Opening Statement: Things could not have gone more wrong for the Giants in 2017 under Ben McAdoo. The handling of the benching of Eli Manning was all wrong, the team was flat from the start, and the OBJ injury and off-field (alleged) drug issues and contract demands were a huge distraction. The Giants finished just 3-13, and were just 1-5 in their division. The Giants are now under new management, with Pat Shurmer being hired as head coach, and like it or not, Eli Manning is still in charge at QB. If the Giants were going all in with Eli, they did it the right way by adding help for him in the draft, which was the right thing to do. While the Giants should be improved in 2018, with a fresh outlook, are they going to be improved enough to delete all memory of 2017, and get back to making a playoff push?
Quarterback Breakdown
There is no denying that Eli Manning is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Manning's benching last season was hardly shocking to most, but it was handled poorly, which created some massive backlash. Shurmer believes that he can milk some late career solid football from Manning, and so he is back under center for at least one more season, but he has to prove early on that he can still get it done, because he really is the only QB on the roster that can go out and get it done.
Davis Webb is still considered as the primary backup as of this moment, but that could change, as Kyle Lauletta was not drafted out of Richmond for him not to be considered as a possible heir apparent to Manning down the road. Lauletta received a serious degree of hype for an FCS product last spring, and while he still has to prove himself, one has to believe that there is a plan for him moving forward.
Alex Tanney, a veteran reserve, was signed as a camp body, but is a long shot to actually make the cut out of camp.
Running Back Breakdown
It's Saquon Barkley's job to hold down after being drafted with the second pick out of Penn State. Barkley was the perfect weapon to add to the arsenal if you wanted to give Manning the vote of confidence. He has serious skill as a runner, as a receiver, and in the return game as well. Manning should fall in love with Barkley early on, and he should be his most valued asset.
Jonathon Stewart was also added to the mix as a UFA from Carolina. He is well past his prime, but he still has some ability and gas left to work with Barkley to kick what was a lifeless unit back into gear in 2018.
Wayne Gallman is one of the few backs returning from last season's mess, and it is believed that he should eventually surpass Stewart as the primary backup.
Shane Smith is back as the H-Back/FB, but his odds to stick out of camp are long.
Receiver Breakdown
It all basically starts and ends with Odell Beckham at WR for the Giants this season. He has to prove a few things. He has to prove that he can stay healthy, has to prove that he is properly motivated, and has to prove that he can put all off-field shenanigans behind him, if he truly wants to be one of the highest paid players in the league, and the overall best at his position. The talent is there, but not the maturity nor the hubris needed to be that guy.
Sterling Shepard is back and should be fully healthy after also suffering injury issues last season (ankles). He has all the tools to succeed, and should be an excellent option, if he can stay on the field and work out of the SLOT position.
Roger Lewis is listed as the starting 3rd receiver, but he is no lock to make the team after he largely under performed last season. He could be pushed in camp by Travis Rudolph, who impressed last season.
Kalif Raymond is slated to back up Beckham, but is no lock to make it either as a receiver, or as a KR man after largely fading at both spots last season. Hunter Sharp goes into camp backing up Shepard, but he may not make the cut out of camp.
Keon Johnson is trying to come back from a season lost to a broken foot. Marquis Bundy and Cody Latimer will need to make marks on special teams to stick.
Tight End Breakdown
Rhett Ellison and Evan Engram are locks, and will often see time out of a 2 TE set offense. Both had solid seasons last season, and Engram may end up being one of the more unsung players in the league this season.
Jerrell Adams is a big TE who is more of a blocker, but worked hard in the off-season to improve as a receiver as well, and could be a dark horse to get some reps this season. Kyle Carter was brought over from the Vikings with Shurmer, and will push Adams in camp. Ryan O'Malley is another option, and will push his way to final cuts.
Offensive Line Breakdown
While Nate Solder is an absolute lock at LT, the RT job could be a big camp battle between Ereck Flowers and Chad Wheeler. Flowers held out of off-season workouts, and the new staff is not pleased, and that opened the door for Wheeler, a 2nd year man out of USC, to make a move for the job.
Patrick Omameh is all locked in at LG, and will replace Justin Pugh, but the RG spot is also a camp battle. Rookie phenom Will Hernandez out of UTEP should push his way into the job after what should be an interesting battle with John Jerry, who had his contract shortened during the off-season.
Brett Jones appears to have locked down the full time job as the starter at Center this season, and should fly through camp.
Nick Becton will be a lock to back up at the OT spots, but can really play anywhere on the line, making him extremely valuable. John Greco should back up at Guard, and has a relationship with Shurmur. John Halapio is a lock to back up at C, and will see time at OG as well. He is another name to watch in that RG competition, but he has more value coming off the bench for now.
