The New York Giants (0-1) and Arizona Cardinals (0-1) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 2 matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Giants opened the week as 4.5-point road favorites, but the spread has gotten a little worse with New York now at -4.
Buy Giants TicketsWith this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Cardinals Wire managing editor Jess Root.
It's an extremely small sample size but what are your early impressions of Jonathan Gannon and does he feel like 'the guy?'
Root: I think he could be the guy. He is very intentional with everything he does and he communicates extremely well. He also builds a culture of competition. I see him as a less abrasive Jim Harbaugh. He has the competitive fire, has a very sound philosophy and preaches serving the players, which should go a long way, even if times are tough.
Why do you think Isaiah Simmons didn't work out in Arizona and was he going to be released if not traded?
I don’t think he would have been released. I think the trade came down to him not completely buying in to the new coaching staff. He surely was not happy with the organization for not exercising the fifth-year option of his contract and there were quiet reports that he didn’t want to be there. He was found to not fit with the culture and so they moved on.
What made the Cardinals go with Joshua Dobbs over Clayton Tune and ex-Giant Colt McCoy?
I will ask this all season probably.
McCoy was not Jonathan Gannon’s guy. He had a cache of trust with Kliff Kingsbury. He didn’t with Gannon, and McCoy’s arm strength was gone. The coaches simply believed McCoy didn’t have anything left.
As for Tune, he isn’t ready to be a starter. It would be different if he were viewed as the guy they were going to develop into their franchise QB, but the Cardinals are not doing that. They are trying to survive until Kyler Murray’s return so a rookie isn’t probably the right answer.
As for Dobbs, the Cardinals tried to sign him in the offseason. OC Drew Petzing coached him in Cleveland. He is smart and athletic. He is safe. He’s just not good.
How are ex-Giants Will Hernandez and Antonio Hamilton doing down in Arizona?
Hernandez was probably their best lineman last season and earned a two-year deal to come back. He has added a toughness that was needed.
Hamilton is a great, versatile corner to have on a team. He plays hard on special teams and can play the boundary and the slot.
Vegas seems curiously optimistic the Giants will win on Sunday. How do you see this one playing out and what's your final score prediction?
I am optimistic. The Cardinals can give the Giants the same problems the Cowboys did defensively. The Giants’ defense isn’t as good as Washington’s so the Cardinals should be able to move the ball better. That said, this is going to be one ugly game. Cardinals sneak the win in the home opener, 20-17
