New York Giants have flash but need substance

The New York Giants might be a better fantasy football team than a real one. Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle are the receivers. Eli Manning is the quarterback, Rashad Jennings the running back. Shane Vereen fits the flex position perfectly in a PPR league.

There is no doubt that the Giants have flashy superstars. What they need though is substance. They need toughness and grit. They need the ability to win the tough games by stepping up in the tough moments. For the Giants it all starts in the trenches.

The offensive line needs to be able to handle its business. Without a cohesive group of 5 competent blockers, all those flashy toys are limited. The Giants options on the offensive line are limited. They need guys like Ereck Flowers and Justin Pugh to step up and be the first round draft picks that they are.

Good football teams do two things successfully that bad teams don’t. They run the football and they stop the run. In this passing game we live in, you wouldn’t believe how important the running game is. It provides balance to the offensive attack and it’s the best way there is to grind out tough yards. The Giants didn’t have a running game in the 2014 season and they allowed opponents a 4.9 yards per carry average.

Substance is going to be the difference between winning and losing. The Giants have question marks up front on both sides of the football. Their only elite level pass rusher just got his finger amputated and his future is an uncertainty. Their starting middle linebacker, Jon Beason, is as injury prone as an iPhone charger. And worst of all this isn’t a team that has been there and done that.

Eli Manning has been there and done that. Tom Coughlin has been there and done that. The majority of this team hasn’t though. The Giants have virtually no experience at the safety positions. The Giants have numerous positions that are being manned by first or second year players. When I say the team needs substance, experience is a big part of that.

Think about something for a second here. Manning had well over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and the team won only six games. Think about how good Beckham Jr. was last season. Look at all the flash the Giants have on their roster. If they can find the substance, they can win games.

Next: New York Giants Profiles: Eli Manning

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