Let's start with the preseason claims the Giants were a SB contender. Why? They went 11-5 last season with a vastly improved defense, a minimum of injuries and many wins in low scoring games. This season, they have the same under performing Oline, added a couple of middling FA signings, drafted low in the order and lost a starting DT to FA. A team like that can just as easily fall back as make progress.
Now, they open the season without their best player (he was still very limited last night) and are 0-2. The offense sucks, but it was bad last season. So now the sky is falling, the coach and GM should be fired, Eli is finished and there is no chance of a win for weeks to come.
Reality says the Giants were fortunate to have such an improved record in 2016 after being near the bottom in 2015. Such movement is very normal in the parity NFL. Looking ahead, nobody in their division stands out. Beckum should be closer to full strength next week. So there is still an outside chance Giants win the division with a barely .500 season.
Folks need to curb their expectations and just take it one game at a time.
On paper, they significantly upgraded the tight end position. Marshall should be an upgrade over Cruz, who is out of the league now. Our starting RB last year is out of the league now... same with the tight end who started half the year (Donnell). The line SHOULD be better but hasn't improved.
The defense should be better with Goodson at LB and Thompson at FS and better depth at CB.
And he didn't play much then.
The reaction is warranted.
There is no sugar-coating this.
On paper, they significantly upgraded the tight end position. Marshall should be an upgrade over Cruz, who is out of the league now. Our starting RB last year is out of the league now... same with the tight end who started half the year (Donnell). The line SHOULD be better but hasn't improved.
The defense should be better with Goodson at LB and Thompson at FS and better depth at CB.
Did you think it would be better this season? I'm as negative as the next guy, so I wasn't expecting them to be good. It's 2 games in and there are few if any really strong teams. My point is overreaction both before and after the season began.
Even the Redskins are better than us right now.
The last hurrah for Eli run may net one winning season of the last six. Ouch. Horrendous for his hall case if so.
Seriously?
I do think they need to sit Flowers....stick Pugh at LT and try and find a workable combination.
The Giants signed DJ Fluker and that's basically it.
So we disagree on expectations but I think we both know how things can turn around in an NFL season. By the way, in another post you wrote you grew up near Utica. Where?
I spent 8th-12th grade in Waterville... off of route 12.
This OL is embarrassing. Eli is fading and I can't even blame him for the "happy feet" and poor throws at times ... there is a defender in his face almost as soon as the snap gets to him.
The defense is great ... the run game is non existent and this OL is a disgrace to the sport. Pass pro/run blocking, technique, it's pathetic.
Hearing Diehl, Snee, McKenzie, OHara get announced at half time made me want to cry last night ... I would kill to have even one of those guys back on this line.
Philly's front is going to wipe the floor with this OL
The Giants signed DJ Fluker and that's basically it.
The Detroit line was horrible too. Stafford can move which help the line look better.
However, the situation on the offensive line is a 5 alarm fire. It can ruin the season, and it must be handled immediately. In their next 6 games, the Giants face:
Fletcher Cox
Gerald McCoy
Joey Bosa & Melvin Ingram
Von Miller
Michael Bennett
Aaron Donald
If they don't get the offensive line to a passable NFL level, they are going to be 0-8. The level exhibited by the offensive line in these two games is not high enough to win games against the players I listed above.
An overreaction in an overreaction thread!!
I think this season is on the brink. Flowers has provided convincing evidence he can't play left tackle. McAdoo's in-game decision making, playing calling, position grouping on offense is suspect. How come Mike Pope could make contributors out of guys like Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard? Why has O-line play gotten worse? Is there anyone on this staff capable of being a competent offensive coordinator and/or play caller?
I agree with some of the comments that McAdoo is pissed at Eli because he's not Aaron Rodgers.
And why is there no one on this offense except Eli who plays with fire and guts? Why is there no one out there who will get in an opponents face when the franchise QB is pummeled and body slammed?
All I can think about right now is Fletcher Cox, Vinnie Curry and Brandon Graham.
