Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2015 regular season. Today, the New York Giants.
2014 in a nutshell: Despite a dazzling rookie season from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and improved play from Eli Manning and the rest of the offense, a 29th-ranked defense sinks the Giants, who win fewer than seven games for the first time since Manning and Tom Coughlin joined the team in 2004.
Why 2015 could be different: Beckham could play a full season after missing the first four games last year, Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz could be back Week 1 after missing the second half of 2014 due to a knee injury, the entire offense should be stronger in its second year under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and the offensive line is beginning to look like a strength. But on the other hand (no pun intended), Jason Pierre-Paul is still a major question mark as part of a defense that didn’t seem to do much to improve in the offseason.
Major additions: Shane Vereen, George Selvie and 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers.
Major losses: Defensive backs Stevie Brown, Antrel Rolle and Zack Bowman. And possibly Pierre-Paul, who has yet to show up for training camp after losing a finger in a fireworks accident July 4.
Breakout watch: Cornerback Prince Amukamara was looking like an emerging star before a torn biceps brought his 2014 season to an end in early November. If he can stay healthy in 2015, he could be Pro Bowl bound.
Position to watch: It does seem as though the big question is whether the offense can be good enough to compensate for defensive issues. The key there could be the line, which will feature 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers at tackle (left, so long as regular Will Beatty is out), 2013 first-round pick Justin Pugh at guard and 2014 second-round pick Weston Richburg at center. Can those three emerge together? Can Beatty get back? And can the veteran of the group, Geoff Schwartz, stay healthy this time around?
Prediction: They’re better than the Eagles and should be good enough to get back to the playoffs, either as the NFC East champ or a wild-card team.
