ATLANTA — This is not a transfusion the Giants desired, but it is a procedure they have been forced to undergo.
As with everything this season, it has not gone smoothly.
“You’ve got some new blood in there, so to speak’’ defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said, “so the communication and everything has got to increase a little bit. So, there’s got to be a heightened level of focus.’’
Finding a heightened level of anything is close to mission impossible with these Giants — on both sides of the ball.
They head into Sunday’s game against the Falcons as the lowest-scoring team in the NFL at 14.9 points a game.
By comparison, the defense is more credible, allowing 23.4 points a game, 20th in the league.
They are at their worst attempting to stop the run — 31st in the league at 143.7 yards per game — and seventh in passing yards allowed at 200.4.
That is misleading, though, as opponents are usually ahead, finding success on the ground, thus throwing the ball on the Giants late in games is often unnecessary.
The “new blood’’ coursing through the lineup has not been rejuvenating.
Injuries have ravaged the unit, forcing youngsters to fill starting spots along the line — Elijah Chatman, Jordon Riley, Elijah Garcia — at inside linebacker with rookie Darius Muasau, and in the secondary with Greg Stroman, Art Green and Dane Belton.
In last week’s 35-14 loss to the Ravens, there was all sorts of confusion and blown coverages, as Lamar Jackson completed six passes of 20 or more yards.
The Giants hope Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., in his first NFL start, cannot take advantage of all the displacement on the back end the way Jackson, an MVP candidate, tore through them.
None of this is shocking considering the Giants played last week without any cornerbacks who were with the team in training camp.
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