The Cowboys and Giants rookie clash helped crash Big Blue’s party in the season home opener at Dallas. Tyler Booker kept the run game humming, Donovan Ezeiruaku brought some juice off the edge, and Jay Toia planted his cleats in the A-gaps. Not perfect, not quiet, and definitely not boring. How did they perform against the Giants in what was their first professional overtime game in the NFL?
OG Tyler Booker
(Game stats- Snaps: 89, Pressures Allowed: 4, Sacks Allowed: 1, Penalties: 0)
Dallas committed 12 penalties for 106 yards, but none were on Booker, that’s a good place to start. For a rookie guard in a chaotic, overtime shootout, Booker checked two big boxes in this game, discipline and durability while being part of a line that churned out 135 rushing yards and protected well enough to a degree on 52 dropbacks. The tape notes to carry forward are standard rookie right guard pointers. He needs to work on cleaner fits on some doubles, quicker eyes for interior twists, and a firmer anchor when the pocket gets squeezed.
Dallas had a handful of short-yardage rushes that got stoned. It’s not pinned solely on Booker, but interior timing and hand placement on double-teams, along with backside cutoffs needed to be cleaner. Even with only three sacks allowed, the Giants still logged eight QB hits, which reflects some bad leakage over a heavy throwing day for Dak. Booker added to that total with two hits and one sack that came off a well-timed twist that had Booker thrown immediately into panic mode.
But all told, it was a solid day for Booker in a wild 40–37 win, and that’s the biggest takeaway for the rookie guard this week.
DE Donovan Ezeiruaku
(Game stats- Snaps: 26, Total Tackles: 0, Pressures: 2, Sacks: 0)
Ezeiruaku’s game against New York looked like a promising rookie edge rotation outing. He was assignment-sound, penalty-free, had a couple of clear disruptions but no stat-sheet pops. His snap count is up from last week, so the arrow’s pointing up on playing time. The coaching tape this week should hammer finishing through the play, tighter lane discipline in four-man fronts, and converting those opportunities into sacks. If he stacks that, the numbers will follow.
CB Shavon Revel Jr.
Non-Football Injury list
RB Jaydon Blue
Inactive
LB Shemar James
Inactive
OT Ajani Cornelius
Inactive
DT Jay Toia
(Game stats- Snaps: 19, Total Tackles: 1, Pressures: 0, Sacks: 0)
Toia dressed and did his job in the rotation without errors, but didn’t register on the stat sheet other than an assisted tackle. Against a line that could be moved inside, that’s a missed chance to stack buzzworthy reps. To put it all in perspective for Toia, the defensive line only registered two sacks (James Houston and Kenny Clark), and the unit struggled to overpower a weak Giants offensive line. Toia was far from the problem but also didn’t take his chances when given the opportunity.
The coaching tape this week should get Toia to lower his pads, quicker shed timing on inside zone, and converting anchor into visible pocket push on passing downs. If he turns a couple of those stalemates into tackles or a hurry, he’ll force more snaps his way.
RB Phil Mafah
Injured reserve
WR Traeshon Holden
Practice squad
TE Rivaldo Fairweather
Practice squad
LB Justin Barron
Practice squad
CB Alijah Clark
Practice squad
CB Zion Childress
Practice squad
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