Dottino: 3 Takeaways From Giants' Preseason Win Over Jaguars

By Paul Dottino
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OK, we know what the Giants' top issue is as they return to practice Tuesday. They need to find out who's healthy enough to get on the field.

But we're going to push that item aside, for now, and go through the three items we told you to watch for in their 22-12 preseason victory over Jacksonville and how these scenarios may play out at this week's practice:

THE RIGHT STUFF

The offensive line did a much better job in pass protection than it did in Cincinnati. It was also able to break out a few strong runs behind LT Ereck Flowers (who continues to improve) and LG Justin Pugh, who has given the team plenty of reasons to smile in his preferred position. The line also did an admirable job of picking up the blitz, so give a positive grade to CTR Weston Richburg, too.

It's much harder to tell where the Giants stand on the right side of the line because they tried several combinations. Geoff Schwartz had his best snaps while at right guard as opposed to when he was at right tackle. Ditto for John Jerry, who started at guard while Marshall Newhouse manned the tackle spot. There are only two preseason games to go, so you have to figure two of these three are in line to become the opening combination against Dallas in Week 1, unless a surprise drops in from the outside. So it's just as plausible that coach Tom Coughlin won't have this sorted out until the days leading into the opener.

SAFETY DANCE

It was a hard blow to the team to lose Bennett Jackson (torn ACL) in the fourth quarter of the game, considering he was competing for a starting role. One could assume Jackson wouldn't have been in the game if rookie free agent Justin Currie hadn't suffered a fractured ankle earlier in the night. So both of those safeties are out, although Coughlin has said he plans on having Landon Collins (knee) and Nat Berhe (calf) return to practice this week. He's also going to have to give a lot more reps to veteran Brandon Meriweather as he begins his first full week with the team.

GOOD-HANDS GUYS

Consider it a productive weekend for at least two of the back-end competitors at receiver. Geremy Davis gave the Giants a solid look at how productive he can be -- highlighted by a diving sideline catch inside the red zone -- when given more opportunities. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said last week that he thought late-arriving veteran James Jones was getting his football legs under him, and he looked every bit as good as his resume (despite one dropped pass) after he came off the bench.