As he looks back on a brief but eventful NFL starting résumé, Daniel Jones sees two victories obtained in very different ways.
“Certainly a lot of lessons in the two games,’’ he said Wednesday after practice.
The lessons never end for a rookie quarterback, and the education process intensifies this week, as Jones faces the toughest defense he has gone against thus far when the Vikings arrive Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“Let him know it’s going to be a physical game,’’ receiver Golden Tate said. “I think this is going to be the best defense we’ve gone against.’’
Tate will make his Giants debut after missing the first four games sitting out his suspension for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
His presence figures to be helpful to Jones, as Tate is an accomplished target with a long history facing the Minnesota defense from his days with the Lions.
No one can step in for Jones, though. The 22-year old has to experience it for himself.
“They’re a good unit, they’re a good team, no doubt,’’ Jones said. “We’ll be prepared. When you look at them they’re a strong front seven and they’re good in the back end too. I think we’ll be ready. We got a good plan in place. I’m excited.’’
The Giants’ offensive linemen have to contend with Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen up front, while Jones must make sure he is not baited and coaxed into trouble by an extremely solid Vikings secondary.
Daniel Jones; Everson GriffenCharles Wenzelberg, GettyJones was given a soft opening the first two weeks, as the defensive backfield work of the Buccaneers and Redskins was not anything special. The next two weeks, Jones will see what top-tier secondaries look like. The Vikings are good and, four nights later, the Patriots are better.
At 2-2, the season is not going the way the Vikings envisioned, mostly because of a disturbingly poor passing attack — 31st in the league. Their defense, allowing 15.8 points a game, allowed only one touchdown and 16 points last week in Chicago, but the Vikings lost, 16-6.
Up next is, by far, the best defense Jones has faced and one of the better defensive backfields he will throw into. Harrison Smith at strong safety and Xavier Rhodes at cornerback are top-end players with proven track records.
Smith has 21 career interceptions, and his 12 sacks since 2012 are the most by any NFL defensive back in that span. If Jones needs any details about Smith, he can ask Eli Manning. Smith has four interception returns for touchdowns, and one of them came against Manning, on Dec. 27, 2015.
Rhodes, a 29-year old veteran, did not play up to his five-year, $70 million contract last season, but he remains one of the league’s better cover corners.
The other starting safety, Anthony Harris, was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week opening week after two interceptions of the Falcons’ Matt Ryan and a fumble recovery.
“Xavier Rhodes is a lockdown-type corner, big, physical, fast, smart,’’ Tate said. “[Cornerback] Trae Waynes is a guy who’s got better every year, smaller but faster, gritty guy. We’re gonna have our hands full.
“Harrison and I are from Tennessee, played against him in high school, played with him at Notre Dame. Good buddy of mine. Hard-nosed guy, an All-Pro, Pro Bowl type of guy. Can play in the box or get back deep. One of the most athletic white guys I know.’’
Jones is completing 69% of his passes, and last week tossed the first and second interceptions of his career — one on a misread and the other on a bad throw. He knows defensive units such as the Vikings are capable of mixing up coverage and tempting a young quarterback to see something that is not there. To this point, Jones does not see opponents attempting this more often because this is his first time around.
“Not any different than what we’ve seen on tape or what they’ve done to other people,’’ Jones said. “When you’ve got veteran guys, veteran safeties back there they’re gonna do that because that’s their job and that’s part of disguising the looks at lot of times.’’
It will be part of the plan for the Vikings on Sunday.
“They got some good DBs, man,’’ Tate said. “They got some of the best in the league.’’



