The Biggest Keys for a Successful Giants Season
Fresh off a three-win season, the Giants are reloading with a veteran QB, a rookie with star potential, and a defense built to hit hard. The Giants have put an emphasis on the quarterback position with major upgrades, including Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart being the main two. New York has also gone all in on their defense by selecting Penn State’s Abdul Carter third overall in the NFL’s most recent draft. The G-Men only finished with three wins last season, but are a team that should not be labelled as an “easy win”. Unfortunately, the Giants were unlucky in the strength-of-schedule department. New York ranks first in difficulty for opponents' combined win percentage. While this team may have improved a ton, their record most likely won’t reflect much growth. However, I do see some major bright spots for Giants fans to finally look forward to.
The first key factor is quarterback play. Last season, New York had three starting QBs in Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito. Anytime the quarterback room is a revolving door, it is not a good sign for your football team. Having a veteran like Russ, the Giants have somebody that they can trust to manage the game. Given that he is 36 years old, the expectations must be tempered. The strength of this football team is obviously their defense. How can the offense help the defense? First, Russ can be smart with the football and do his best to limit turnovers. Next, he can work on balancing the time of possession. Last year, the Giants asked a lot of their defense since their offense kept turning the ball over or having a three-and-out. Finishing 17th in time of possession again would certainly lead to another disappointing year. Additionally, an important job for Russ is to mentor rookie QB Jaxson Dart. Dart seems to have a bright future, but there has been a ton of success around the league when a rookie QB sits for their first NFL season. Wilson is a proven leader and will hopefully show Dart the ropes.
The second factor is play calling. The Giants now have a quarterback whom they can trust and has the ability to air it out. This opens up the playbook and allows for a deep threat receiver like Jaylen Hyatt. Next, the Giants need to commit to the run game. Although the G-Men do not have a star running back, they have a few serviceable options in Tyrone Tracy Jr, Devin Singletary, and rookie Cam Skattebo. Skattebo is a power back who will be great in short down situations and goal line situations. Proper management of these three backs is crucial for success this season. I do believe that Skattebo will gain a larger role as the season progresses, which could prove to be a huge factor in the big picture.
My third and final factor is special teams. When a team doesn’t have the most talented roster in the league, one way to close the gap is to win the special teams battle. Helping out this offense with a solid starting field position will prove to be more important for the Giants than for the average team. Shrinking the field for our opponents could also serve to be vital. If the opposing offense has poor starting field position, this Giants defense can capitalize and force turnovers or set up their own offense with great starting field position.
Overall, look for the Giants to play a much more competitive brand of football this season. Although it may not directly lead to a huge boost in the win total, there will be visible progress. Making sure to prioritize the football and the time of possession should allow for the defense to keep New York within striking distance. A gauntlet of a schedule also doesn't help when you are in the same division as the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the NFC runner-up Washington Commanders. Lastly, Giants fans will hopefully recognize this season as a turning point towards getting back to winning football without panicking about the end-of-season record.
