The 2016 NFL Preview continues. Every weekday from now until opening night, we will preview the 2016 NFL Season. Next week’s schedule: Tampa Bay (Monday), New Orleans (Tuesday), Philadelphia (Wednesday), Oakland (Thursday), Los Angeles (Friday)
Tom Coughlin is out as coach of the Giants after twelve seasons. Coughlin took the fall after the Giants failed to reach the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and sixth in the past seven. Coughlin was the only fall guy, though. Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo was promoted to head coach, so the pieces are still the same. Well some of them.
Throwing money at the problem The Giants had a historically bad defense last season. They gave up 6,725 yards, most in the league. They gave up the second most first downs at 367. 423 completions against, 4,783 passing yards against (second most all time). Opponents also had a 4.4 YPC against, so needless to say, the Giants defense was a huge problem. To combat that, the Giants spent big bucks on three players. The question is, are they the right players?
Olivier Vernon- DE. 5 years, $85 million. Vernon was the big prize in Free Agency this year. A young pass rusher is always in demand. It will be up to him now to earn this money, because his stats leading up do not look like he deserves this kind of cash. 29 career sacks in four years. For comparison, JJ Watt had 17 ½ sacks LAST year.
Damon Harrison- DT. 5 years, $46.25 million. This signing, I like. It’s a little too much money for a run stopper, but Harrison does his job exceptionally well. Playing the Nose for the Jets, Harrison routinely commanded double teams, allowing the other playmakers to make plays for the Jets. If he can do that for the Giants, it should help Vernon and everyone else on the defensive front.
Janoris Jenkins- CB. 5 years, $62.5 million. Jenkins was a solid corner for four seasons in St. Louis but now he is thrust into the # 1 role with the Giants. The Rams chose Trumaine Johnson over Jenkins allowing Jenkins to be a free agent. Now Jenkins is in charge of covering Dez Bryant and Desean Jackson twice a year. Much like Vernon, Jenkins may have a hard time matching production to the contract.
Any other defensive help Eli Apple was the Giants first draft choice, and he is currently the #3 corner, or the slot corner. It’s a passing league now, so you can never have too many bodies playing in your secondary.
Solid offensively The Giants were in the top 10 in offense last season, which is impressive when you consider they did not have a running game, and only had one receiver. Odell Beckham continued his assault on the NFL by having his second monster season. But after Odell, the cupboard was bare. Rueben Randle was a pedestrian # 2, and no other wide receiver had more than 36 receptions. Randle drove down the Turnpike to Philadelphia, and rookie Sterling Shepard is the presumed # 2. Victor Cruz is also back, but it’s now been two years since he’s taken a meaningful NFL snap. So expectations have to be tempered there. If Cruz is the Cruz of old, and Shepard hits the ground running, the Giants have the makings of a dynamic offense. Still can’t run the ball, though.
Fantasy Focus Beckham. I said he was a bad play last year, I was wrong. He had a ridiculous 158 targets last year. I don’t care who is on this team, Eli will throw to Beckham constantly. He’s worth a first round pick in any format. I’m not sold on Shepard, nor do I think Cruz will ever get back to his Elite level. Eli Manning should have another solid fantasy season. 35 plus Touchdowns is not out of the question. The defense might be a little better, but the Giants are a passing team.
Prediction The Giants lost five games last season that they led in the fourth quarter. Hold half of those leads and the Giants finish 9-7 last season. It’s that simple right? Nothing is that easy in the NFL, but it is something for Giants fans to hold their hat on. The Eli Manning Giants have been an average team since 2009. A average record of 7.8-8.2. So anywhere between 6 wins and 10 could he had by New York this season. 9-7 and a possible NFC East Title game week 17 at Washington.