New York Giants Should Head Into 2015 On High Note
After losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Giants record fell to an embarrassing 3-9. The team had loss seven games in a row. All hopes of salvaging any dignity for the 2014 season was a loss. Pundits (myself included) began to write that head coach Tom Coughlin’s tenure with the Giants was all but over.
The belief of many (myself included) was that general manager Jerry Reese had failed to put a competitive team on the field for 2014, and now subsequently large spanning changes were in fact upon us. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s defense was the blunt of many jokes. It would be a sure bet to make that he will be be fired at seasons end.
Dec 21, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; New York Giants running back Andre Williams (44) runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The New York Giants defeat the St. Louis Rams 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of standout wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, all players were fair game for criticism. Even quarterback Eli Manning once again found his self being questioned.
Well once again the pundits (myself included) seem to have jumped the gun, like usual considering the circumstances. Shocking isn’t it? All jokes aside, as the Giants sit here today, after defeating a quality St. Louis Rams team on the road, the team seems to have turned the proverbial “corner.”
Okay, so I am not saying the Giants are going to make the playoffs this year. Obviously with their current record that is mathematically impossible. However, when purely focusing on 2015, the Giants future actually seems rather bright. Dare I say the following: Could this team be on the rise?
This time of the year, with teams like the Giants completely out of the playoff picture, I try to focus on player development. Honestly, when examining the Giants roster construction/talent, and prospects for the future, the big picture looks to be bright.
On the offensive side of the ball, I see the team as pretty much set for the future. Essentially at skill positions, the Giants appear to be loaded for 2015. Getting back captain Victor Cruz to go along with now a superstar in the making with Beckham, will be absolutely huge.
Still the talent on offense doesn’t end there; players like Larry Donnell, Rueben Randle and rookie Andre Williams all seem poised to build off of their promising 2014 season going into 2015.
Maybe more significantly than anything else, Manning looks much more like the “ELIte” version of his self then he does the 27 interceptions version of Eli. Frankly, Manning has looked and played tremendously well this season. Even quietly actually having had one of his best statistical seasons to date.
On defense there are still plenty of problems for the Giants to address. Same goes for the much talked about the Giants’ offensive line struggles. These are major areas that the Giants will absolutely work on come free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft. They are only really a few pieces away from getting back into contention.
My message to Giants fans is to step back for a moment, I know it’s been a frustrating season, but I propose to you that in actuality things aren’t that bad for the Giants moving forward. That the good times (you’ve seen many) aren’t all that far off. I think truthfully that this is a team on the rise, as funny as that may seem.