With quarterback Jaxson Dart sidelined for the season, the New York Giants face a major question about their offense: How much should they reshape the unit around veteran quarterback Jameis Winston? Locked On Giants host Patricia Traina argued the answer should be a substantial shift toward Winston’s aggressive passing rather than a power-running identity that has not produced enough.
Traina pointed to the Week 5 tie with the Washington Commanders as the clearest version of the alternative. The Giants (3-1-1) opened with an emphasis on the run in rainy conditions, but the offense looked sharper after game circumstances forced Winston to throw more often. Her conclusion was simple: Let Winston “cook” and accept that a high-volume passing plan will include some risk.
The season totals support the case for a recalibration. The Giants have rushed for 545 yards on 147 attempts, a 3.7-yard average, while Winston has thrown for 805 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Running backs Cam Skattebo and Najee Harris have both averaged 3.6 yards per carry, reinforcing Traina’s point that the backfield has not consistently supplied the explosiveness needed to carry the offense.
Traina described Skattebo and Harris as similar downhill runners and argued that the offense lacks a change-of-pace option capable of stressing defenses horizontally or producing more chunk plays. That leaves opponents with an understandable response: Crowd the line of scrimmage and challenge Winston to beat them through the air.
Winston has the weapons to answer that challenge. Wide receiver Malik Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely lead the team with 329 and 284 receiving yards, respectively, while wide receiver Malachi Fields has shown downfield ability in a more limited role. Traina wants Fields involved more as a receiver, particularly if the Giants commit to a vertical approach.
The question is not whether Winston will make difficult throws; it is whether the upside of those attempts outweighs the mistakes. Traina believes it can, provided the Giants avoid turning backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy into a predictable situational substitute for RPO or short-yardage packages. Rotating quarterbacks, she argued, risks disrupting the rhythm Winston needs to operate the passing game.
Dart’s injury has altered the original blueprint, and the Giants cannot solve their long-term backfield questions during the season. Their immediate path is clearer: Use the passing game to create space, trust Winston to push the ball upfield, and make defenses pay when they overload the box.
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