Instant Analysis: Eric Gray scores twice in 14-3 preseason victory over Lions

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

With Daniel Jones and the first-team offensive line getting the night off, below is a look at the starters on Thursday night:

• QB Drew Lock
• LT Joshua Ezeudu
• LG Jake Kubas*
• C Austin Schlottmann
• RG Aaron Stinnie
• RT Joshua Miles
• WR Jalin Hyatt
• WR Malik Nabers*
• TE Daniel Bellinger
• TE Chris Manhertz
• RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.*

Eric Gray reminded people why the Giants selected him in the fifth round of last year’s draft. The running back racked up 98 yards from scrimmage (52 rushing and 46 receiving) while finding the end zone twice. He opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run – he had 48 rushing yards in 13 appearances as a rookie – and later punched in another from a yard out, giving the Giants a 14-3 halftime lead.

Additionally, rookie Dante “Turbo” Miller added 57 yards on 11 carries. Miller signed as a rookie free agent in April after three years at Columbia (2018-21; the Ivy League did not play in 2020) and the 2022 season at South Carolina. He had hoped to play for the Gamecocks in 2023 but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after the deadline to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, Miller became a free agent that was not included in the 2024 draft class.

Overall, it was a good sign for a young and inexperienced running back room behind veteran Devin Singletary.

“These young guys have performed well when called upon,” Daboll said recently, “and this will be an important preseason for all of them.”

Lock left with 2:03 left in the first quarter due to a hip injury and was replaced by Tommy DeVito.

Brian Daboll, the first person to win both Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year awards, returned to his roots as a play-caller for the offense on Thursday night. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who called the plays in Daboll’s first two seasons as coach, remained in the coaches’ booth.

“I have people that I rely on the last two years, communication-wise,” Daboll said recently when asked how he will handle all of the responsibilities. “That’s part of the process of going through all those things and seeing it. It’ll be good to do. … That’s what these preseason games are for. Go through that process. I think every team we play this year that has an offensive head coach besides one, they call the plays. I’ve talked to plenty of people. I just want to go through the process of the preseason, the mechanics of it, the communication with my staff, really in all three phases, plus the people that help me with game management. So that’s much needed.”

Daboll added, “It’s very similar to how we’ve done it, other than you’re communicating to the quarterback during the offensive series. I have a great staff that you rely on in between series so you can communicate, stay on the line, when the defense is on the line. Be able to communicate with special teams with situations that come up. I have a separate line that I’m able to talk to the two guys that help me, (director of football data & innovation) Ty (Siam) and (offensive assistant/game manager) Cade (Knox). That’s what this is for. A little bit of trial and error, just to see how it goes here for the preseason, but I feel confident in it.”