Before we dive into the G-Men’s season at the quarter turn, let’s take a look back at my preseason analysis from my previous blog. You can click here to refresh your memory.
Now that we have been read in, let’s take a look at was supposed to be a high powered offense that can’t seem to get out of neutral. There will always be questions about whether Saquon Barkley was the right decision at #2. Whether you believe the Giants needed a QB or not, one thing is for sure. Eli Manning is NOT A GOOD QB. As much as it pains me to admit it, it’s the truth. The Giants right now are not a good team. Eli is part of the problem. He not a guy whose winning the fight against Father Time (i.e. Drew Brees, Philip Rivers or Tom Brady). He is not a QB who can raise the level of the team around him. If we remember, this season he was supposed to have weapons around him that would take the pressure off. His #1 Wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., has gotten his money and is 100% healthy. Saquon Barkley is ready to revive the running game. His receiving corps is back at full strength. Even the defense without it’s best player in Olivier Vernon is playing well. You would think all of that would spark the start of what’s supposed to be serious run at the postseason.
However something happen( or didn’t happen) along the way. Big Blue forgot to pack their offensive line. Yes, they finally moved Ereck Flowers to right tackle and upgraded him with Nate Solder. Yes, they drafted a nasty lineman in Will Hernandez. However what’s resulted is an offense that ranked 29th in points per game (18.3), 25th in yards per game(314.3), and 27th in rushing yards per game(82.0). By comparison, Todd Gurley is averaging 84.5 yards per game by himself.
Eli Manning has missed opportunities to make big plays. However, he can’t make plays if, he doesn’t survive the last play. If the Giants don’t find a way to keep their QB on his feet, it’s not a matter of whether they’ll survive the season, they might not even know if he’ll survive the next game.