5 What does Eli have left? And four more questions for Giants tonight
The Giants learn the most about their starters against the Jets every preseason.
Tonight will be no different. “Just so happens that the Jets game is also the third preseason game, which is our first game plan game,” backup linebacker Mark Herzlich said this week. “It’s just a different feel for the week … This is kind of the big game regardless of who we’re playing, honestly, in the third preseason game. This becomes the big one.”
So who needs to make a statement, and what will head coach Pat Shurmur need to see?
Here’s a breakdown of the top five things for Giants fans to watch as the 2018 regular season draws near.
1. CAN THEY RUN THE BALL?
Shurmur will commit to the run as a playcaller, but the offensive line needs to get a better push.
Aside from Saquon Barkley’s 39-yard scamper on his first carry against the Cleveland Browns in the first game, the Giants have rushed 14 times for just 21 total yards behind their first-team offensive line through two games (1.5 yards per carry).
Barkley (left hamstring strain) is not expected to play Friday, but the front five of Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Jon Halapio, Patrick Omameh and Ereck Flowers can make a statement by winning the line of scrimmage no matter who is running behind them.
It wouldn’t surprise me, should they continue to struggle early, if Shurmur subs in some other linemen with the first-team offense to experiment, such as Brett Jones, John Greco, John Jerry and Chad Wheeler.
2. DOES ELI STILL HAVE IT?
Eli Manning went 4-for-7 for 26 yards in the preseason opener against Cleveland and then sat out the entire second game against the Lions in Detroit.
Manning will want to get in a groove.
Shurmur and Manning would get a lot out of this game if they were able to confidently move the ball down the field both on the ground and through the air. The Giants have invested a lot in saying they believe Manning still has “years left.”
Manning, 37, has not been doing anything different than the norm in practice. He’ll need to ratchet it up for the games and make sure to take care of the ball. Davis Webb’s performance will continue to be meaningful but this game will be more about Manning.
3. IS THIS RUN ‘D’ REALLY THIS DOMINANT?
James Bettcher’s run defense has given up 117 net yards rushing (2.13 yards per carry) in the first two games. That includes all eight quarters, and first and second and third-string defenses. The starting front seven is barely surrendering any ground, showing glimpses of a dominant defensive unit that could be the backbone of this team as it was two years ago under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo when the Giants went 11-5 and last made the playoffs.
Everyone knew the Jaguars would bring a physically relentless defense to MetLife Stadium in Week 1, but it’s looking like the Giants will meet Jacksonville’s offense head-on with a motivated, nasty defensive front of their own.
4. WATCH GALLMAN GALLOP
Barkley was drafted to be the focal point of this offense, but don’t sleep on second-year back Wayne Gallman.
Shurmur said on ESPN Radio this week that Gallman has made as big of an impression on the firstyear head coach as anyone on the roster, adding, “He’s going to get his reps.”
Shurmur loves to use his running backs and tight ends in creative ways and in the passing game, and Gallman is versatile enough to be a weapon the coach can employ. Gallman’s two-touchdown performance in Detroit was a reminder of the knack the Clemson product has for finding the end zone. And Gallman may technically be Barkley’s backup, but he prepares as if he is the starter and right now pretty much is.
5. WILL ODELL PLAY?
This jumps to No. 1 if Odell Beckham Jr. enters the game, but it’s buried at No. 5 because it remains unlikely that Beckham will play unless he gets the new contract extension he desires. According to ESPN, the two sides have reportedly made progress on a new deal, but even then, Shurmur may intend to keep Beckham sidelined so he’ll be healthy and ready to go in Week 1.
Given that Shurmur hasn’t seen his full first-team offense on the field in a game once yet, however, it has to be tempting for the coach to try and get his best player on the field.