Last season our defense was acceptable, but our offense was not.
How do we improve the offense? Short answer: focus on acquiring offensive players even if we have to shortchange the defense to do it.
IMO, if we try to improve both sides of the ball equally, the offense won’t improve enough, and we will get the same 6-10 result as last season, regardless of having a slightly improved defense.
The O-Line:
We may have the makings of an adequate-not great-but adequate OL. That means we can’t blow people off the line and run the ball on every play. Nor can we can’t pass block on every play and expect Jones to live to reach age 25.
But even an adequate OL is enough IF the team has an adequate running game and an adequate passing game. When opponents must respect both running and receiving, they can’t focus on one area and ignore the other.
Sure, some teams can pass all day long and win without running the ball. That’s not us. Those teams have great WRs and QBs who are threats to run all the time.
Wide Receivers:
We need multiple NFL quality Wrs and at least one who will require double coverage. Wide receivers have their share of injuries, so you have to assume that we need to invest more heavily in reserves as well as starters.
Tight End:
As I do not believe in miracles, I do not expect any improvement at TE. It falls heavily on the Giants to find wide receivers who can get open so that Jones will not have to rely on Engram in crucial situations.
Running backs:
Gallman proved that he is a decent running back. We need another RB who is at least as good, or even better than Gallman. If we don’t re-sign Gallman, we need two more RBs of that quality.
Running backs get hit on almost every play. You have to assume that there will be down-time for any starter, so reserves are important.
As for Barkley. Who knows? One year he was a game-changer and one year he was not. Would you risk the fate of the entire team on the hopes that Barkley is both fully recovered AND that he is the Barkley of old? I see no harm in investing heavily in a replacement. Having two great backs is a lot better than having no great backs.
QB:
Give Jones an adequate line, adequate running backs, and adequate receivers and he will be more than adequate at QB–not great- but more than adequate.
I am not saying that it is possible to do all the things that I am suggesting. I’m just saying that if we do not focus on the offense we will not improve.
Lemieux is more ideally suited as an extra TE in a jumbo package than a starting OL at this point. A healthy Will Hernandez is a better option at LG. I wonder how much of Thomas's sack totals were because he was next to an LG who couldn't pass block to save his life so teams just overloaded that side and dared those two plus Engram/Toilolo to make plays.
After that, WR is my top priority. We need guys who know how to get separation from DB's.
That's a good sign.
It means that if the OLine is not addressed, regardless of what BBI thinks, they feel confident that they have the right guys.
If they draft one high, we know that the need is real.
I'm hopeful that the group in charge is going to do great things.
[quote] We have been down the path of adding skill players prior to the lines being settled. If they can't protect Jones or open holes for Barkley...what is the point?
I totally agree. I've had enough of the nonblocking TE's as well. Draft a TE who can block and catch.. I don't care if he's not the fastest TE in the draft... I DO NOT want to draft Pitts. Give me an Edge rusher, or OL first then worry about the rest.
A swing tackle in free agency is likely, similar to last year.
I'll say this, the Giants were doing a pretty good job in moving the OL from midseason forward in the run game. If you don't think so, I encourage you to watch, or re-watch, Baldy's Breakdowns on Twitter from last season. Or Skinner's breakdowns of the OL.
My concern about OL is about a 2. My concern about Barkley is a 1. He's a genetic freak and I'll bet anyone who feels differently with confidence. Those that are concerned because of quality of play from 2019 are really unjustifiably discounting the effect of the high ankle sprain he suffered and was rushed back from.
The team needs 2 receivers. TE can be addressed in the middle rounds of the draft.
He may have been hurt this past season but you seem to forget that he went downhill in 2019. Fact is instead of progressing his performance has declined from his rookie year. IMO he is no slam dunk to get a starting position. If it is the same player of the last 2 years that would be step backwards for this team.
Quote:
A healthy Will Hernandez is a better option at LG. I
He may have been hurt this past season but you seem to forget that he went downhill in 2019. Fact is instead of progressing his performance has declined from his rookie year. IMO he is no slam dunk to get a starting position. If it is the same player of the last 2 years that would be step backwards for this team.
Again, he did not regress year 2, he played the majority of that season on a high ankle sprain. It was so clear from week 7 (his return game) that he was significantly still compromised, with no explosion or cutting ability from that ankle. He was injured and back practicing in about 3 weeks. In 28 days he was playing against the Cardinals.
For perspective, McCaffrey had the same injury and was out 7 weeks, and was managed (and wasn't as effective) in his return game.
Now you know that, wht don't you check out SB's performance in the last 3 games of 2019 when he was finally close to normal?
Barkley did not "regress". He is 24 years old and will go back to being one of the dominant offensive players in football.
Quote:
A healthy Will Hernandez is a better option at LG. I
He may have been hurt this past season but you seem to forget that he went downhill in 2019. Fact is instead of progressing his performance has declined from his rookie year. IMO he is no slam dunk to get a starting position. If it is the same player of the last 2 years that would be step backwards for this team.
I typed all that and realized you're talking about Will Hernandez. Meh, you're wrong about him anyway.
Passing offense (Comparative Ratings() - TDs/INTs/Ratings ....
Packers 48/5/121.5; Bucs 42/12/102.8; Bills 40/11/107.6; KC 40/7/107.3; Giants 12/11/79.6 (dead last)
Passing Defense ...
Rams 17/14/80.4; Washington 21/16/81.4; Miami 21/18/87; Denver 21/10/92.1; Giants 22/11/93.2 (6th best)
What this tells me - We need a "whole lotta help" in advancing the ball down-the-field via the pass; we're good in stopping the pass, but we'd be damn good if we had a top-tier edge.
Summary - Air-tight pass protection for Jones and at least two new high quality passing targets; One new QB harassing demon.