While a cynic, I'm also superstitious, so this should jinx the team pretty well. But I believe there're reasons for optimism, possibly of a fairly high order, for '21.
Completely ignoring metrics, or facts based positional comparisons, upon reconsideration, last year's team wasn't as bad as I and many others felt. Yeah, a 6 & 10 record stinks! And losing so many games by such a close margin sucks. But if you turn that on its head, the Giants lost many of their games by only a FEW points.
In '21 the Giants defense was pretty effective, and improved from the previous season after investing in defensive resources in the draft and free agency. Is it not reasonable to assume that a similar focus on offense might also yield improvement? And perhaps win some of the 7 games they lost by 4 points or less? I think it may.
Despite some dismal stretches, this is a team that has every opportunity to improve, and it's the same team that last season was able to dominate a very good Seahawks team, and lose to the the eventual Super Bowl champions by only 2 points.
Full return by Barkley
No more injuries by the free agents
Was 2020 defense a fluke/outlier in contrast to the last 5 years.
Is Daniel Jones an NFL QB
Is Joe Judge a one year wonder
Our Oline has less talent today then it did prior to Zeitler
TE position consists of an underachiever, a new injured 32 year old and a bunch of never beens
(1) Can Jones play like a franchise QB?
(2) Will Barkley return to his previous form?
(3) Will the new and expensive FAs play well, or will their signings simply be Harrison, Jenkins, and Vernon Part 2?
(4) Will Williams play up to his contract?
(5) Will the OL continue to improve, especially Thomas and Peart?
That is a lot that has to happen for the Giants to be serious playoff contenders. Probably too much IMO.
(1) Can Jones play like a franchise QB?
(2) Will Barkley return to his previous form?
(3) Will the new and expensive FAs play well, or will their signings simply be Harrison, Jenkins, and Vernon Part 2?
(4) Will Williams play up to his contract?
(5) Will the OL continue to improve, especially Thomas and Peart?
That is a lot that has to happen for the Giants to be serious playoff contenders. Probably too much IMO.
The most important question is "will the offensive line improve enough for us to win the majority of football games in 2021?" That is really the only question.
I truly feel we finally have the right coaching staff since Coughlin. Also feel they are teachers....some comments from players, like "learn more this year...."even under covid restrictions.....will maximize talent.
I also finally feel the talent level has caught up with the rest of division....yes, they still have questions, but more in-line with others.
The NFC does not have any super star teams..Green Bay? None of the NFC East teams are powerhouses and we finally got the monkey off our backs with wins over Dallas and Philly.
I do not see any GLARING weak spots....OL seems to be stabilizing. Defense finally resembling the Giants defense.
A great draft.....would be sweet.
No, it doesn't. But if last year's puny offense improves a bit as a result of maturing skills and additions, and all else remains the same, some those might become wins.
My optimism is that I expect ALL of our positions on offense to be better this year:
RB--Barkley at some point plus a quality backup.
WR--Golloday, a likely draft pick, and Slayton coming back from a sophomore slump.
OL--continuing progress, plus a possible high draft pick
TE--Rudolph, and Engram possibly being more decent as the second TE.
QB--despite you-know-who on BBI, I think this year could be way better for Jones with all of the other positions in better shape. He needs to be able to get into a rhythm that was so difficult to do with all of those staffs undermanned.
That said, I think we have the right head coach and we have been adding some leaders on the field.
The offensive game plan and play calling have a larger impact than most people realize.
Oh yea, the Giants will draft a lineman who will come in and right the ship because the giants miss on a draft choice and certainly not when it’s an offensive lineman.
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Don’t have the figures to back it up, but I don’t think losing close games in prior year really translates to likely winning more games the next. But can’t imagine the Offense will not score more points than their dismal showing in 2020. If the Defense can just hold serve then 9 wins feels quite achievable.
No, it doesn't. But if last year's puny offense improves a bit as a result of maturing skills and additions, and all else remains the same, some those might become wins.
We shall see if the Offensive additions get on the same page with Jones & Co. sooner versus later. Still going to be two new starters on the right side of the OL so that’s not nothing. Don’t often see things remain the same, but maybe the D can actually improve with improved CB play and McKinney on field for a whole season.
Again, I see some good reasons for optimism.
As for the team, there are quite a few significant question marks with much more of the off-season to go.
Mike, here’s the thing about optimism, from March through August you can either know for a fact that the general manager has done everything wrong the quarterback is never going to develop the running back was a bad decision and he’s always injured and there’s no hope...
... or you can believe that the GM has had a couple of good years with the new coach the quarterback shows promise the defense looks pretty good and the oline might be special...
How do you want to spend those six months?
I believe that even the best of QBs would smell a bit
if their OLs had them running for cover or being overwhelmed by pass rushers on almost every passing down.
The bad old Giants taught our QB Fran Tarkenton how to run for his life. When he went to Minny he had a fine career.
I, too, am apprehensive but not in a reprehensible way.
2021 will cheer up many Giant fans, including me.
And if a rebuild takes 3-4 years in todays NFL, we are now at the end of it so there is a ton of light at the end of the tunnel.
We are finally looking to go into a season with close to a complete team IMO.
Biggest question for me is Jones. Two years in jury still being out is a bit of a concern but I think the team is being genuine in their praise of him. I get the idea Judge and his staff put a premium on different qualities in a QB as do other teams. We aren't going to be GB or KC, but I'm not so sure that's the model for us anyway.
They also seemed to get worse as the season went on with blowout losses to BAL, CLE, and ARZ (good teams, but none of whom made the conf finals). I don’t think a close win vs a Dallas team with their backup QB really meant much.
The hope is that another camp with the coaching staff will lead to improvement, but this team needs to be a heck of a lot better than 2020.
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you meant "in 20". Unfortunately, I have been optimistic virtually every off season. I am optimistic now, with the caveat of having been wrong so many times
Mike, here’s the thing about optimism, from March through August you can either know for a fact that the general manager has done everything wrong the quarterback is never going to develop the running back was a bad decision and he’s always injured and there’s no hope...
... or you can believe that the GM has had a couple of good years with the new coach the quarterback shows promise the defense looks pretty good and the oline might be special...
How do you want to spend those six months?
Perhaps you missed the part where I said "I'm optimistic now"
Good to have you aboard!
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you meant "in 20". Unfortunately, I have been optimistic virtually every off season. I am optimistic now, with the caveat of having been wrong so many times
Mike, here’s the thing about optimism, from March through August you can either know for a fact that the general manager has done everything wrong the quarterback is never going to develop the running back was a bad decision and he’s always injured and there’s no hope...
... or you can believe that the GM has had a couple of good years with the new coach the quarterback shows promise the defense looks pretty good and the oline might be special...
How do you want to spend those six months?
Rent free
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In comment 15216731 River Mike said:
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you meant "in 20". Unfortunately, I have been optimistic virtually every off season. I am optimistic now, with the caveat of having been wrong so many times
Mike, here’s the thing about optimism, from March through August you can either know for a fact that the general manager has done everything wrong the quarterback is never going to develop the running back was a bad decision and he’s always injured and there’s no hope...
... or you can believe that the GM has had a couple of good years with the new coach the quarterback shows promise the defense looks pretty good and the oline might be special...
How do you want to spend those six months?
Perhaps you missed the part where I said "I'm optimistic now"
Been a Giants fan since 1961, so I've gone through a lot of ups and downs. I've gone to games at Yankee Stadium and the Yale Bowl, of course Giants Stadium, and many away games. I really do think the arrow is pointing up now.