The Giants were 0-2, and on the Thursday before their game with Houston, McAdoo remarked that the Giants Offense looked as good in that practice as he had seen them. In the next 3 games, the Offense would turn things around and the team is now 3-2. My 6-10 forecast has been McAdoo’d, and no one is happier to be wrong than the UltimateNYG. Last week the Offensive Coordinator used his TE splendidly in a romp over division foe Washington. This week, when ATL compensated, he found other ways to get into the end zone, notably with single covered WRs. Atlanta’s defense is weak (ranked 30th coming into the game), so this season is still a work in progress. The next test comes vs the birds, Philadelphia at the Linc. This is going to be the most meaningful game for the Giants since XLVI.
Atlanta played without 3 starting OLmen, so we cannot proclaim awesomeness yet. But the Giants DL came out in H2 with reckless abandon and dominated. JPP is incrementally beginning to “turn a corner,” getting off the edge about as well as we have seen since back surgery last Spring. This past summer we noted how crucial it was that we see a pass rush from JPP. In H1 we did not see it, and the Giants were behind on tempo. In H2 we saw it, the Defense got some 3 & outs, and the Giants took control of the game. It’s nice to have guys like Amukamara and DRC back there, but when you add a pass rush, it is night and day. Hankins had a fantastic sack to seal the game when ATL went for it on 4th and 1 from well within their territory late in the game. That set up a FG which iced the contest.
Andre Williams and Odell Beckham Jr. were instrumental for the offense. Jennings was lost to an injury (not serious?), and Williams picked up right where the FA signing left off. Beckham created ATL penalties and caught a TD pass in his first game as a (suited up) Giant. Former pro bowler color analyst John Lynch was gushing about Beckham’s skill set. It was an excellent sign for the future for the Giants. You need rookies/younger players to contribute if you want to win titles. XLII saw players like Steve Smith, Kevin Boss and Ahmad Bradshaw make meaningful contributions. XLVI saw Victor Cruz become a starter and pro bowler. Cruz’s reception/TD vs the NY Jets ignited a 6 game run. Here in 2014, the prospects of younger players like Beckham, AWilliams, Hankins, Moore and Pugh to make important contributions are already being seen. And training camp buzz was strong for rookie LBer Devon Kennard, so let’s keep seeing more time and more plays from this group.
Naysayers can point to issues with the competition the past 3 weeks. Yes, the Texans, Redskins and Falcons have flaws. But the Giants dispatched all three teams soundly. So the franchise moves to the next test to see where it can take the season.
Special teams need to get better. The Eagles have won the past 2 games with Special teams plays, and the Giants lost tempo in the first half vs ATL off of a fumbled kickoff. Those kind of mistakes can get glossed over when you win vs weaker competition, but it will bite you in the a** when you play against winning/better teams. We saw Quinn getting an earful from Coughlin on the sidelines. It’s been the team’s Achilles since Quinn has been around.
The Offensive Line continues to keep Eli clean. The West Coast Offense scheme is doing its part to minimize pass rush opportunities for the opposition with shorter times for Eli (holding the ball). As these linemen get more and more reps with one another and more and more starts, their future is going to be bright. The biggest question mark, Will Beatty, is playing closer to 2012 form than 2013, so that is a huge plus thus far. (Osi’s sack was a secondary sack.)
The toughest part of the schedule awaits. At the very least, 2015 looks like it will be filled with a great deal of promise. And at the most, 2014 will be on the table if the Giants can play competitively vs the Eagles, Cowboys (2), Colts, Seahawks, Niners et al.
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