To start with if I have to hear Francesa say one more time teams are daring the Giants to run the ball because they can't and it allows teams to shut down the passing game I'm going to ram my head against the wall. That is just to simple an answer.
One, they couldn't run the ball last year either.
Two, doesn't anyone think opposing defenses new that last year and dared them to run also.
Three, the only real weapon they had last year was Odell. Vereen was under used, and despite that they ranked sixth overall in total offense and Eli threw for over 4000 yards.
Four, this is basically the same damn offensive line and we have seen that Hart has played very well since he took over for Newhouse.
Five, this year in addition to Odell Cruz is back, Shepard was drafted and has played well and I would think you can't double cover them all.
So, other then they can't run the ball is it Eli, or is it the system? You would think after last year and the progression and the recent additions this offense would have been hell on wheels.
So, why have they gone so backwards?
As terrible as this sounds Reuben Randle was a descent possession WR that won physical battles when covered.
To many point guards and no power forwards or centers.
I honestly think it is a few things. 1 - Eli is not playing as well this year and not elevating the Offense. He is not playing poorly, but the prev 2 years he played at a higher level
2. I think the TC influence. Right or Wrong TC cared alot more about running the ball and TOP. While he let BM run his offense, he influenced game planning and some in game decisions. This year our % of 11 personel is way higher then it had been as is the shotgun stuff. TC would have insisted on finding a FB after the injuries. and would have used different formations to try to overcome our deficiencies. BM seems a little stubborn here.
3. I think BM -as HC- has less time in game and during the week to spend on offense.I'm not saying that in the future this cannot be overcome, but right now it is a problem
He's made it incredibly easy to gameplan against us simply because of stubbornness. As said earlier we don't have the OL/running game to stay in this formation. Teams are dropping as many as 8 players into zone coverage, Flowers and to a lesser extent Hart, are getting beat on the edge giving are immobile, 36 year old QB little time to go through progressions and/or avoid the sack.
McAdoo needs to do a better job with his diner menu playsheet and 'scheme' players open rather than just tell the receivers to beat your man. That works in man coverage but when there's almost two defensive players for every one eligible receiver, with a bad OL, it's an ugly combination.
I think the argument can be made the OL is worse this year. Flowers is at *best* a push from last year, and IMO his technique at times looks worse (see PIT). He's become more of a penalty Richburg has regressed from a player whom I and many others felt was a budding star, if not an All-Pro caliber player. Suffice to say he hasn't been that guy this season, though he has improved lately. I didn't think Pugh had a great 2015, and while he acquitted himself nicely early on, he's missed almost half the season now and the discontinuity at the LG position most definitely contributed negatively to both Flowers and Richburg's performance. Jerry is Jerry and I think the combination of Hart/Newhouse has been about the same (in other words, nothing special).
Add to that the other issues we've discussed, plus a completely immobile quarterback who makes some of his worst throws while on the move, and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Maybe just go Beckham, Sheppard, Cruz, Rodgers, and split the RB out too. It's a mess. They need a playmaker at RB, and Vereen is nice, but he's not changing the game. He can help, but he is not the answer.
O line sucks. Everybody knows it. Eli looks like he is in decline, and a horizontal offense with no run game and a short time to throw creates a snowball effect.
Hopefully the D doesnt decline too much without JPP, and hopefully they can create turnovers and big plays on STs, but I would count on the defense scoring before I did STs.