N.Y. Giants: Offensive Output Failing To Keep Pace With Growing Demands

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

New Triumvirate Not Playing Up To Expectations

New York Football Giants: Despite Myriad of Changes, Offensive Woes Continue Against Saints; Marks 36th Straight Game Offense Fails to Score Thirty Points.

Big Blue's three-year and presently ongoing condition is thus: Eli Manning and Odell Beckham have been the two constants amidst waves of offensive transformations (...or should I say a succession of front office scapegoating).  Otherwise, the Giants have been through two general managers, three head coaches, three offensive coordinators, revamped the offensive line, and installed a brand new backfield, yet nothing seems to have changed.

If there was a time the Giants needed Eli, Odell, and Barkley to literally carry them to victory, this game was it.  New Orleans defense is far from being their strongest asset.  Therefore Sunday's game against Drew Brees and the Saints called for thirty points, and the Giants could not get it done.  The matter of scoring thirty is not an isolated case of not getting it done, more than being something they seem incapable of getting done - period, end of statement.

Forget the defensive effort for now.  Despite continuing injuries sidelining Olivier Vernon, Eli Apple, and my growing anxieties regarding Snacks Harrison, the defense as a whole has played quite well.  I give them a pass for tiring during the second half versus New Orleans.  Sunday's loss, however, just like that against Dallas is strictly a matter of offense strategy and capabilities, or lack thereof. 

The Giants last scored thirty points in a 30-35 loss against the Eagles at home back during Week 17 of the 2015 season.  Jerry Reese was still general manager, Tom Coughlin was head coach, Ben McAdoo was in his second season as offensive coordinator, while Rashad Jennings, Orleans Darkwa, and Shane Vereen, populated an ineffectual backfield.  Since then Ben McAdoo took his turn as head coach with Mike Sullivan as offensive coordinator.  But after last season's debacle, Jerry Reese was out of scapegoats, and so Mr. Mara opted for sweeping changes.  Enter general manager Dave Gettleman, head coach Pat Shurmer, offensive coordinator Mike Shula, new additions on the offensive line, and of course, Saquon Barkley.

Yet, four games into the 2018 season, Sunday's loss makes 36 straight games now in which they've failed to achieve thirty points.  But let's also keep this in context.  Had the Giants stripped this down and gone into a full blown rebuild, none of this is an issue.  However, since Dave Gettleman decides Eli Manning has one more playoff run within him, he elects for on-the-fly modifications.  In Gettleman's defense, I suspect Mr. Mara may have influenced this present course of action.  In any event, this is what happens when you half-ass a rebuilding effort.

I digress ...

Everyone from Eli Manning, to the running game, to inconsequential offensive coordinator Mike Shula, to play calling head coach Pat Shurmur, is complicit in not only Sunday's most recent loss, but for a mirror image performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

In Week Two, Eli goes 33 (75%) of 44 for 279 yards and a touchdown.  That's despite Dallas registering six sacks and spooking Eli with another eight QB hits.  The Giants all but abandon the running game, with Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, and Jonathan Stewart combined to rush just 14 times for 31 total yards.  Eli and a minimalist running game net just 310 offensive yards for the game.

This past Sunday New Orleans gets to Eli less often than did Dallas, sacking Eli three times with five other hits.  However, Eli is 31 (75%) of 41 for just 255 yards and a touchdown.  Once again, the Giants all but abandon the run, with Barkley and Gallman joining for a mere 50 yards on just 12 attempts.  All told, Eli and the woefully underutilized running game together generate 305 yards for the entire game.  So how is it that New Orleans applies less pressure than the Giants previous three opponents, yet Eli's performance and the overall offensive output regresses back, and below Week Two levels? 

Lest we forget Houston registered four sacks and hit the QB six other times, yet, Eli Manning goes for a stellar 25 (86%) 29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns against a suddenly mystifying, but otherwise respected Texans defense.

Coach Shurmur arguably got out-coached against Dallas.  Let's just say that qualifies as one event.  Sunday's effort could then be considered a coincidence.  But if this keeps up, we'll undoubtedly be discussing an alarming trend.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs put up 40 points against the Saints in Week One.  Two weeks later, Matt Ryan helped Atlanta score 37 points against the Saints.  In turn, New Orleans has now limited the Browns and Giants to 18 points respectively.

In the meantime, the Giants two highest paid offensive players, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham - the two common denominators I spoke of - have yet to connect on a touchdown.