Featuring Big Blue View’s Ed Valentine
The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again tied atop the AFC North Standings and are riding a two-game winning streak. This week they face off against the New York Giants (2-5). I spoke with Ed Valentine of Big Blue View to get a better idea of what to expect in this week’s matchup.
You can read my questions and his answers below:
1. The Daniel Jones era has been a turbulent one for Giants fans. Last week he was pulled for backup Drew Lock, but Jones is expected to start again this week. Who would Giants fans rather see at this point?
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At this point, a large segment of the fan base would rather see anyone but Jones. I haven’t played quarterback in 50 years, and they might rather see me.
2. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been a bright spot for this team on defense. How good is he and where would he rank among the Giants’ all-time great defenders?
Dexter Lawrence is the best interior defensive lineman playing football today. Period. With apologies to Chris Jones, Quinnen Williams or whoever else you want to put in the conversation, there is no one like him. What he does as an interior pass rusher despite being blocked constantly by two or three players is ridiculous. I don’t know where to put him yet in the pantheon of defenders, but he will end up on the list of the best in franchise history.
3. In a preview we wrote earlier this week, I told Steelers fans that rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. would be players to watch on offense. What can you tell us about those young guys, and is there anyone else on offense we should be aware of?
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Nabers is fantastic. Absolutely worth the No. 6 overall pick. The passing attack goes through Nabers, no doubt. Tracy is a good young back, who probably should have gotten the ball more often last week vs. Philadelphia. He seems to have supplanted Devin Singletary as the lead back, as he should.
4. The leadership pairing of Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen made the playoffs in Year 1, but now it looks like they will have a second-straight losing season. Do you think these two are the ones to get the Giants back to their winning ways, or is their leash shrinking?
John Mara said this week that he still has faith in both and does not intend to make changes.That doesn’t mean the next 10 games can’t change that, but as of now they aren’t going anywhere.
I have respect for both men and I think they potentially could get this right. There have been hits and misses — honestly, too many misses — in their first three seasons.
Like it always does in the NFL, it is going to come down to whether they get the quarterback right. I will be shocked if they don’t move on from Daniel Jones after this year. If they get the successor right, they could be around a while. If they don’t, all bets are off.
5. The Steelers are the betting favorites this week (-6.5 on FanDuel). What’s your prediction for this game?
There is nothing that gives me optimism that the Giants can win this game. They have scored 10 total points the last two weeks. Well, there is the fact that the game is not in New Jersey — the Giants are 0-4 at home, 2-1 on the road. The Giants will play hard. I just don’t see how they win.