Inconsistency reared its ugly head in 2012 and a talented New York Giants team fell flat on its face. Despite another hot start, the G-Men fizzled down the stretch — losing five of their last eight games — and missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
The Giants return in 2013 with their sights set on escaping the losing trend and returning to the postseason. However, injuries and holes throughout the depth chart are already taking their toll.
The pass rush, which has long been New York’s strength on defense, had a down year in 2012. With the departure of Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora, the rapid decline of teammate Justin Tuck and a future unknown for superstar Jason Pierre-Paul (returning from offseason back surgery) things may not get better on the defensive front any time soon.
But the Giants need them to. Their defense depends on a strong push up front. If they are unable to generate consistent quarterback pressure, their meager secondary will get torn to shreds by opposing quarterbacks.
Of course, cornerback Prince Amukamara will have something to say about that. He flew under the radar last season as one of the NFL’s best shutdown corners. Should his development continue, his presence will certainly take a load off the remainder of the defense’s shoulders in a pass-friendly league.
Amukamara’s play — and hopefully improved defensive play across the board — should also alleviate some of the pressure resting on the offense to produce. That squad has much to rectify due to the sub-par performance of the defense last season, which forced quarterback Eli Manning to make a lot of foolish decisions under duress. These resulted in 15 interceptions at a 2.8 percent interception-per-attempt rate.
The Giants are hopeful Manning can return to the elite level of play that he displayed during the 2011 season. With a healthy wide out Hakeem Nicks in the lineup opposite salsa-dancing receiver Victor Cruz, it’s certainly conceivable that this could happen. The addition of tight end Brandon Myers (806 receiving yards, four touchdowns) as well as receiver Louis Murphy (336 yards and one touchdown) provides Manning with some quality weapons in the passing game.
Then there’s second-year running back David Wilson. The former Virginia Tech star proved to be a big-play threat on any given snap throughout his rookie year and during this past preseason campaign. But the loss of Andre Brown (broken leg), with whom Wilson was supposed to split carries in 2013, will place a lot of pressure on Wilson to succeed as the feature back.
Wilson’s backups, Da’Rel Scott and rookie Michael Cox, boast a combined 11 carries at the NFL level. Scott, a seventh-round pick in the 2011 draft, was on the bubble to make the team before Brown went down with an injury. Cox, meanwhile, had an impressive preseason with some big plays on kick returns and as a receiver out of the backfield. It’s difficult to place high expectations on either player behind Wilson, however.
Injuries have already decimated the Giants’ offensive line. But, while younger and less experienced, an overdue facelift might be provided to the unit by adding rookie Justin Pugh (at right tackle) and third-year man James Brewer (at left guard) into the starting lineup.
All of the potential woes could be rectified by an uncharacteristically easy schedule for the four-time Super Bowl champion Giants. Unlike years past, their schedule is evenly balanced with the majority of their potentially difficult opponents lined up to play Big Blue at home in MetLife Stadium. With the exception of a cross-country trip to San Diego in Week 14 to play the Chargers, the Giants won’t be spending much time in hotel beds or on long-distance flights following their Week 8 match-up with the Bears in Chicago. For a team that typically stumbles into a late-season lull with tough road battles against the NFL’s elite, the regular-season schedule could be a blessing for the Giants, who could use a boost into the postseason.
Ultimately, their success comes down to one factor: consistency. It always has. Head coach Tom Coughlin would tell you consistency is paramount, expressing the need to execute on every play. It was inconsistency that cost them in 2012, and it’s inconsistency that could be the death of them if they’re not careful; competing in a feisty division featuring the likes of the NFC East champion Washington Redskins, the talented Dallas Cowboys and the up-and-coming Philadelphia Eagles.
The X-Factor – ELI MANNING, QB
Once again the ultimate accomplishments of the New York Giants rests solely on the shoulders of quarterback Eli Manning. The G-Men live and die by their leader and, while many other players will be keys to the team’s success, none will factor into the season’s results as greatly as the 32-year-old gunslinger.
That could not be more evident than in the team’s last two seasons. In 2011 and 2012, it was Manning’s strong outings that kept the team in playoff contention despite underwhelming production from the offensive line and the entire defensive unit. His underrated elusiveness in the pocket concealed an offensive line simply not up to par against some of the league’s most mediocre pass-rushing groups and it’s possible he’ll be faced with similar challenges this year.
Fortunately, he’s surrounded by the best cast of offensive weapons he has ever had in his career. Receivers Cruz and Nicks have combined for 4,512 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in two seasons. Second-year stud Rueben Randle is on the verge of a breakout campaign and free-agent acquisitions Myers and Murphy will be great outlets for Manning to go to across the middle.
Sure, the ground attack and the offensive line are a concern heading into the regular season. But Manning has the talent and makeup to overcome whatever obstacles may be thrown in his path. Heck, the Giants have had the NFL’s worst run-game two years in a row, and they’ve finished 9-7 in both. But a competent coaching staff and talented weapons give the quarterback the edge in a league where passing the football — not defense, nor rushing — wins championships.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.