Roster demonstrates a commitment to power football
EAST RUTHERFORD » Subtle hints of change for the Giants’ offense throughout the offseason were confirmed this past weekend. The team officially placed one fullback and four tight ends on its 53-man roster — the tell-tale sign that power football will be a staple in the Meadowlands this season.
“It makes us dangerous,” running back Orleans Darkwa told The Trentonian on Monday. “We’re able to do more as a group. As far as gap schemes, outside zone — things of that nature — we’ve been able to kind of cut down on being one-dimensional as far as run game and be able to spread it out and do multiple things.”
At this time one year ago, the Giants had no fullback and three tight ends — none were blocking specialists. Because of those roster limitations, New York resorted to threereceiver sets on 92 percent of its offensive snaps in 2016, according to Football Outsiders. The league average was 60 percent.
With only six run blockers on the field almost exclusively, the Giants were working with fewer gaps and fewer run designs. They operated 73 percent of plays from shotgun, which meant their rushing plays often came on inside zone with double teams up the gut.
Now, the possibilities are plentiful for the Giants as their regular season opener looms Sunday night at the Cowboys. Despite a vanilla offense ranking 27th in the league with 19 points per game last season, the Giants won 11 games and made the playoffs.
“When you’re not running as many different formations and plays, it gives the defense a whole lot less to get ready for,” left guard Justin Pugh said last week. “We’re still able to be successful running those plays and getting to the playoffs, so you add in a fullback, two tight ends, some receivers that are the size of offensive linemen, I think we’re going to be a lot more exciting to watch this year on offense.”
First-round draft pick Evan Engram and veteran free agent signing Rhett Ellison were givens to make the roster. But 2016 sixth-round pick Jerell Adams as well as Matt LaCosse, who led the team with 10 catches and two touchdowns in the preseason, forced the Giants to keep four tight ends.
And yet, the Giants still didn’t neglect the fullback position as expendable, also fitting undrafted rookie Shane Smith onto the roster. Those moves verified head coach Ben McAdoo’s offseason commitment to a more multiple system.
“With the guys we’ve got in that room, it adds a lot of power and physicality to the offense,” Darkwa said. “All those guys, they’ve done a great job in training camp and the preseason. I think it’s going to transition well as far as our offense being able to do several things exceptionally well — running the ball and then passing the ball and setting up play action.”
The elephant in the room — and what the Giants’ season could ultimately hinge on — remains significant improvement from an offensive line returning five starters. But Darkwa was quick to express that their continuity is “definitely” manifesting on the field.
“They have a tight-knit group in that room,” he said. “They want to get better each and every day out there in practice, and we communicate with them as well. To have those guys back, it’s huge. Chemistry is huge, and I think it’ll transition on the field this season.”
The linemen aren’t the only ones who have responded to pressure.
Darkwa, a fourth-year back out of Tulane, entered the summer with nagging injury concerns but made the most of his healthy preseason with a team-high 4.5 yards per carry on 90 attempts, pushing starter Paul Perkins for touches in a dynamic fourman backfield.
“I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder. I’ve always had that underdog mentality,” Darkwa said. “That’s always going to be there. That’s not going to go anywhere. Obviously to grasp the offense, being in here for four seasons is obviously a blessing. You don’t have to think as much and play as fast.”
It’s also McAdoo’s fourth season calling plays, and the Giants will be unveiling a rejuvenated offense when the scene shifts to primetime in Dallas.
“We’ve just got to go out there and do it on the field, and it starts this week.” Darkwa said. “It’s going to be a big game, big environment, and I think we’re ready for it.”