The New York Giants can have a successful season in 2020, but it relies on one significant factor:
When the Giants initially hired general manager Dave Gettleman two years ago, they expected a complete overhaul of the roster and the inception of a rebuilding plan. What was supposed to be a complete turnaround in mentality and culture ended up being a wasted season, as Gettleman believe they could win while they were rebuilding. He later admitted that his lofty goals were unattainable, and resorted back to a more practical approach.
After drafting Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in 2018, he took a step back and realized that he needed a new franchise passer and to establish the offensive line. The past two seasons have been centered around building a foundation on offense and injecting youth into the defensive unit.
Ultimately, the success of the team is reliant on the defense at this point, after gentleman drafted left tackle Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick in the most recent NFL draft. The offensive line now has plenty of starting-caliber talent and depth to weather the storm of fatigue.
What does the starting offense of line look like for the Giants?
LT: Andrew Thomas
LG: Will Hernandez
C: Spencer Pulley, Jon Halapio, Shane Lemieux, Nick Gates
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Nate Solder, Cam Fleming, Nick Gates
Overall, Jones’s protection scheme seems all but solidified. However, the most significant factor that will play a part for the New York Giants in 2020 will be their young secondary — Gettleman allocated plenty of draft capital in 2019 to fix the defensive backfield.
Cornerback DeAndre Baker struggled last season in his rookie campaign but is now looking to bounce back and prove why he was a first-round selection. Hopefully, new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham utilizes him to his strengths, specifically in man and press coverage.
Julian love, who was drafted as a cornerback out of Notre Dame, now has experience at free safety and strong safety. I anticipate he will play a diverse role and feature in Graham’s three safety looks. He can also play in the slot but lacks the speed to be a fundamental player there.
Then there is Sam Beal, who is going into his third season but has struggled with injuries since he was selected in the Supplemental Draft two years ago. Corey Ballentine, a late-round pick from 2019, saw plenty of rookie hiccups, but a year of experience should have helped him in his development. If these young players can see an improvement, the Giants will be in good shape moving forward. They also selected Xavier McKinney out of Alabama with the 36th overall pick, and he should be a godsend for Graham and his defensive scheme.
Overall, the Giants have a solid young foundation on defense, but their development is the only thing holding the unit back. If they can make strides in 2020, the Giants could be a rising team capable of succeeding.