Baldinger: I don't believe in Cowboys, Giants will control the line of scrimmage

speedkilz88 said:
The Cowboys had 135 & 143 yards rushing vs the giants last year. They have traded away their best DT (Dexter Lawrence) and replaced him with a lesser run stopper off the street. Their interior DL are DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, and ex cowboy Chauncey Golston. Why the heck would you think they can't run up the gut?
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Lawrence was still good last year but not as good as he has been, he’s never been known for his run stopping, it’s been more his ability to get to the QB. DJ Reader, who replaced him, is hardly “a lesser run stopper off the street”, he had a better PFF run stopping grade than Lawrence last year.

Reader also had this going against him “Among defenders with 250 snaps played in 2025, defensive lineman DJ Reader was the most double-teamed player (57.7 percent) in the NFL. Reader played for the Lions last season and signed with the Giants in May.”

Not saying we won’t or can’t have success running up the middle on them but your quite a bit off on your assessment of Reader.
 
The hype train seems to be slowing one day before kick-off.
It was loco just a few days ago.
Lol, my first pun.
 
They're probably going to give the OL some problems. The offensive tackle position is shaky on a good day and Tyler Smith being on the sideline isn't doing us any favors.

I think the Dallas front 7 on defense is going to be the strength of the team, and I really don't see the Giants OL moving them around. It should be a close defensive fight. Dallas has the big-play weapons and QB to beat them deep, and I think that will be the difference.
 
Coogiguy03 said:
May be a long night for our WRs not getting involved if we can't block their rush
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Quick short passes will take care of that, and if the get some YAC for big gains. They will need to back off the pass rush some. Drop in coverage.
 
stilltheguru said:
How are they stout up the middle? They have one dt that's done anything in the league.

But anyway, I'm glad some media is fawning over us. Got tired of the Cowboys hype.
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We obviously don’t know how good Reese will be but I guarantee he’ll be a much better LB’er than what they had last year, they also added Edmunds who was one of the top 20 LB’ers against the run last year. It’s not just the Dline who will make running against them harder, the LB’ers have a lot to do with that as well.

Again, not saying we can’t do it or won’t have success but on paper they’re better against the run this year then people are giving them credit for.
 

My *purely* gut feel for Giants-Cowboys:
Scheme matters. Dennard Wilson’s defense will look different to Dak. CBs will be in hip pockets/breaking on passes aggressively - combine that with a run scheme a bit out of whack due to Tyler Smith injury - the first half will be low scoring for DAL. I can see some leaks in the second half - two TDs for DAL. If Giants can get to 24 I think they win this game.
 
This dude was in the NFL primarily as a backup ....... he started an average of 4 games a year.

Who cares what he thinks.
 
The Giants DL is pretty good and has the potential to be extremely good, if all their young guys pan out. Reese and Carter could be a heck of a duo. Thibodeaux has been a borderline bust considering his draft status. His second year was pretty good, but since then he’s been injured and has not played very well. I bet they don’t pick up his 5th year option.

Their DT duo of Harris and Reader are good, but neither are great pass rushers. They’re both getting a smidgeon long in the tooth (35 and 32 years old).

Their LBs and DBs are nothing to be afraid of (Colton Hood could turn out to be pretty good - he’s a dawg, but it’s his first game in the NFL).

Get the ball out quick to Lamb/Pickens/Flournoy I’m assuming will be the gameplan.

I’m not afraid of their offense at all, besides Nabers. Dart is kind of an idiot who is going to get himself injured. Skattebo is an entertaining player, who is also kind of an idiot and is going to get himself injured.
 
Amarth said:
Lawrence was still good last year but not as good as he has been, he’s never been known for his run stopping, it’s been more his ability to get to the QB. DJ Reader, who replaced him, is hardly “a lesser run stopper off the street”, he had a better PFF run stopping grade than Lawrence last year.

Reader also had this going against him “Among defenders with 250 snaps played in 2025, defensive lineman DJ Reader was the most double-teamed player (57.7 percent) in the NFL. Reader played for the Lions last season and signed with the Giants in May.”

Not saying we won’t or can’t have success running up the middle on them but your quite a bit off on your assessment of Reader.
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Lawrence was one of the best NTs in the league who developed a pass rush. He is the superior player and is making $28 million a year. DJ Reader was not signed until after the draft in MAY. He was not a sought out player and had to sign a $6 million dollar deal.
 
Amarth said:
We obviously don’t know how good Reese will be but I guarantee he’ll be a much better LB’er than what they had last year, they also added Edmunds who was one of the top 20 LB’ers against the run last year. It’s not just the Dline who will make running against them harder, the LB’ers have a lot to do with that as well.

Again, not saying we can’t do it or won’t have success but on paper they’re better against the run this year then people are giving them credit for.
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When they say that they will control the line of scrimmage they are talking about DL vs OL, not LBs. LBs are off the ball they are not on the line of scrimmage.
 
Everyone talks about the Giants line like they're just loaded with the pass rush. They were middle of the pack last year. Nothing special at all. Add to that, they were worst in the league against the run. And, that was with Lawrence.

This is not a stout unit. It's poor at best.

On offense, their OL was bottom 3rd of the league in sacks allowed. They were middle of the pack in yards per carry (higher yards per game because their rushes per game was near the top - Dart plays a part in that).

They added a guy in the draft, but that unit still looks middle of the pack to me.

A lot of hype for their trenches, without much to back it up.
 
Hennessy_King said:
If the D Line gets bullied by the giants O line this defense will not be a big improvement over last year
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Definitely right, but I can’t see that happening.

The opposite is my concern. Those four rushers vs our OT.

Dak is gonna need to play very well tomorrow, as far getting the ball out fast and maybe tucking it away and moving the chains.
 
speedkilz88 said:
Lawrence was one of the best NTs in the league who developed a pass rush. He is the superior player and is making $28 million a year. DJ Reader was not signed until after the draft in MAY. He was not a sought out player and had to sign a $6 million dollar deal.
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Doesn’t take away from what I said that he was a better run stopper than Lawrence and was the most double teamed.
 
speedkilz88 said:
When they say that they will control the line of scrimmage they are talking about DL vs OL, not LBs. LBs are off the ball they are not on the line of scrimmage.
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I was specifically talking about how they’ve added players that will help against the run, not just the D Line.
 
If Williams is not that man at DT, he is being paid to be. Thought at one point he and D. Brown for the Panthers were top 3 for sure. He should be wrecking havoc on the OL for the gnats. Wasn’t it like last year they had a crap of OL and they couldn’t run or pass block and now they have a 90’s boys OL.
 
Deionindahood said:
Harbaugh is the Giant's first legitimate HC since Coughlin. This isn't going to be as easy as some on here may think.
Plus, Parker isn't battle tested yet. This could get ugly.
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Easy? No

But people need to stop acting like we are walking into Candlestick against the 90s 49ers.

Could we win? Yes
Could we lose? Yes
 
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