this year, and we addressed it, and we moved on. And we stayed focused on what the goal was, but you got to make sure they have the leaders in that room, which I know they do. Why it can't be them to do it again? That's how I feel." Since Graham was on the Eagles' first Super Bowl-winning team back in 2017-2018, he learned that repeating as champions certainly doesn't come easy. The fear of having a Super Bowl hangover was real throughout the 2018 NFL season, and the Eagles found themselves squeezing out of the Wild Card round before losing in the Divisional Round. When Graham recently addressed the state of the Eagles after they picked up their second Lombardi Trophy, he publicly offered advice to the team. Staying uncomfortable and tossing satisfaction aside was the gist of the message. It was something that mirrored Nick Sirianni's viral message at the start of spring sessions, which was something that Graham loved. "The celebration is over," Nick Sirianni said. "Preparation is here. Last year, we talked a lot about handling adversity. Now it's different. You've got to handle success. That's a different animal. Treat praise like perfume. Sniff it. Don't drink it. It's poison." Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field on November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field on November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, tends to utilize motivational tactics in an out-of-the-box way, leading to his motivational speeches to reach viral status frequently. This was one of those times, and Graham was a major fan. "I already love how coach Sirianni is talking about perfume, where it smells great, but don't drink it, it's poison. And winning? We won the Super Bowl, it's great. But to think that you're going to do it again without working like you did, that's a poisonous mindset," Graham explained. "I love where he went with it, and I think they'll do good with that message." With Graham out of the picture, the Eagles are down a key captain. For those who remain—and those who are stepping up—Graham has total confidence in them. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store