Training camp is underway for the New York Giants and the veterans have taken the football field. With plenty of opt-outs across the league still expected, the Giants have only lost two players thus far –Nate Solder and Da’Mari Scott.
The current roster is a product of a complete overhaul, institutionalized by general manager Dave Gettleman. New head coach Joe Judge has certainly made his impact known early on in his career with the Giants, spending the fourth overall pick on a tackle, Andrew Thomas. Prior to this off-season, Gettleman had never spent a first-round selection let alone a top-five pick on an offensive lineman.
The Giants have struggled in recent years to put any sort of success together. Offensively in 2019, they ranked 18th of 32 in points for and 30th of 32 in points against. They allowed nearly 30 points per game, a number that must decrease moving forward.
Since both sides of the ball need to witness vast improvements, let’s take a look at some of the Giants’ playmakers and what to expect from them in 2020.
When the Giants originally traded Odell Beckham Jr., they didn’t anticipate Jabrill Peppers becoming a focal point on defense. Since joining Big Blue, he has left his mark.
Despite missing five games in 2019 with an injured hip, Peppers posted very similar stats to his 2018 campaign.
For comparison sake:
2018: 79 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, four quarterback hits, 1.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries, five passes defended, 1 INT
2019: 76 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, five passes defended, one INT, one TD
As you can see, he had a very similar year but posted three additional turnovers on defense. He took a significant step forward at strong safety with the Giants, and having leaned out and added more muscle mass, he looks to be in perfect shape. Considering his development last year, I fully expect him to take a step forward and produce at a high-level.
The Giants desperately need their playmakers on offense to remain healthy. Sterling Shepard was one of the many that missed significant time in 2019. Having suffered two concussions last year and experiencing symptoms throughout the season, he managed to play in just 10 games. Out of his four years in the NFL, he has played all 16 games twice.
Unfortunately, Shepard was on pace for a record season in the yards department before he went down. He is one of the best pass catchers on the team and a security blanket for Daniel Jones. If he can remain healthy, we know the type of production Sterling can produce. Having assistance from Golden Tate on the outside and Darius Slayton would open up the field exponentially for him to operate.
One of Sheps more underrated skills is his ability to score touchdowns. In his rookie season back in 2016, he recorded eight scores but hasn’t recorded more than four since. The Giants should make him a focal point in the red zone and look his way far more often.
Engram, who is another player who suffered from injuries in 2019, could have his best season yet under new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Engram has steadily seen his statistics decrease over time, but the revolution of head coaches and coordinators has not done him any favors.
His best season came in 2017 when Odell Beckham Jr. missed the final four games of the season. He hauled in 115 targets for 722 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he missed eight games and posted just 467 yards and three scored.
Coming off a mid-foot sprain that required surgery, it is hard to tell whether he will be the same player he was before. However, getting Saquon Barkley back to dominate in the run game should open up the middle of the field for Evan. He’s best used on seem routes and mesh concepts, getting him open in space so he can utilize incredible speed.
This post was published on 2020-08-04 07:30
