Giants coach Brian Daboll says rookies 'did their job' despite losing preseason opener to Lions

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Brian Daboll helped turn around the New York Giants during his first year as head coach, leading them to the playoffs and winning 2022 AP Coach of the Year honors.

The Giants enter the 2023 season with raised expectations. 

Friday's preseason game was an opportunity for players to show Daboll and the rest of the coaching staff how they intended to build off last year's success. 

Many of the rookie preseason debuts went fairly well, according to Daboll. The team's top two draft picks, cornerback Deonte Banks and center John Michael Schmitz, showed flashes in the 21-16 loss. Sixth-round pick Tre Hawkins also had some good moments.

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Brian Daboll, head coach of the New York Giants, during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Aug. 11, 2023, in Detroit. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Daboll said Saturday the game in Detroit had ups and downs typical of a first preseason game. He was pleased with how the team competed overall but made it clear there was plenty of room for improvement.

"I thought a lot of our young guys in our two corners, our center, I thought they showed well in the game for us, played with confidence, did their job," Daboll said after watching game film.

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"So, it was good to see those three young guys out there playing. They played a fairly high level."

The Giants are hoping Banks can develop into a reliable starter opposite veteran Adoree' Jackson.

Brian Daboll, head coach of the New York Giants, reacts after a play in the