When one door closes, another one usually opens, as New York Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes is no doubt realizing.
Holmes, the Giants' fourth-round draft pick in 2020, has seen his snaps as the team's primary slot cornerback decrease significantly from last year to this year. Per Pro Football Focus, Holmes has logged just 115 defensive snaps this season versus the 637 he played last year, and of his 115 defensive snaps this season, only 83 have come in the slot versus the 519 he played in 2022.
But Holmes has seemingly found new life on the Giants special teams units, where he's played 140 snaps, 66 of them as a gunner opposite Nick McCloud. It's there where Holmes, who has always played bigger than his sited 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame, has made his biggest contributions.
Currently, Holmes is tied for second on the team with linebacker Cam Brown, who has six total special teams tackles, one behind team leader Carter Coughlin. In addition to all six of his tackles being solo efforts, Holmes also has a forced fumble coming last week against the Green Bay Packers.
Holmes's efforts have not gone unnoticed by special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey.
"Darnay has worked his tail off. Darnay is always one of our hardest working guys, and it’s starting to pay off for him," McGaughey said. "The more plays you make, the more confidence you get. You go make more plays, and he made a heck of a play the other night (vs. the Packers), so he’s getting better for sure."
Last season, Holmes didn't dent the stat sheet when it came to his special teams play; his focus was obviously on the defensive side of the ball. But with his role being re-defined, McGaughey said that Holmes has attacked it with the same vigor and enthusiasm he puts into attacking opposing receivers when he plays defense.
Because of part of Holmes's contributions, the Giants' punt coverage team is tied with the New Orleans Saints for the fewest average yards allowed per return (5.0). It is one of the few bright spots on a Giants special teams unit that has otherwise struggled.
"He stays after practice, he works on his angles to the ball, and as guys are catching punts, he’ll work on different things," McGaughey said. "That’s just part of guys’ maturation process; everybody is different. And Darnay has done a good job of being diligent and taking advantage of the opportunities he’s gotten."
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