Giants Notes: Cam Skattebo Nearing Full Health After Debut, Brian Daboll On Preseason Evaluations

Cam Skattebo had to wait until the Giants’ final preseason game before getting his first taste of NFL action, but even in a limited debut, the rookie running back was still excited to be playing football again.

“Felt great to be out there and finally get back to it,” Skattebo said Friday after he tallied just 12 yards on three carries while playing a handful of snaps in New York’s 42-10 win over the New England Patriots.

The jitters may have gotten to the 23-year-old as he stumbled on his first carry and nearly faceplanted as he lunged for a four-yard gain.

“You fall on your own face, everybody gives you a little crap for it,” he said. “First carry in the league and I’m just getting my feet underneath me and that one I got caught up. It was a great experience and I can’t wait for more.”

But it is understandable that Skattebo, who missed the first two preseason games and several weeks of practice while dealing with a hamstring injury and had to deal with a setback after making a one-day return to the practice field, was still working his way back to full fitness. 

“The mindset the whole way through was get healthy. That was the main thing, if it took me six weeks, it took me six weeks,” the fourth-round pick said of his long road back. “I’m getting better every day … and I felt great and I’m just gonna keep working on getting more healthy.”

Brian Daboll said that the limit on the running back’s reps was made in consultation with the Giants’ medical staff, and they are hopeful that “every day he can do a little bit more throughout these next two weeks” before the start of the regular season.

“He’s only had a few plays. He needs to continue to stay healthy,” the head coach said.

Skattebo, who said he never had a hamstring issue during his college days, said keeping the right attitude allowed him to stay the course with his preparation while he was sidelined.

“I had a few good days and then an issue with an injury, football is football, it happens,” he said. “The main thing is you have to keep a positive mindset and make sure that you’re not letting it [impact] your daily life. I continue to come in here every day and try to get better.”

Real success or preseason mirage?

In an undefeated preseason, the Giants scored 107 points. Everything this time of year is subject to massive warnings against hyperbole as runaway hype trains, both those going to the land of positive feelings or the opposite direction, are leaving the station every day. 

So how hard is it to evaluate what is real success and what is just a mirage of playing exhibition games where backups to backups play the majority of the games? How does a head coach make an evaluation?

“Well, our focus is on, ‘Are you executing your responsibility at a high level?’” Daboll said. “Really what you’re looking for from the players when they step out on the field is, are they playing up to the standard, are they being disciplined, are they doing the things they need to do to help the offense, the defense, the kicking game be successful? 

“And if you’re executing your responsibility, regardless of was it vanilla coverage or whatever it may be. Are you tackling well? Are you improving in your tackling? Are you running to the football on defense? Are you getting ball disruption pass defense? Are you catching the ball when it's thrown to you? Are you reading the play the right way when you’re a running back and gaining yards after contact? Are you making the proper decision at the quarterback position, throwing the ball where it needs to be on time, in rhythm? Are your combination blocks going to the right linebackers? All of those things.”

And while the weeks on the practice field during training camp are key periods for building a team, the games are still king. 

“Live football. All the practices are important, no question about it, they’re important,” Daboll said. “But until you can really play and have full contact, those are some of the things that I think are helpful to evaluate.”

When asked specifically how he felt Jaxson Dart executed, the head coach praised the rookie QB and pivoted to the entire team and how they can do better.

“It’s never gonna be perfect, the game is never gonna be perfect. You’re gonna be down, you’re gonna have issues in a game, can we self-correct and do it when it counts the most? Everybody’s responsibility is to do that, from a coach to a player.”

Daboll on Dart’s big play

On the Giants’ biggest play of the first drive – Dart moving around the pocket against a four-man rush before finding Gunner Olszewski open underneath for a 50-yard catch and run, Daboll said the play wasn’t in the original script for early in the game, and required a bit of quick thinking from the rookie as he was dealing with an issue with the headset in his helmet. 

“We got a play into him… we yelled from the sideline,” Daboll said.  “Did a nice job of handling that and turned a play in that…  wasn’t on the opening part of the script, and adjusted and made a nice play.”

On Tommy DeVito, carrying four QBs

The day after DeVito completed 17 of 20 attempts for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, asked about the 27-year-old’s chances of sticking on the roster, Daboll said they would “have a lot of discussions on the roster and keep that in house.”

“But Tommy’s been a pro since he’s been here, day one. Not just this year, but the other years as well,” he said.

After the game, DeVito addressed the possibility that Thursday could be the last time he suits up for Big Blue.

"I think about that in the sense of every time you go on the field, you never know what's going to be your last," he said. "Having the rollercoaster I've had in the past with injuries and playing performance, whatever it is, every time I go out, I try to put my all because never know when it is going to be your last."

On Evan Neal’s transition to guard

One of the big storylines in camp has been whether the former seventh-overall pick could manage to make the switch from guard to tackle. There was some good and bad in his final preseason action..

“I think he’s done some good things, and then I think there are some things that we need to continue to work on,” the coach said. “Obviously, a new spot for him. Had a couple of good clean pockets and some movement in the running game, we’ll continue to work with him to help him excel at his job.”

On Jalin Hyatt's bounce-back

A third-round pick in 2023, the speedy wide receiver out of Tennessee hasn't caught on with just 31 receptions and 435 yards to his name after 33 career games. And while Hyatt is still looking for his first real touchdown, he did haul in a 27-yard strike from Jameis Winston on Thursday, in an encouraging sign.

“I thought he made a nice play on that ball that [Winston] threw, ran a couple good routes,” Daboll said. “I’m sure there are a couple plays he’d like to have back, but I like the way he responded in that drive on that touchdown catch.”