New York Giants: 3 players who need to elevate their game in week 2 Vs Chicago

The unfortunate reality for the New York Giants and their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one of the 2020 regular season was that some of the more trusted players failed to leave their mark on the game.

The offensive line was poor at times, especially in run blocking. With the most tenured Giant being Will Hernandez on the OL, who only joined the team two years ago, the chemistry between the players was always going to be shaky to start.

Factoring in a lack of preseason reps, 13 new starters on the team, a change in the coaching staff, and the application of a new scheme on both sides of the ball, having early success was a tumultuous task. Nonetheless, the Giants only lost by 10 to one of the best teams in the NFL and an elite defense. They had spurts of good moments and could’ve easily been involved in the game if not for an untimely Daniel Jones red-zone interception.

The Giants will hopefully put a better performance together against the Chicago Bears in week two.

Three players who need to improve in week 2 for the New York Giants:

1.) Evan Engram

Evan Engram played one of the worst games I’ve seen in his professional career on Monday night. Dropping a multitude of passes and failing to pick up any assignments in the running game, he was a liability across the board.

Returning from foot surgery, it could just be that Engram had to shake off some of the rust. He’ll have another opportunity to redeem himself in week two against Chicago, a defense that is strong but not nearly as elite as the Steelers’. As one of the best pass catchers on the team and a playmaker in many different facets, the Giants desperately need him to reach his potential.

When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best receiving TEs in the league, but he did not display that against Pittsburgh on Monday night. Bouncing back in week two is a necessity if he wants to maintain his rep count with Kaden Smith quickly climbing the ranks.

2.) Nick Gates

Nick Gates failed to cement the center position against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one, but he was up against an All-Pro talent in Cameron Heyward. It was always a challenging task for him to begin with, but Gates did not display any positives in the contest. He was routinely pushed back and was caught lunging on many different occasions. He has to be patient and adapt to the position, as his aggressiveness ultimately cost him some reps.

For the Giants to get the running game going and protect Daniel Jones adequately, Gates must improve in week two against the Bears. It is another tough matchup, but their interior defensive line is not as strong as the Steelers’. While they do have Akiem Hicks and Brent Urban, he should have an easier time, with some luck. The baptism by fire he enjoyed against Heyward was a one-off, we hope.

3.) Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley was a non-factor for the New York Giants in week one. His 15 rushing attempts for 6 yards was a career-low. Averaging 0.40 yards per carry, Barkley’s inability to affect the game hurt the Giants’ game plan and allowed Pittsburgh too much time with the ball in Big Ben’s hands. Of course, a lot of this falls on the offensive line’s inability to block in the run game, but Barkley’s pass-protection was borderline embarrassing. While he did have some quality reps, there were others where he simply put Daniel Jones in danger.

If Barkley wishes to become an all-around elite running back, he must improve in that category, but the offensive line hast to help him out a bit too. I expect him to have more success against the Bears, running off the opposite side of Khalil Mack.