Last season was a resurgent one for the New York Giants who returned to the NFL Playoffs for the first time since they won the Super Bowl in 2011. First year head coach Ben McAdoo along with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, helped rebuild the defense, but this was still a team with major holes in its roster, in spite of an 11-5 regular season finish.
The Green Bay Packers put a beat down on the Giants in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, so there are some hurdles to overcome. Let’s take a look and see if McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese did enough to change their 2017 fortunes.
Free Agents Kept
John Jerry, Offensive Guard
Keenan Robinson, Linebacker
Zak DeOssie, Long Snapper
Rhett Ellison, Tight End
Mark Herzlich, Linebacker
Free Agents/Players Gained
Shaun Draughn, Running Back, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers
Rhett Ellison, Tight End, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings
D.J. Fluker, Offensive Guard, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers
Brandon Marshall, Wide Receiver, formerly of the New York Jets
Geno Smith, Quarterback, formerly of the New York Jets
Josh Johnson, Quarterback, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens
Valentino Blake, Cornerback, formerly of the Tennessee Titans
Devin Taylor, Defensive End, formerly of the Detroit Lions
Corbin Bryant, Defensive Tackle, formerly of the Buffalo Bills
Free Agents/Players Lost
Robbie Gould, Kicker, signed with the San Francisco 49ers
Johnathan Hankins, Defensive Tackle, signed with the Indianapolis Colts
Marshal Newhouse, Offensive Tackle, signed with the Oakland Raiders
Coty Sensabaugh, Cornerback, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashad Jennings, Running Back, currently a free agent
Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver, signed with the Chicago Bears
Rahim Moore, Safety, currently a free agency
2017 NFL Draft
Round 1: Evan Engram, Tight End, Ole Miss
Round 2: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
Round 3: Davis Webb, Quarterback, California
Round 4: Wayne Gallman, Running Back, Clemson
Round 5: Avery Moss, Defensive End, Youngstown State
Round 6: Adam Bisnowaty, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Proposed Offensive Starters
QB: Eli Manning
RB: Paul Perkins
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
WR: Brandon Marshall
WR: Sterling Shepard
TE: Evan Engram
LT: Ereck Flowers
RT: Bobby Hart
LG: Justin Pugh
RG: John Jerry
C: Weston Richburg
Offensive Outlook
Unexpectedly, the Giants offense was surprisingly mediocre last season, finishing No. 26 in points and No. 25 in yards. This is why New York focused its energies on adding skill positions to the offense. Eli Manning still runs the show and remains one of the most underrated players to ever lead his team to multiple Super Bowl victories. In spite of the overall offensive numbers being down, Manning still had a stellar season, completing 63 percent of his passes for 4,027 yards, 26 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
Up front the Giants remain the same as last season, with Bobby Hart continuing to hold down the right tackle spot after starting the final 13 games last season. Everyone else remains the same on a line that under-performed in the run game, but had one of its best pass protection seasons in years. Manning was sacked just 21 times on the year, his lowest total since 2012.
At the skill positions, this will be the best group Manning has ever taken the field with. For my money, Odell Beckham Jr. is the best wide receiver in the sport. He’ll be joined on the outside by the newly-acquired Brandon Marshall, who should flourish as the No. 2 receiver in this offense. It will be Marshall’s first time in that role in his life, but also the first time he’ll play with a legitimate NFL quarterback since Jay Cutler was tossing him footballs. In the slot, second-year Sterling Shepard returns after a solid rookie season where he caught 65 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. Evan Engram will slide right in as a starter at tight end, the first real, playmaking tight end Manning has had since Jeremy Shockey left town.
I’ve slotted Paul Perkins in at running back, but he has some work to do to hang on to the job. Rookie Wayne Gallman will push for playing time immediately and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him win the job outright before Week One of the regular season. The Giants will also be ready to snap up any waver wire casualties like Chris Ivory from Jacksonville.
Proposed Defensive Starters
DE: Jason Pierre-Paul
DE: Oliver Vernon
DT: Damon Harrison
DT: Dalvin Tomlinson
OLB: Jonathan Cassilas
OLB: J.T. Thomas
MLB: Keenan Robinson
CB: Eli Apple
CB: Janoris Jenkins
FS: Darian Thompson
SS: Landon Collins
Defensive Outlook
The Giants defense is made up front and adding Dalvin Tomlinson from Alabama to replace the departed Johnathan Hankins should lessen that loss. Jason Pierre-Paul has returned from a fireworks injury to reclaim his place among the league’s top pass rushers and the signing of Olivier Vernon last year meant he wouldn’t have to do it all on his own. Damon Harrison is beast on the inside and consistently moves the line backwards.
At linebacker, there are actually plenty of options after a season where it seemed everybody got to play some because of injuries. The Giants will finally get to see what they signed in J.T. Thomas who missed all but one game in 2016. Keenan Robinson played inside and outside linebacker last season and, from what I can see, is the best option at middle linebacker. Jonathan Cassilas was second on the team in tackles last year with 92 to go with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and seven passes defended.
Eli Apple started 11 games last season and should keep that job opposite Pro Bowler Janoris Jenkins. If the Giants keep him, and they may not, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will move to the slot. Like Thomas, Darian Thompson spent last season hurt, but should reclaim his job opposite Landon Collins at safety. Collins can make a claim to being one of the Top Five players at his position in the game.
Grade: B+
The Giants drafted well and used their free agency capital to bring in the missing pieces on their offense. It’s the same strategy they used on the defense last season and they finished the No. 2-ranked unit in the league.
O/U wins: 9.5
Preseason Schedule
Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
Week 3: New York Jets
Week 4: at New England Patriots
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys
Key game: Last season the Giants beat the Cowboys twice on their way to a Wild Card berth. Dallas already has this game circled on their calendar. The Giants can set the tone for the season by showing nothing has changed in 2017 with a win in Arlington.
Week 2: Detroit Lions
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 6: at Denver Broncos
Week 7: Seattle Seahawks
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Los Angeles Rams
Week 10: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 12: at Washington Redskins
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Week 14: Dallas Cowboys
Week 15: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 16: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 17: Washington Redskins
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