McAdoo has much to monitor in preseason

For Ben McAdoo, his first six months as Giants coach seemed to fly by all so fast. Friday, it really gets serious.

It’s time for his rookie season as Tom Coughlin’s successor to kick off as Big Blue opens training camp in East Rutherford..

“It’s been a constant state of excitement,” McAdoo said. “Anytime you get a chance to get the players on the field and get better and grow, it’s an exciting time.”

The return of a healthy Victor Cruz after missing half of the 2014 season and all of 2015 with two major league injuries is at the top of the list for McAdoo to watch closely in camp. A healthy Cruz to complement Odell Beckham Jr. and second round draft pick Sterling Sharp could make Big Blue a prolific offense this season.

Although Eli Manning had a Pro Bowl season in 2015 and put up some of his best career numbers, the G-Men still suffered their third straight losing season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

Combine that with a defense that was worst in the league and couldn’t hold leads that led to six losses with late collapses, it was obvious why ownership sent coach Tom Coughlin into retirement after 12 years leading the Giants, including two Super Bowl victories.

GM Jerry Reese tried to resurrect the onceproud defense spending $200 million in getting more defensive help at linebacker and in the secondary.

Manning should be able to keep the offense productive in the air, but of the ground it will be up to Rashad Jennings to start 2016 like he ended 2015.

The Giants finished 23rd and 19th the last two years, but they should do better since Jennings came on late last year, averaging 108 yards in the final four games, including 170 in the finale. In the first 12 games, he averaged 36 yards.

Eli Apple, the first-round draft pick out of Ohio State, should bolster a secondary and start at safety with second-year player Landon Collins.

The Giants’ third draft pick Darian Thompson should make the secondary vastly improved after he excelled in spring workouts and could be a surprise starter.

McAdoo and his staff will have the next seven weeks to assemble a squad good enough to end Big Blue’s long playoff drought.