New York Giants: 3 Players Who Need To Shine Sunday
By Eric Mollo
I once heard a highly respected sports writer say fans just too often overthink X-factors.
It’s a pretty good point. The answer to that question is usually much more obvious than we give it: it’s Eli Manning. Almost every game, it’s Eli Manning. Without solid quarterback play, the Giants’ chances of winning are always significantly lower.
But with each game, certain players’ strengths just seem to match up well with other teams’ weaknesses. Or maybe, there are players who don’t have a lot of strengths, who just need a miracle performance because the Giants can’t afford to have that weakness exposed.
In this Sunday’s matchup with Dallas, I think there are a few players that fit this mold: those whose talents matchup well with Dallas’ weaknesses, and those that don’t, but we need to pray they have a good game if the Giants want to have their best chance at winning.
Below, I listed three players I think need solid performances in Dallas if the Giants want their best chance at a W.
Rashad Jennings
All of the Giants backs need to perform well Sunday, but being that Jennings is listed
Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
as the team’s starter, I think how he plays is particularly important.
Every television analyst in America will tell you it’s important to establish the run and control the clock. And they’ll say it about every time in pretty much every game, and in the case of the Giants it’s no different.
Jennings needs to be the extra threat Dallas’ defense—in my mind surprisingly thin defense—needs to account for. With Victor Cruz out and double teams on Odell Beckham Jr. almost every play, the Giants offense will need to establish some sort of ground game.
And maybe just as important—they need to keep Dallas off the field. Why? Well, their offensive line is the most dominant unit in football, and even if the Giants handle the Cowboys’ passing game, the team’s dominant o-line can give Romo enough time to get into a passing rhythm. Dallas’ best weapon is their offensive line because it gives the Cowboys options in the air and on the ground.
How do you stop that unit? Outside of having the best pass rush in all of football—which the Giants don’t have—keep the offensive line off the field. Should Jennings dominate touches and keep the clock moving, the Giants can do just that.
Rueben Randle
Randle’s presence will be more important with Victor Cruz out, yes, but even if Cruz
Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) cannot catch a pass from quarterback Eli Manning (10) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
were still on the field, Randle’s game brings an element that perfectly complements Odell Beckham: a deep threat.
Beckham’s one of the handful of special talents who gets open at will. However, what will make the Giants offense truly dynamic is how they are able to generate big plays when they don’t throw in Beckham’s direction. The Cowboys and Lions, two of the higher-octane offenses in football, both are able to do this with lesser talented receivers. Their quarterbacks make plays and allow receivers to get open while their number one wideouts dominate all over the field.
The same can be said for the Giants should Randle’s game become a little more consistent. In Sunday’s matchup, the Giants will be facing a team with a lot of defensive concerns, particularly in the backend. Should Randle use his skillset to catch a few long passes and open up the deep ball, he’d be attacked one of Dallas’ glaring weaknesses. That means—we could see the Giants offense roll for four quarters.
Marshall Newhouse
There’s only so much we could expect of Newhouse—he’s struggled throughout his career when he’s been given a chance to start, and I just don’t see that changing when he puts on a Giants uniform.
Jun 16, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tackle Marshall Newhouse (73) blocks defensive end George Selvie (93) during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports
But Newhouse is one of those players fans just need to hope can hold his own for a couple of reasons. One, he’s not protecting Eli’s blindside, and that’s almost if not more important than protecting Eli’s blindside. Manning throws a whole lot better when he’s rolling out to his right, and it opens up more options in the passing game when he’s able to do so. Newhouse needs to be able to hold down that side of the line, giving Manning and the offense the opportunity for some rollout plays along the sidelines. It’s better for their deep passing attack as well as just varying looks for the defense.
In the case of Dallas, their secondary is best exposed when the offense is balanced and varied. Their corners, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, are talented but struggle when having to adjust to a constantly changing offense. Newhouse can open up the door for the Giants passing attack to vary looks and make defenders adjust, which could be the difference between a good offensive performance, and a dominating one Sunday night.
Next: New York Giants: Grading 53 Man Roster By Position