Giants head into 2018 with no Super Bowl hype
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » Coming off a three-win season, the New York Giants have changed.
They have a new coach, a new general manager, a new 3- 4 defensive scheme and a slew of new players led by No. 2 overall draft pick Saquon Barkley.
The biggest change, however, heading into 2018 is there is no Super Bowl hype.
That was the main topic going into 2017 with the Giants coming off an 11-5 season under then-second-year coach Ben McAdoo. The expectations of a trip to Minnesota and a fifth Lombardi Trophy were through the roof.
The hope didn’t last long. After losing five straight to start the season and incurring several injuries, McAdoo and longtime general manager Jerry Reese were fired in early December after their decision to bench two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.
The changes followed. Dave Gettleman was hired to replace Reese. Pat Shurmur was named coach. A slew of free agents were signed led by left tackle Nate Solder, guard Patrick Omameh and linebacker Kareem Martin. Fellow linebacker Alec Ogletree was acquired in a trade.
Barkley, guard Will Hernandez and defensive tackle B. J. Hill were added in the first three rounds of the draft. All should start against the Jaguars on Sept. 9.
“I just told the team today, and I’ll say this, I’m not into predictions,” Shurmur said Monday. “I
stands there will always be some new concern to address.
“If it’s not a drought question, it’s another question,” he said. “It comes with the territory. It’s part of the deal.”
There are numerous questions, though Williams’ focus of looking ahead reflects that of the franchise’s approach under the secondyear tandem of coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane.
The two spent the offseason continuing a major roster overhaul in a bid to rebuild through youth.
The Bills entered training camp with just 15 players with more than one season of experience in Buffalo.
The most significant change comes at quarterback, a position that has remained unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season.
Third-year starter Tyrod Taylor was traded to Cleveland, and Beane pinned the team’s future on Josh Allen. Putting aside questions of Allen’s accuracy issues during his three seasons at Wyoming, Buffalo traded up five spots to choose him seventh overall — the highest spot in the draft order the Bills have ever selected a quarterback.
Now comes the question of when Allen might be ready to start.
Allen showed signs of being a strong-armed but raw rookie during his first three preseason appearances while failing to separate himself in a three-way quarterback competition rounded out by returning backup Nathan Peterman and free agent addition AJ McCarron.
McDermott has provided no hints regarding who his starter will be when Buffalo opens the regular season at Baltimore on Sept. 9.
Uncertainty at quarterback and the amount of roster turnover opens questions as to whether the Bills might take a step back a year after a 9-7 finish.
Beane refutes the notion of having lowered expectations in what might well be a transitional year in Buffalo.
“We’re trying to win harder now than we were a year ago,” Beane said. “We’ve set the standard, and if we drop down, we’re pointing back on ourselves. If anything, we’ve got to try to make it an even higher standard.”
Here are some things to know about the Bills. ROOKIE CLASS Aside from Allen, the Bills are in a position to potentially have two other rookies earning regular playing time. First-round pick Tremaine Edmunds has already won the starting middle linebacker job. Third-round pick Harrison Phillips will be Williams’ primary backup at defensive tackle. CULTURE CLUB McDermott revealed how much of an emphasis he placed on improving the Bills’ culture upon his arrival last year. McDermott said he noticed how poor a number of the players’ habits were while reviewing tape of the team’s practices under his predecessor Rex Ryan.
“Culture’s always changing, it’s always growing, whether you like it or not,” he said. “And if you don’t manage it, it’ll grow up in the form of weeds.” FAN APPRECIATION The one thing Williams appreciates about the Bills breaking their playof f drought was what it meant to the fans, who no longer have to be reminded about it.
“When they want to watch TV or watch the NFL, that’s not what they have to hear every time they turn it on. I think that’s the best thing for me,” Williams said. “For me, it doesn’t really land on my radar. But for them, I’m happy for that.” football game. We believed we were going to win the football game.”
