Giants coach John Harbaugh went all-in on wide receiver Malik Nabers last week, literally tackling him during a walk-through practice. This wasn’t some random burst of energy, either. Harbaugh had made it clear he couldn’t imagine Nabers returning from his 2025 torn ACL without some physical contact first. Talk about commitment to player prep, even if it meant getting hands-on himself!
Harbaugh’s Hands-On Approach and Nabers’ Return
Harbaugh’s “tackle” became a hot topic after Nabers played Sunday in the Giants’ 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The coach, now in his 19th season, admitted he “couldn’t pass it up” when the opportunity arose. He said it was “all in fun” and led to “lot of laughs,” though he noted some players gave him a “sideways look” and wondered “what are you doing?” This wasn’t a one-off, either. Harbaugh’s done this before, “imitat[ing] tackling guys” because, let’s be real, he can’t “tackle them in real life, I’m sure.” It’s an old-school move from an old-school coach, showing he’s not afraid to get unconventional to get his guys ready.
Ball Security Woes and Fullback Power
While the Giants celebrated their win, Harbaugh wasn’t sugarcoating everything. The team fumbled the ball four times against the Cowboys. Yeah, they got lucky and recovered three, but that’s not good enough. “Ball security” is a “non-negotiable” for Harbaugh, and he’s right to call it out. “We’re putting the ball on the ground entirely too much. It’s got to change,” he demanded, adding that it’s on “every single ball carrier” and the coaches to “drill it” and “teach it.” Four fumbles? That’s “not even close to being acceptable.” They’ve gotta fix that ASAP if they want to keep winning.
On the flip side, the Giants’ offense absolutely dominated the physical battle, and much of that credit goes to fullback Patrick Ricard. Harbaugh clearly loves his fullbacks, especially Ricard, who followed him from the Baltimore Ravens. In a league where fullbacks are almost dinosaurs, Ricard’s role is “built into our offense,” Harbaugh said. He believes Ricard does things “nobody else can do” and that’s “unique for us.” It helps define their “team persona” and “identity,” which is exactly what you want from your key players.
Dart’s Emerging Talent
And let’s not forget about second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. The kid balled out, going 23 of 29 with three touchdown passes against the Cowboys. Harbaugh’s re-watch left him even more impressed. He praised Dart’s “accuracy” and how he was “on time” with his rhythm passing, especially “in critical situations” against both man and zone. Dart was putting the “ball right where it needed to be,” and that’s a huge positive for this team moving forward.
The Giants just clinched a 28-20 win, but there are clear areas to clean up, especially with ball security. Can they tighten that up? And can Dart continue to impress while Ricard keeps bringing that unmatched physicality? This team’s identity is clearly taking shape early in the season, and it’s going to be exciting to see how they build on this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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