If the Giants’ offense is going to snap out of its early slump and get back to being one of the best in the NFL, it clearly has a long way to go. And to a man, the Giants say the first step isn’t a step, but a leap of faith — shedding their fears over a new scheme and just playing with confidence.
“We need to take that leap of faith,’’ said new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, channeling his inner Kierkegaard. “We need to play fast, we need to trust our instincts. It’s a game of anticipation and [you have to] believe in your teammates. If you don’t do that, we’re not going to grow. You can’t be afraid to make mistakes.’’
From McAdoo to Eli Manning to Tom Coughlin, they agreed this chicken-or-the-egg argument comes down to needing the confidence before they get the production.
“You have to believe in what you do. You have to believe in the people around you,’’ Coughlin said. “Once you do that and have some time to work together, then you expect to make progress.”
Two games into the preseason — and McAdoo’s tenure — the passing game has struggled, but Big Blue can’t wait to see it work before they believe it will work.
“No, you have to have the trust before it works. You can’t have doubts,’’ Manning said. “We have to play better. Offensively we have to … just get in a rhythm, start calling plays and making things happen. Sometimes you try to always make everything perfect and maybe think too much. Hey, let’s run the plays and make the best decisions depending on what the defense is.’’
The Giants have won both preseason games, but the offense has stuttered and sputtered in both. The starters have had just seven drives, resulting in a 73-yard Rashad Jennings run, an 80-yard TD drive, but just 10 yards combined on the other five drives, including four punts and a lost fumble.
McAdoo still is installing elements, with a host of red zone (inside the 20) plays going in Tuesday. He admits he is not the most patient sort, itching to be able to utilize the entire system. Asked if he anticipated these growing pains, he said, “If it was easy and smooth, everybody would be doing it.’’
The passing attack especially has been lacking, with Victor Cruz not having a single target — much less a catch — this preseason, and Manning not completing a pass in his four series Saturday against Pittsburgh.
“We talked about seeing some things for the first time and how we need to get on the same page moving forward,’’ McAdoo said. “I love the dramatic miscommunication articles out there, but it’s more timing issues. We’re on the same page on what we were going to do and when it was going to happen. … When you see certain looks for the first time, it’s going to be a challenge.’’
Clearly. The Giants looked challenged against the Steelers’ array of zone blitzes, with Manning acknowledging the Giants were trying to be too perfect.
“Yeah, I think it’s just good to open it up and play some football. Don’t try to be perfect, just hit plays,’’ Manning said. “For me, just try and get in a rhythm, moving the pocket, making plays, making good decisions and just try to be able to get some first downs and move the ball and have some long series where you can get into a rhythm with this offense.’’
In three dropbacks against the Steelers, Manning went 0-for-2 with a sack. Against Buffalo in the Hall of Fame Game, the starting offense played one quarter. Manning was 6-for-7 but for just 43 yards and didn’t hit a pass for more than 10 yards in his three series of work, suffering a sack and committed a fumble.
So what gives him confidence this new offense can excel?
“You just know we have good receivers, we have good players,” Manning said. “We have running backs who can run the ball and catch it out of the backfield. You see what we’re able to accomplish at practice and some of the plays we’re making.
“It’s just a matter of having confidence and trust in the system, and fully trusting that it’s going to give us an opportunity to get guys open and the guys are going to be able to do their jobs and win those individual battles.’’