The Giants do not own exclusive rights to summer offensive struggles, but they lead the league in preseason angst. Their newly installed attack is: 1) getting out the kinks but on the right track, or 2) a total disaster. Take your pick, but they are not alone in their failures.
Before they got their act together Thursday night against the Steelers, the Eagles — almost a unanimous choice to successfully defend their NFC East title — were an offense-first team doing almost nothing to show it. In two practice games, Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy and the starters were on the field for seven series and the production was negligible: three turnovers, two punts, one missed field goal, one touchdown. They were averaging a mere 4.6 yards per play. Even the lowly Giants, at 4.9 yards per play, are a bit better, although that’s mostly the work of the backups.
No matter what happens Friday night in the annual August soiree with the Jets, it is implausible that coach Tom Coughlin decides to alter his carefully laid plans and radically change the playing time for his starters six days later in the preseason finale against the Patriots. The risk of injury is too great for Coughlin, even if he is wholly unsatisfied with what he sees from Eli Manning and what has been more Worst Coast offense than West Coast offense, to put his first-teamers on the field for more than a series or two in preseason game No. 5.
“That’s the way we have to approach it, as if this is our game and we have to play to win and act like this is our last chance that we get to rehearse before Week 1,’’ Victor Cruz said. “So we’ve got to approach it that way for sure.’’
Cruz said this week he saw “kind of a renewed energy,’’ and there is no doubt all involved have heard ad nauseam about the 11 possessions on offense for the starters and the sad ledger of ineptitude: eight punts, one lost fumble, two touchdowns. There were five three-and-outs along the way, and Manning’s passes have had the crispness of wet noodles, the accuracy of a blindfolded vertigo sufferer and the dynamism of anything beige. “Now or never” might be too strong, but “Now or further hand-wringing’’ is certainly apropos.
“I mean, we definitely have enough confidence in ourselves knowing that everything’s going to be OK,’’ Cruz said.
Finding a groove on offense is the top story for the Giants but not the only story. There are several position battles yet to be settled. Here are the most intriguing:
Fullback: There’s a place in the NFL for both Henry Hynoski and John Conner but only room on the Giants’ roster for one of them. It’s a close call. Hynoski is bigger and a bit more versatile, but Coughlin said Hyno isn’t yet all the way back from his pre-2013 injury form.
Tight end: Consider this a slow crawl rather than a sprint to the finish. Larry Donnell and veteran newcomer Daniel Fells are favorites for two spots, and the front office does not want to dump Adrien Robinson, a former fourth-round pick. Can he withstand a challenge from Kellen Davis, a former Bears player considered to be a better blocker?
Receiver: Jerrel Jernigan has done painfully little to earn a spot, but he has some experience and is coming off a hot end to last season. Corey Washington, at 6-foot-4, offers great size — something this position lacks. Marcus Harris is an interesting prospect and young vet Preston Parker provides possible help as a punt returner. Ongoing hamstring woes for first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. equates to an extra body having to be kept around.
Kicker: Josh Brown at 35 years old is the incumbent and coming off a fine debut season. It’s his job to lose, but rookie Brandon McManus has a legit NFL leg and looks as if he belongs. He is the man if the Giants opt to go younger (he’s 23) and cheaper (a $420,000 salary compared to Brown’s $1 million).
Offensive line: All the different combinations in practice the past few weeks are probably no more than summertime machinations. It figures Geoff Schwartz will start at left guard, and J.D. Walton will start at center. That leaves Brandon Mosley to fight it out with rookie Weston Richburg at right guard. The coaching staff wants to believe in Mosley, who looks the part, but he may not be able to stave off the rising potential of Richburg. Remember, Justin Pugh as a rookie last season started every game at right tackle.