There will be bright spots on the Brothers game film review, the ability of junior Mike Barber to break loose for big gains and the poise and passing abilities of junior quarterback Fred Smith. told the team today really don’t worry about Jacksonville, let’s just make the rest of today as good as it can be and then we’ll see where we go with it.”
The Giants have talent. Getting back to the playoffs will be tough.
New York has t wo games with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and five other matchups against teams that made the playoffs — Jacksonville, New Orleans, Carolina, Atlanta and Tennessee. Add in four games against NFC East rivals Dallas and Washington and winning nine or 10 games is asking a lot.
The positive is the personnel is good. The 37-year- old Manning has looked sharp in the preseason and the receiving group has the potential to be awesome, especially if Odell Beckham Jr. returns to form after miss-
“He played on JV last year, but he’s a poised kid, he’s an athlete, been playing varsity lacrosse since he was in eighth grade,” Burke said. “He threw the ball very well, he put some balls in some tough spots where coverage was on the left shoulder and he put it down on the right and really showed me a lot of courage.”
One of those Hudl highlights will be his 23-yard pass into the right corner ing most of last season with a broken ankle. Despite missing two weeks with a hamstring, Barkley has been impressive. He has a burst of speed that has not been seen in the Giants’ backfield in a while.
Defensively, t ackle Snacks Harrison, end/ linebacker Olivier Vernon, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Landon Collins are Pro Bowl caliber for coordinator James Bettcher.
Some things to know about the 2018 Giants:
BECKHAM’S BACK: The Giants have been cautious with the three-time Pro Bowler in the preseason. He did not appear in any of the first three games and it’s likely he won’t play until the season opener. The 25-yearold has been barely touched in training camp which might raise some concerns.
However, i f you’ve watched him, he has not lost a step. His cuts are crisp, his hands are as good as ever and there of the end zone late in the third quarter to sophomore Dylan Jones.
“He gave the ball up for Dylan, he knows Dylan is going to go up and get it and he put it right on top of the defender’s head,” Burke said. “I’m proud of Fred the way he stepped up in his first Friday night game.”
With the new Class AA alignment of a 10-team single division, an eight-week regular season and only is no reason not to believe he is going to have double- digit touchdown catches and have more than 1,000 yards receiving. He also should benefit from opponents having to watch Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram.
O- LINE ISSUES: The Giants spent a bundle to upgrade the offensive line. Solder is a major upgrade at left tackle. Hernandez is a fighter at left guard. The rest of the line is suspect. Jon Halapio is playing center for the first time. Omameh struggled against Jets at right tackle while Ereck Flowers has been up and down at his new right tackle spot. Bottom line is the line was the weak link in the offense last season and it could be again although the pass protection has looked a little better.
SECONDARY ISSUES: The secondary has three solid starters in Jenkins, fellow cornerback Eli Apple and Collins at the strong safety. The free four teams making the playoffs there is little time to bask in a win or lament an opening week loss.
“I don’t know if it’s a sense of urgency, its one game,” Burke said. “It would have been a great game for us to win for confidence for the kids, but it didn’t happen.
“We have to move on and we have to get to week two and we have to take care of business next week with Bethlehem.” safety spot looks as if it will go to Curtis Riley. He outlasted incumbent Darian Thompson, who was bothered by a hamstring in training camp, and veteran Andrew Adams, who struggled despite making 17 starts over the past two seasons. There is little depth at cornerback and it is uncertain who will be the nickel and dime backs.
D- LINE: A late concern for the line is Vernon’s reported high ankle injury. He is the top pass rusher and struggled at times last season with a similar injury. Rookie Lorenzo Carter, veteran Connor Barwin and Kerry Wynn will have to take up the slack.
MANNING: El i is enjoying the new offense. He was 17 of 23 against the Jets in his final tuneup, and no one is worried whether his starting days are dwindling. Backup Davis Webb has started to show the team didn’t waste a third- round pick on him last season.