However, the situation on the offensive line is a 5 alarm fire. It can ruin the season, and it must be handled immediately. In their next 6 games, the Giants face:
Fletcher Cox
Gerald McCoy
Joey Bosa & Melvin Ingram
Von Miller
Michael Bennett
Aaron Donald
If they don't get the offensive line to a passable NFL level, they are going to be 0-8. The level exhibited by the offensive line in these two games is not high enough to win games against the players I listed above.
The whole of this OL is for whatever reason significantly less that the sum of the parts. It should be passable.
Perhaps Eli has just lost his ability to escape pressure....what little he had. That would make it look worse that it is???
Quote:
If you still can't spell the name of one of the biggest superstars in the entire sports world that has played for your favorite football team for the past 3 plus years, then just type OBJ. I mean damn.
Seriously?
I know I'm not the only one who it drives nuts to see 'Beckum' when referring to our 'Beckham'. If this was 2014 you wouldn't hear a peep out of me about it (and didn't). Same for even 2015. But come on, at this point?
Here's a helpful guide:
It's Shepard. Not Sheppard, like Kelvin. Or Shepherd, like an actual sheepherder.
It's B.J. Goodson, not Goodman, like John Goodman from "The Big Lebowski" and "Roseanne" fame.
It's Evan Engram, not Evan Ingram, like the RB of the Saints.
It's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, not Rogers-Cromartie. Rodgers with a 'd', like defense, mmkay? Or like Aaron Rodgers. Or just go with DRC.
It's Olivier Vernon, not Oliver Vernon like Oliver Twist. He may run a twist, or a stunt, but he's Olivier. It's French.
Davis (not David) Webb, with two b's.
And even though he's no longer here, without even looking it up, and you can spellcheck me...it's Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Who definitely wasn't nearly as good as Osi Umenyiora or Matthias Kiwanuka. But Romeo Okwara looks promising.
So class, remember, it's ODELL BECKHAM, JR. Put a 'ham' on the end, like he hams it up in the endzone after a TD (remember those days?)
And don't take this too seriously, tongue is firmly in cheek.
Of course I'm not serious. It is pretty sorry this offense they have been running for 3 years should look like this. The O line sucks and that is why this offense looks so bad. The offense either works or it doesnt. Call Mac hard headed, stubborn, a nincompoop, whatever you want, but this offense can be good, and is really set up to be good with the talent they have at the skill positions. Beckham being out the first game threw things off for their opening game. He dictates coverage and opens things up for everyone else. That hurt, and since he was not 100%, his effect still has not been felt. Biggest problem is no run game. That is a personnel problem, not a scheme problem. Defenses are doing what they did last year, just sitting back and letting the front 7 handle the run. They aren't scared of the ground game, so they can focus on coverage and rushing the passer. For Beckham and co. to be successful they need to bring safeties closer to the LOS and Eli needs time. They will struggle with that this year, but this offense can be good if they get a real O line. They dont need to be Dallas or Oakland, they just have to be decent.
Not overly impressed with Thompson time will tell .
Every throw at Apple I am holding my breath .
The defense is the only reason they haven't lost by 40 points each game
The problems on this team start and end with the OL. 3 and out after 3 and out ... defense never gets a break.
They got a turnover last night and Eli literally have it back to the Lions on the next play.
The Eagles are scoring points against quality opponents, as are the Redskins and Cowboys.
Something like 10% of teams that start off 0-2 make the playoffs.
The offense had plenty of opportunities to win the game but are performing at an all-time bad level, averaging a whopping 6.5 points per game. Worst Giants offense...ever!
The Eagles are scoring points against quality opponents, as are the Redskins and Cowboys.
Something like 10% of teams that start off 0-2 make the playoffs.
Some of us even saw it as early as midseason, last year, despite the winning.
It was known the OL was the weakness of the O and hoped FA, the draft, and a new improved EF would let the Mc O happen. A very minor FA signing,no OL player drafted u til rd **6** who got cut, in spite of good linemen on the board in the first 3 rounds; an unimproved EF, and the rest as well unimproved in yr 2 under Solaris, and this is where we are.
The 'reward' for last years success is better opponents while our GM masked our improvement with more weapons but our OL can't let them do what they do best.
That's our reality; our frustration is NOT overreaction but reaction to NOT resolving an obvious OL weakness and the BS we were thrown about making our O better.