Mike Kafka has yet to see Daniel Jones perform in a game situation, but the New York Giants’ first-year offensive coordinator likes what he has seen thus far from the fourth-year quarterback.
“I think Daniel’s doing a phenomenal job,” Kafka said Monday. “He’s working. He’s operating the offense. I like what he’s doing as far as being a leader and trying to get these guys up and push the tempo of the offense.
“So, I like where Daniel’s at.”
The Giants open their three-game preseason slate Thursday at the New England Patriots. It will be the first game together for Jones, Kafka and new head coach Brian Daboll.
Kafka spent the past five years on Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City, including the past two as the Chiefs’ passing game coordinator. He has been charged with calling plays during training camp but whether that role continues into the season remains to be seen.
That makes Thursday night a bit of a tryout for Kafka as well.
“I look at it as an opportunity,” he said. “An opportunity not only for myself, but for the players. Everyone out there is, those guys are, you know, everyone on there is working hard to make the team and show what they can do and show that they can build themselves a role.
“So, I’m looking to go out and do my job to the best of my ability and put the guys in the best position to be successful and show what they can do.”
Whether it’s Daboll or Kafka calling plays, they will need Jones to put together a consistent season in his contract year in order for the Giants’ offense to be successful.
Jones is being charged with learning a new offense — and being the on-field leader for all the offensive personnel trying to get up to speed ahead of the Sept. 11 season opener at the Tennessee Titans.
“I think over the last, probably, week to 10 days, I think that communication really has gotten a lot better,” Kafka said of Jones’ communication with his receivers in particular. “In the meeting rooms, those guys are getting a lot more vocal.
“Not just the quarterbacks, but the receivers making sure that, ‘Hey Daniel. OK if it’s — I saw it this way.’ And then vice versa. Daniel saying, ‘I think you should hit it like this, or show me this body language.’
“That’s what we’re stressing to these guys: Let’s talk. Not just receivers and quarterbacks, but O-line. Everyone’s got to get on the same page.”
–Field Level Media