Could Eli, Saquon, and Odell Lead a Strong Giants Offense?

The New York Giants had a great 2016 NFL Season. The Giants went 11 and 5. They lost 13 to 38 to Green Bay in a Wildcard Playoff Game. So what? NYG appeared to be back. In fact, during the offseason, the Giants became the favorites to win the NFC East after Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott was suspended for 6 games. Most of us know what happened last season once the real playing started. The Giants imploded. New York lost 13 of 16 regular season games. The only teams they beat were the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Redskins. Most felt that the reason the Giants imploded was because their star player, WR Odell Beckham Jr., went down to injury. That had something to do with it. That’s not the only reason the Giants lost so many games, though. The real reason was because the Giants were, to use a cliché, a one trick pony. NYG had no answer on offense after Odell’s injury. Already, Giants’ fans are looking for a different outcome this season. Keep reading to find out if a different outcome is indeed in the cards.

Could Eli, Saquon, and Odell Lead a Strong NYG Offense?

That #FirstDayofSummer feeling ☀😆 pic.twitter.com/x1g5ItsDcG

— New York Giants (@Giants) June 21, 2018

I break down the Giants’ offense by studying each of the three important positions on the offense:  QB, RB, and WR. Then, I discuss some about the New York Giants’ offensive line.

Quarterback – Eli Manning

Manning’s QB rating took a dive last season. It went from 86.0 in 2016 to 80.4 in 2017. What’s more disturbing is that Eli completed 61.6% of his passes. That’s his lowest completion percentage in the past four seasons. The 2018-2019 NFL Season will be Eli’s sixteenth in the league. Could he actually improve? Or, was last season a sign that it’s all downhill?

Running Back – Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants knew they had to fix their rushing attack if they had any hopes of challenging the Eagles in the NFC East. Enter Penn State star RB Saquon Barkley. The Giants spent pick 2 in Round 1 on Barkley. Can Barkley succeed in his first season as a Giant?

Wide Receiver – Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham Jr. missed all of last season due to an injury. He should have no trouble bouncing back to his awesome ways, right? If Beckham Jr. doesn’t, the Giants might have the same issues they had last season, or…will they?

Offensive Line – Will Hernandez, Nate Solder

The Giants drafted UTEP guard Will Hernandez. I had Hernandez ranked as the top interior lineman in this year’s NFL Draft. Nate Solder was counted on to protect Tom Brady’s blind side last season. Has the Giants’ offensive line improved enough? This is the key to the Giants’ offense, the line. Here’s the thing:  if the Giants’ offensive line hasn’t improved enough to give Eli time in the pocket, or to spring Barkley for the patented gains he rushed for on a regular basis at Penn State, the Giants won’t score more than 20 points a game. But, if the offensive line does come together, forget it. The New York Giants could average close to 30 points per game. I believe the Giants’ offensive line does come together. Hernandez is a beast in the middle of the line while Solder can handle the best defensive ends in the league. I expect the New York Giants to add around 10 to 12 points on average to the awful 15.4 points per game they averaged last season. That would take the Giants’ offense from one of the worst in the NFL to one of the best.