TWO-MINUTE DRILL
MOST IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER
This year’s pick is the same as last year: Ereck Flowers. Of course, Eli Manning is the most indispensable, Odell Beckham Jr. the most talented and dynamic, but this is the year of decision for Flowers. He’s lost weight, is in top shape and spent most of the offseason working on his technique. As the No. 9 overall selection in the 2015 draft, is he a legitimate starting left tackle or a bust?
MOST IMPORTANT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
B.J. Goodson is a second-year player with only 14 NFL snaps on defense on his résumé. He is the anointed starting middle linebacker, meaning he calls the defensive signals and alerts the veterans around him where to go. At Clemson, Goodson was a tackling machine and he has shown he might be able to cover enough to play in sub packages. Best of all, he brings a nasty streak to the field.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Well, it is hard to keep your eyes off TE Evan Engram when he is gliding down the field. The first-round pick from Ole Miss was a proven pass-catcher in college and he looked the part this summer, making it easy to envision him hauling in 5-8 touchdown passes in his first season. Plus, he’s not some skinny route-runner and, put in the right spot, should be an adequate blocker on the move. McAdoo envisions using him the way he used Jermichael Finley in Green Bay.
STAR ON THE RISE
The version of Eli Apple that arrived at his second NFL camp had less hair and more muscle than the lanky rookie firstround pick in 2016. He had some growing pains as a rookie — benched during a game against the Eagles — but took the lessons in stride and had a great preseason. He has the size, speed and technical skills to match up with most top receivers.
BIGGEST COACHING DECISION
How long is too long if the offensive line plods along and the running game continues to look like a dead end? Waiting behind starting tackles Flowers and Hart are rookies, Adam Bisnowaty and Chad Wheeler, so there is risk there. D.J. Fluker is a veteran and can plug in at right guard (but probably not right tackle). The coaching staff trusts Brett Jones. McAdoo is patient, but only to a point if this unit cannot get in gear.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF ...
Odell Beckham Jr.’s numbers go down. He’s averaged 96 catches, 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first three seasons and might not match that production as Marshall, Shepard, Engram and Vereen are all worthwhile targets for Manning. There’s only one football to toss around. In a contract year, will Beckham be cool with this? Probably, as long as the Giants are winning.
SURE TO MAKE FANS GRUMBLE
More talk about how young Ereck Flowers is. … Watching kickoff and punt returners get nowhere. … Reports about Odell’s hair, contract or his hanging out with (fill in the celebrity). … Hearing play-by-play maven Bob Papa announce “thirdand-1, Perkins takes the handoff up the middle, stopped for a loss and here comes Brad Wing in to punt.’’