Another 0-2 start has Giants fans shaking their head. The 2011 Super Bowl team seems like such a distant memory as the team continues to struggle with the same issues season after season. It seemed like last season where the team could only muster three wins was rock bottom and that they could only go up from there. Fast forward a few months and the team decided to pick one of the most talented athletes in the draft, Saquon Barkley, with the number two pick. With an entire coaching staff overhaul, the team looked to for a fresh start.
The team had a healthy Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, and finally a really talented running back. The Giants took care of Beckham’s contract before the season started so it would not be a distraction during the season. Why would they not be Super Bowl favorites?
It’s actually about what they didn’t do. This team has struggled mightily to score over 20 points for years now. Deciding to not draft a quarterback this season and remain with Eli Manning was a questionable choice, however, not getting the best possible protection was just abhorrent. To be fair, the team did bring in Patriots left tackle Nate Solder in hopes of protecting Manning’s blind side. This would allow Ereck Flowers to play in his natural position on the right side.
Ereck Flowers. Ereck Flowers. Ereck Flowers. Just the sound of his name makes Giants fans irate. Between his inability to avoid costly penalties, protecting Manning or just take responsibility at the end of games, fan have really grown tired. Unfortunately, on the first play of the game Flowers was called for a tripping penalty on Calais Campbell. Two plays later, he was called for a holding penalty. On Manning’s costly pick-6, it was Flowers who was seen not blocking any defenders allowing one to tip the pass to a teammate. The team’s response? Full confidence in their right tackle. This has to be the most infuriating thing to witness.
It is not just on Flowers, however, the team’s coaching staff and management watches the same games the rest of us do and knows that this is probably their biggest problem. What did they do? Well if you think they brought in depth for the possibility of Flowers still struggling, you’d be wrong. It looks like the team will ride with Flowers for the foreseeable future, especially now that they are down their starting center.
Another season Manning has an untrustworthy offensive line and will have to run for his life. This has also forced Manning to go back to checking the ball three yards on third and longs with four defenders rushing him, something that became synonymous with Ben McAdoo who was fired late last season. Having all of these offensive weapons almost seems like a waste when Manning cannot set his feet and look down field. This isn’t to say that Manning its also not at fault. Other teams have horrendous offensive lines and great quarterbacks are still able to buy time and make big plays. Could a change at quarterback be the difference maker? Probably, but only if we’re talking about finding the next Aaron Rodgers.
Moving to the other side of the ball, the Giants’ defense is okay, but it lacks what past great Giants’ defenses have been known for, pass rushing. To be fair the team is without top rusher Olivier Vernon who suffered a nasty high ankle sprain during training camp and they traded veteran Jason Pierre-Paul to the red hot Bucs. That doesn’t mean that opposing quarterbacks should have all day in the pocket to scan the field, but that’s what we’ve seen. Coupled with lazy arm tackling and the team is back to having to stay on the field for long drives, giving their already struggling offense even less time to get back in games. This team is losing the battle on both lines and until they fix that, they will continue to draft in the top 5, wasting Beckham and Barkley’s primes.
This team has lacked a vocal leader since they decided to let Justin Tuck walk to Oakland. Eli Manning is a leader, but he is not the guy who is going to hold others accountable no matter how bad things get. This team needs that guy. If they had a real leader, Flowers blaming his tripping penalty on the first play of the game on not knowing that Calais Campbell was more of “power guy” rather than a speed guy. That has to be one of the worst excuses ever used in professional sports. You have all offseason to prepare for game one and you didn’t know who you were lining up against? One of the best pass rushers in the league and you just didn’t do enough to learn how to stop him? That is unacceptable and admitting that you didn’t prepare for your assignment. What did the Giants do? Trot Flowers back out there in the same position for week two against the Cowboys and express full confidence in him. How did that turn out? Manning was sacked five times and ran for his life for most of the game.
Can this team turn it around? Sure, crazier things have happened in sports. In 2011, Manning spent a majority of the NFC Championship game on his back and the team still won. This is on all of the players to hold themselves accountable and be better. Not just tell the media that, but actually watch more film, communicate with each other more, and most importantly help struggling teammates.
