Do The New York Giants Simply Have Bad Luck?
The New York Giants can’t make excuses for their 6-10 2014 season, or their 7-9 performance in 2o13. The Giants quite frankly weren’t a really good team. The Giants did however have to go through some adversity that many would call bad luck.
More from GMEN HQ
- Ranking Dave Gettleman’s 5 worst Giants moves after the Kenny Golladay release
- Workout clip of Evan Neal training with former All-Pro OT has Giants fans excited
- NFL Draft Schedule of Events: How to Navigate Draft Weekend
- 4 NY Giants who must step their game up in 2023
- This SEC CB at No. 25 overall for the Giants is gaining steam
I am in no way saying that the Giants are not responsible for their failures. But when you consider some of the things that happened last season, and what has already transpired this offseason its hard to say that the Giants have any luck other than the bad variety.
The Giants were decimated with injuries last season. The most notable of these injuries were the season ending ailments of Geoff Schwartz, Victor Cruz and Jon Beason.
The Giants offensive line struggled mightily once Schwartz went down. When you lose your best run blocking lineman it is never a good thing. The Giants running game was below average last season, and Schwartz’s absence played a big role in that problem area.
Sep 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker Jon Beason (52) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Beason injury wasn’t surprising, as he now has quite the injury history. But when the Giants middle linebacker was put on IR the defense missed him dearly. Beason is a dominant linebacker and more importantly a great leader on the field. Some of the problem was that the Giants defenders were out of position against the run, a problem that could have been prevented if Beason remained healthy.
The Cruz injury wasn’t devastating. Surely, it is never a good thing to lose a playmaking wide receiver for the season but the Giants had playmaking wide receivers. When Cruz went out of the lineup, Odell Beckham Jr. entered the scene and became an absolute star. Rueben Randle and Larry Donnell got the job done as well.
You cannot control injuries. Yes, good technique and equipment can lower the risk of injury but players are going to get hurt. It is a part of the game and it is really bad luck.
The Giants have already had the injury bug hit them for the 2015 season. First it was left tackle, Will Beatty tearing his pectoral muscle while working out. Next it was the Giants best pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul hurting his hand while celebrating the fourth of July with fireworks.
It certainly seems that if the Giants didn’t have bad luck, that they would have no luck at all. There isn’t anything they can do about this, but if you’re superstitious it couldn’t hurt to knock on wood and sit in your lucky chair on game days. Hopefully the Giants luck changes going into the 2015 season.