3 Takeaways From The Giants' Preseason Matchup Vs The Dolphins

It was a much better outing for the New York Giants in their second preseason matchup as they beat up on the Miami Dolphins, clinching a 26-3 blowout victory.

It was a perfect way to cap off what was a great week for the Giants. They dominated the joint practices with the Dolphins and have increased the hype surrounding this defense. It is also a good reminder of how far ahead the Giants are of a team like the Dolphins.

Miami is going to be picking in the Top 10 at this upcoming draft, a position the Giants are all too familiar with. But the way they have played should give the fanbase hope those days are behind us. Here are the three big takeaways.

Deonte Banks Showing Signs of Development

One of the most criticized Giants players over the last few seasons was Deonte Banks. After showing flashes in his rookie season, he has never been able to take the next step. It has caused him to fall down the depth chart and been in the fanbase’s bad graces.

But this new regime has helped Banks out a lot. He has looked solid in practice and has made noticeable changes in his coverage. This weekend’s game against the Dolphins only added to his strong preseason. He made two tackles, one of which was solo, and had two pass deflections. He was a standout in a great defensive performance.

Currently, it looks like Greg Newsome is the favorite to win the cornerback two job. He and Paulson Adebo were the first corners to start on Saturday.

However, if Banks keeps performing like this, he will carve out some role on the Giants roster. He plays a very physical style that the team can utilize. Whether it’s as a depth player or someone that comes in when the Giants stop the run, he could be a valuable piece for the Giants this season. Something that was a pipedream just a few weeks ago. If he can put in a strong season, he could be able to get some consideration to be a part of the defense’s future.

Calvin Austin Is a Big Play Machine

The Giants invested a lot into their skill positions this offseason. They wanted to surround Jaxson Dart with as much help as possible, putting him in the best position to take a step forward this season.

But while they brought in a lot of talent, their roles on the team are yet to be determined. This is the case for Calvin Austin. Many are wondering if he’ll be the No. 2 wide receiver, the main guy they use in the slot, or get buried on the depth chart behind guys like Darnell Mooney and Malachi Fields. He would need to do something to establish a role on this team.

But Saturday’s game could have given us a glimpse into what that role might be. He caught two passes, both of which went for 24 yards. He also had a couple of punt returns, one of which went for 18 yards. Austin can become a deep threat in the Giants’ passing game, the guy you look for on long yardage plays that can get a good chunk of it back. He has the speed for it, and seems to excel at it in the small sample size. This can be a game changer for the offense. They will never be out of a drive or out of a game, because one big play could get the Giants a score and momentum.

Tryone Tracy Has Another Bad Highlight

One of the biggest talking points last week was Tracy missing a block on Jay Ward, which led to Dart being lit up and sent to the blue tent. It was the one play that kept circulating on social media, and many criticized Tracy. Had he just made the block, Dart would have been fine.

Many are concerned that a similar incident might occur in the regular season, causing him to miss time. Couple that with the Giants signing Najee Harris this week, and all of a sudden, Tracy’s job does not feel so safe. Sure, the Harris signing has nothing to do with the miss block, but it makes the locker room much more crowded.

Tracy needed a big week in order to change the narrative.

Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. He put up a solid stat line, having six carries for 26 yards and three receptions for 22 yards. But he had the lone Giants turnover. At Miami’s 12-yard line, Tracy coughed up the ball that cost them a potential score. For the second straight week, all the attention around him is negative.

Sure, Tracy has been productive in his two seasons in New York. But this is a new regime. How many mistakes are going to cause them to lose confidence in him and put him in a more reduced role? We could start to see him slip down the depth chart.