Nov 30, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller (97) and defensive end Tyson Alualu (93) sack New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. The Jaguars won 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
1.You Win Football Games In The Trenches
The old coaches cliché is that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks. Well the same is true about the offensive line. If you have two or more ways you shuffle the offensive line during the season you probably don’t have much of a line at all. The Giants offensive line has been terrible in the past couple of seasons but in 2014 it sunk to a new low.
Related: New York Giants must rethink offensive line
When the Giants lost Geoff Schwartz to an injury it was all but over for the Giants up front. The Giants struggled mightily. The pass protection was inconsistent and the running lanes just weren’t there for the Giants running backs. You look at the Giants team and you realize that no matter how good your quarterback and receivers are so much of the game is won and lost in the tackle box.
The Giants defensive front seven was just as lacking last season. Hidden behind the fourth most sacks in the NFL (12.5 of them by Jason Pierre-Paul) was the fact that the Giants couldn’t stop the run. The Giants gave up a gaudy 4.9 yards per carry average. The sack numbers aren’t as impressive when you consider that the defense struggled to get off the field. When Big Blue didn’t get to the quarterback he made the plays that killed the Giants.
Football always has been and will always be a gladiator sport where toughness wins over all else. The Giants need to get stronger up front on both sides of the football. It’s really as simple as that.
Next: 2. Never Take Your Foot Off The Gas Pedal