New York Giants coach Brian Daboll laments that 'nothing was good enough' in loss to 49ers
Daboll weighed in on his team's beleaguered defense after another convincing defeat at home
The New York Giants dropped to 2-7 following a lackluster 34-24 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, a contest that only appeared competitive due to a Jaxson Dart garbage-time score.
Head coach Brian Daboll's position remains under scrutiny. After guiding New York to a 7-2 record through nine games in 2022, his Giants squads have now opened three straight seasons at 2-7.
Daboll praised his team's effort postgame when questioned about a string of missed tackles from his struggling and embattled squad. "Nothing was good enough," he grimly said at his post-game press conference.
"Guys battled, but ultimately not good enough."
That was more diplomatic than some of the other comments emerging from the locker room. "I hate this ****," said receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. New York confronted a San Francisco squad severely depleted by injuries, without starting QB Brock Purdy and key wideouts Rickey Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk.
Nevertheless, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's defense surrendered 159 yards rushing and 380 yards overall. "I don't think there was any lack of effort," said star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
"Everybody played hard; we just didn't make the plays."
The Giants were without three starters in the secondary: Paulsen Adebo, Cor'Dale Flott, and Jevon Holland. Deonte Banks, Dane Belton, and Beau Brade were pushed into starting positions alongside healthy starters Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips.
Despite injuries to starting running back Cam Skattebo and top receiver Malik Nabers, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart continues to shine.
He completed 24 out of his 33 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns to a mix of inexperienced receivers.
Dart also added an additional 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
"The biggest thing is, I just think that we've got to be able to not just let things collapse a little bit," the Giants QB said about the team's poor second-quarter performance. "Guys battled, but ultimately not good enough.
"Good plays are going to happen for the other team, that's just the league that we play in. We can't let one lead to another. I think that's just something we need to get better at," he continued.
"We have to maintain the intensity, the focus, as a whole team to weather the adversity storms and always keep the belief that we're going to win. I think at times, we just let a few things lead to another instead of just shutting it down one play at a time."