Breakdown Defensive Line
Kerry Wynn will be starting at LDE for the Giants for the first month of the season while Josh Mauro will be serving a 4 game suspension. Wynn is more of a run stuffer than pass rusher, so that should be an interesting look for a month. Dalvin Tomlinson will also line up to start at RDE in the revamped defensive front. Robert Thomas will likely move out from NT to back up at DE, but he could see some action at NT as well.
Speaking of NT, the Giants are moving to a 3-4 set this season, and Damon Harrison will be the primary plug in the middle. He is one of the better run stuffers in the league. BJ Hill is a primising rookie out of NC State, and should see a solid amount of reps behind Harrison.
Josh Banks could move up from the practice squad this season, especially early with the Mauro suspension at DE. Avery Moss mised part of spring workouts, and may really have to make a mark to make the cut.
AJ Francis was signed as a FA from the Titans in the middle, in case the youngsters are not ready to get serious time in. RJ McIntosh is a solid option inside or out, and has serious reserve value.
Linebacker Breakdown
With the switch to a 3-4 set, the Giants are depending on some new role players to get things done at LB, starting with Olivier Vernon at LOLB, who replaces Chandler Jones as the outside edge rusher. Kareem Martin will take over at ROLB, and will largely replace Jonathon Casillas, who has also departed in the rebuild. Alec Ogletree was acquired via trade, and will start at the LILB, and will largely be the vocal leader in the middle of the defense. BJ Goodson is the only returning starter, and will play RILB, but had some injury issues that cost him more than half the season in 2017. He is hoping for a bounce back.
Avery Moss may kick out from DE to back up Kareem Martin on occasion, while rookie Lorenzo Carter, a 3rd round pick out of Georgia, will likely back up Vernon. Ray-Ray Armstrong projects as a backup inside, but is not a lock to stick, while Mark Herzlich is a candidate to win the job backing up Goodson after missing the last 2 seasons.
Thurston Ambrister, Derrick Matthews, Calvin Munson, Romeo Okwara, and Jordan Williams will all be looking to find a roster spot in camp.
Secondary Breakdown
Eli Apple returns at one CB spot this fall, but he was not what he should have been a year ago, and there was plenty of drama around him. If he continues down that path, he may have some issues sticking in New York beyond the end of the 2018 season. Janoris Jenkins starts at the opposite corner spot, but again, he also had a seriously up and down season in 2017, and had injury issues as well. The Giants could use some upgrades at the corner spots, but will be content to let both situations iron out this season, if they can be ironed out.
William Gay was picked up as a free agent in the off-season, and will fill the spot vacated by the loss of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He will be repsonsible for covering the slot out of the Nickel defense, and will primarily backup Apple. BW Webb was also brought in as a FA for depth, and will serve as the backup to Jenkins, and work out on special teams.
Donte Williams, Brandon Dixon, CJ Goodwin, Tim Scott, and Teddy Williams will be scratching to make the camp cut at a position loaded with bodies at CB.
If Landon Collins is healthy at SS, he should be a major boost after having a second surgery for a broken arm. He is a former pro bowler who is looking for a return to form. The FS spot is not so cut and dried heading into camp, as Michael Thomas was signed as a FA to compete with Darian Thompson, who did little to lock down the job with his production last season. That will be a spot to watch in camp.
Andrew Adams returns as the 3rd Safety, and will likely see time at both Safety spots this season as the top backup. Curtis Riley was also signed to add depth at both spots, and should have his role defined based on camp production.
Special Teams Breakdown
Aldrick Rosas returns as the starter at PK, but again, he was not solid last season, and he could be pushed by Marshall Koehn, a 2nd year kicker from Iowa. Rosas is the predominant favorite to win the job, but again, this job bares watching in camp.
Brad Wing is gone at P, and Riley Dixon was acquired in a trade with Denver. He will have the job as we enter camp.
Sterling Shepard and Shane Smith are listed as the primary kick return men, while Kalif Raymond opens camp as the PR man.
Final Analysis: The Giants are going to be a work in progress this season, as they are coming back from a bottom out season that was the spark for change on the staff. Pat Shurmur has not had success in the league as a head coach before, but there is hope that his stint as OC in Minnesota has given him the surge he needed to turn the corner. With Eli Manning back, the Giants did the smart thing and did not waste a pick in the draft on another QB, and rather stuck to their plan and guns by drafting Barkley, an all-purpose weapon that will become one of Manning's new go to targets. The window is short for Manning, however, and winning now, rather than later, should be the goal. The only real issue is that it may not seem that the Giants have the ability to make that push, especially if all of the injuries set in once more.
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