The New York Giants vs the Carolina Panthers: How are Cam Newton and the Rest of the Young Guys Doing?

I’ve been watching the Giants and Panthers game live (I’m also taping the Bills game so I’ll break down the young guys performance on that over the rest of the weekend) to see how the young players on each team are playing. Here’s what I’ve seen. Of course the big names are Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton, and we’ll get to them, let’s start with the Giants first.

The New York Giants:

The Yikes

Jerrel Jernigan was drafted in the third round to be an electrfying kick returner/ punt returner and slot man, but so far his returns have been U-G-L-Y.

In 3 punt returns he has 12 yards total (4 yards per return) which is awful. The kick returns haven’t been great either. Jernigan has a long of 20 and is averaging only 16 yards per return, which is again poor. He has yet to catch a football either (through the first half).

William Beatty

Beatty was handed the starting LT job to lose this year for the new York Giants and so far he hasn’t been all that great. He’s young and still learning, but he needs to play better.

Tyler Sash’s Coverage Early on Greg Olson

The young Tyler Sash has been very impressive for the Giants in training camp and has earned praise as a savvy player from the Giants coaching staff, but he got a bit league lesson trying to cover TE Greg Olson in the first half who got by him for two big receptions.

Victor Cruz

Not bad perse, but Cruz had a dropped pass early (caught one early in the second half here) and was out shone by Domenik Hixon. With the departure of Steve Smith the Giants are looking for someone to step up and take the third WR role, right now it looks like Domenik Hixon’s to lose.

Giants Tackling/Special teams

The tackling was some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Highlighted by a terrible Phillip Dillard tackle that was embarrassing.

The Good

Actually The Great

If Jason Pierre Paul plays the regular season like he did the first half here, he’ll win the defensive M.V.P. He started the game off getting a hand in Jimmy Clausen’s face forcing a interception (that went the distance the other way). And then after that he registered his first sack, he got hurt, left the field came back and got a second sack. He also has three tackles. Absolutely dominated the first half when he was on the field. Things looked like they were slowing down for him at the end of last year, watch out for him. He’s super talented and seems to be heading in the right direction.

The Good

Tyler Sash in run support.

Sash made up for his Olson snafu’s with good run support, even forcing a fumble. Sash very early and premature here looks like he can develop into a starter at SS early in his career.

Matt Dodge had nice punts

That’s something that was not written about Matt Dodge all year last year, but he punted well and that’s good news for Dodge who is battling Jets former punter Steve Weatherford for the punter duties for the NY Giants.

Other thoughts:

Linval Joseph didn’t put up much on the stat sheet, but he is a massive man. Running on Chris Canty and Joseph on early downs will be very difficult for opponents.

The tackling was terrible for the Giants as were the special teams (something that was far too common last year). Lawrence Tynes went 1 for 4 with a block field goal attempt. Not good.

Marvin Austin got in late, but he is an athletic monster.

Last year’s sixth round pick Adrian Tracy, looks very athletic and looks to have a very high ceiling. He had some early quarterback pressures.

Domenik Hixon will probably be the third WR for the Giants if you’re in a deep fantasy league, remember he played pretty well when Plaxico Burress got hurt in 2008, though a huge drop in a playoff game vs the Eagles soured many Giants fans.

Kenny Ingram

is a 6’6 former FSU safety the Giants are trying to convert to linebacker. He’s very athletic for a linebacker and has impressive size. Was really plus in coverage could steal a roster spot from one of the Giants veteran linebackers.

The Carolina Panthers

Jimmy Clausen

Initial impression: World of a difference between Clausen this year and last year (in preaseason at least). Looked more confident. He had that early pick six, but bounced back after that seemed to move around the pocket well and even made some decent throws on the move. He left the game 4 for 7 for 69 yards and a touchdown. There’s still hope for Clausen.

Cam Newton

He dazzled with his amazing arm strength and seems to have a palpable presence, but he was also inconsistent. Once the Panthers got into the Red-zone and the field shrunk his accuracy problems became very noticeable. He made some very nice plays but at this point when I’m writing this, nearing the end of the third quarter, Newton is 7 for 18 and a 127 yards. I’ve always been in favor of sitting a young quarterback early, Newton is very impressive, but he could use the year to acclimate himself to the N.F.L.. As a bonus, if Clausen is able to play pretty well this year the Panthers might have trade bait like Philadelphia had this offseason with Kevin Kolb.

The star of the Panthers so far is WR Armanti Edwards a catch for 36 yards and averaged 16 yards per punt return.

Robert McClain, a cornerback, had 5 tackles and was in pretty good coverage. McClain and Kendric Bruney are both looking to make the Panthers roster and both played pretty well tonight.

The Panthers look better early. The defense is playing well, young tackle Terrell McClain played very well tonight. The Panthers have a very young defensive line (as well as many other positions) that could develop into something.

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