Three storylines to monitor in Giants' second preseason game

The Giants host the Panthers in their second preseason action of the 2023 season on Friday. Here are three storylines to monitor for New York. 

1. How much will the new personnel affect the play-calling? 

Although head coach Brian Daboll hasn't announced whether the starters are playing Friday, The Athletic's Dan Duggan reported that it appears they will after watching Wednesday's practice. If that's the case, it'll be intriguing to see how new additions to the offense affect offensive coordinator Mike Kafka's play-calling or if things will be more of the same as last season.

The Giants didn't challenge many defensive backs downfield in 2022, leading to quarterback Daniel Jones having an average depth of target that ranked 40th among quarterbacks who dropped back to pass at least 155 times (6.4 yards). Although drafting a deep threat in rookie wideout Jalin Hyatt should help stretch the field, the Giants added multiple slot receivers, including Parris Campbell, who will complement Jones' short-range passing skills. 

Of course, the spotlight will be on Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, an early standout in his first training camp with New York who appears to be developing into a leader in the locker room. During his time with the Raiders, Waller showed he's a matchup nightmare for defenses who can be effective downfield and break a long run on a screen pass.

2. Will OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux make an impact against a shaky Panthers offensive line? 

Assuming the Giants starting defense suits up Friday, the focus will turn to last year's fifth overall pick Thibodeaux, whom defensive coordinator Wink Martindale recently called out in front of the team. The Oregon product subsequently cleared the air on the situation and acknowledged that he has to improve after recording just four sacks as a rookie. 

“If you are not growing, you are losing,” Thibodeaux told reporters, via Pro Football Talk. “If I don’t become a better player, I am going to be out in three years. That’s the truth to the NFL. Just understanding that if I want to be here for a long time, it has got to be a continuous growth" 

If Thibodeaux follows through on his word, he should make an impact in a matchup as favorable as he could hope for. Last week against the Jets, Carolina's offensive line surrendered four sacks, three QB hits and 16 pressures, per Pro Football Focus. 

3. Is this a make-or-break game for the second-year LB Darrian Beavers? 

Beavers, a sixth-round pick in 2022, was slated for a significant role during his rookie year until he sustained a season-ending ACL tear in the preseason. The injury opened the door for 2022 fifth-rounder Micah McFadden to see more playing time, but he was underwhelming as a rookie, recording 59 tackles and two sacks.    

With Beavers now fully healthy, he and McFadden have been battling for the starting job alongside free-agent acquisition Bobby Okereke. As a precaution, Beavers was held out of the team's first preseason game, and McFadden put together a solid outing. In 14 plays on defense, McFadden recorded one assist and also had a tackle on special teams. 

On Tuesday, Martindale told reporters that McFadden is “definitely leading right now” over Beavers in their competition due to his strong performance in training camp and against Detroit. However, New York hosted free-agent linebacker Anthony Barr for a visit on Thursday, and while he left without a deal, it could indicate that Beavers could also lose the backup role with a poor showing against Carolina.