Harbaugh Weighing Jameis Winston, J.J. McCarthy as Giants' Starting QB vs. Texans
Coach John Harbaugh said the Week 8 bye factors into the choice between Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy and called Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor and Darnell Mooney day to day.
Giants coach John Harbaugh did not name a starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Houston, saying at his Monday news conference that the staff is "honing in on a decision" between Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy. Asked whether competitive advantage is part of the reason for not announcing a starter yet, he said, "I don't want to say it's 100% that, but that's part of it."
Asked after the 34-27 loss to New Orleans whether McCarthy would start going forward, Harbaugh said the decision was "not even up for discussion or conversation right now" because the game had just ended. On Monday he said the choice comes down to "what gives us the best chance to win the football game at this given time," and that the Week 8 bye after the Houston game is "all part of it."
He praised Winston — "Jameis has done a great job in so many ways" — and said McCarthy "just got here a couple weeks ago." Harbaugh said a main factor is how much of a grasp a quarterback has on the offense's terms, cadences and checks, and said, "That's something that we have been grappling with."
He called McCarthy "definitely a better runner, scrambler" and said going with him "opens up some things that we wouldn't be doing with Jameis."
Harbaugh said that once the decision is made, the staff will explain it to the team, including what the role will be for the other players. "We'll talk to our guys about it, but it won't take much," he said.
Asked whether Malik Nabers failed to finish on an end-zone incompletion and on Winston's interception thrown his way, Harbaugh said, "No, I just think they were plays that didn't work out for us." He said the interception was "kind of high and outside" and that "the defender made a nice play on it."
Harbaugh described the run game as a "big time work in progress." Asked about running back Najee Harris' comments on the four-way backfield rotation, Harbaugh said, "Do understand it. Respect it. Also understand that that's earned," adding that the run game "hasn't earned that yet, and none of those guys have."
Left tackle Andrew Thomas, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and wide receiver Darnell Mooney are "making progress in the right direction" and are "kind of day-to-day guys," Harbaugh said. He said the team will know more Wednesday.