Keeping defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, and Sheldon Richardson from harassing Eli Manning could prove problematic, but the Jets’ secondary could be the perfect antidote for the Giants’ anemic offense. Put it this way: If Manning and the Giants’ new offense can’t find success against the Jets’ injury-riddled secondary, then it might be time to panic.
“Based on last week, I would hope that there is a significant production and better quality of play from our ones certainly,” Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said when asked what he expects from his team in Friday night’s Snoopy Bowl.
Manning and the Giants’ first-team offense were awful last week in Indianapolis, continuing a troubling trend of inefficiency while trying to learn the West Coast offense being installed by new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Manning has completed just 7-of-16 passes for 49 yards in three preseason games with the longest completion going for 10 yards. His quarterback rating is 51.3.
Meanwhile, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton torched the Jets’ depleted secondary Saturday in Cincinnati, completing 8-of-8 for 144 yards and a touchdown in basically one half of action. Dee Milliner, the self-proclaimed best cornerback in the NFL, is out with a high ankle sprain; rookie cornerback Dexter McDougle suffered a season-ending knee injury; and Dimitri Patterson has missed time with a numerous leg injuries.
You would think Manning would be licking his chops at the thought of facing the Jets. But the Giants have been so inept this preseason nothing can be taken for granted. In hopes of improving their execution, the Giants actually did some game planning for the Jets, using the scout team to mimic the Jets defense.
“Hopefully it will help,” Manning said. “We’ve still got to perform better. No matter how well you game plan, it’s still the execution on the field that’s the most important thing. We know we’ve got to perform at a higher level and make some plays that are out there and be more consistent.”
A few growing pains were expected given the Giants were implementing a new offense after Kevin Gilbride retired and McAdoo was brought in to revamp an offense co-owner John Mara called “broken” last season. But a retooling of the offensive line, uncertainty at tight end, a corps of new running backs and the hamstring injury that has kept No.1 pick Odell Beckham Jr. off the field, has hampered progress.
Manning and his receivers are working to get in synch. The quarterback made several visits to his group of receivers during practice on Wednesday. The discussions were clearly about what to do when.
All parties insist the Giants remain confident it’s only a matter time before the offense begins to click. But time is growing short before the Sept. 8 season opener at Detroit.
“We’re doing good things in practice,” Manning said. “[There] are still mistakes and some things we’ve got to correct. But the things we are doing well, we have to make sure those continue to carry over to the game.”
The Giants haven’t shown any frustration. Their Super Bowl success gives them a level of confidence things will get better sooner than later.
“We definitely want to make some plays and have some success to build off that confidence going into the final preseason [game] and the regular season so we feel good about ourselves and our confidence is high and everything is clicking,” Victor Cruz said.
Of course, the offense will go nowhere if the retooled offensive line isn’t able to block the Jets’ talented defensive front. That’s why any success starts with blocking Wilkerson, Harrison and Richardson.