We have seen a lot of football teams over the years go out with a whimper rather than a bang. Such was the case with the New York Giants in 2016. A 2-0 start was followed by three consecutive losses. But then new head coach Ben McAdoo saw his team turn things on in a big way. They would lose only two more games the remainder of the regular season, both in the state of Pennsylvania (to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles). There would be a sweep of the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. At 11-5 and back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 (when they won Super Bowl XLVI), the club was hoping to do some damage in the postseason.
Instead, they wound up on the wrong end of a 38-13 thrashing at the hands of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Giants have spent the offseason fixing what they feel ultimately hurt the team. And this year’s draft provided some answers.
Key selections
This was an offseason that the New York Giants said goodbye to running back Rashad Jennings and popular wide receiver Victor Cruz. It has also been a time to see wideout Brandon Marshall join the club. He was arguably the team’s best offseason pickup in terms of free agency. However, the 2017 draft brought University of Mississippi tight end Evan Engram, who should be a boon to a passing attack that already includes Marshall, prolific Odell Beckham Jr.
and promising Sterling Shepard. Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (fourth round) could wind up being the main backup to Paul Perkins. And could the team have found their quarterback of the future in Davis Webb (California)? Defensively, University of Alabama defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson figures to fill the void left by the free-agent departure of Johnathan Hankins.
What it all means
For years, the New York Giants have been somewhat of an enigma. In years with no expectations, the team would rise and surprise us all with a Super Bowl championship. In offseasons of promise, the club simply didn’t live up to someone’s hype. It’s important that McAdoo’s team follows up one playoff appearance by taking it a step further in 2017.
During the Eli Manning Era with the Giants, they have either won a Super Bowl courtesy of a four-game postseason run (2007 and 2011), lost in their first playoff game or missed the postseason altogether. That’s not all on the quarterback but it shows that this had been more of a streaky team than a consistent contender. It’s time to shake that trend and the team’s draft class of 2017 is a good way to start.
