5 Preseason Keys to Watch as New York Giants Battle Buffalo Bills
The New York Giants’ preseason schedule takes them to Buffalo to face the Bills. Here are five keys to look for as the G-Men invade New Era Stadium.
Preseason play of the right tackle
The first preseason game showcased the glaring deficiency at the right tackle position. Marshall Newhouse, the presumed starter, struggled in run blocking, and back up Adam Gettis may have played himself off the team. Ben McAdoo admitted as such publicly. According to the New York Post in an Aug. 15, 2016 article, McAdoo said, “[Gettis] had a rough night, and he needs to bounce back this week…Adam is going to have to fight his way back into the mix.” Look for back up players, such as Bobby Hart, to play and play well to increase the competition at the position.
Preseason running back performance
To the surprise of many Giants’ fans, the top running back performance against the Dolphins was third-year back Andre Williams. After a promising rookie season, Williams experienced a drop off in his sophomore campaign. In the first preseason game, Williams displayed a vision and burst that could bode well for his prospects of making the team. He also looked noticeably slimmer which may coincide with a new running style. Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen are the unquestioned staples at the position. Paul Perkins, Marshaun Coprich, and Bobby Rainey will also need to prove themselves in a crowded backfield.
Preseason play of back-up quarterbacks
Ryan Nassib’s play against the Dolphins was the worst preseason showing of his career. And given that nearly all his playing time comes before the regular season, this should raise alarms about his validity as a competent backup. He seemed rattled under pressure, looked indecisive, and missed a few receivers, most notably Sterling Shepard on a post route. With the uneven play, Logan Thomas will have the opportunity to stay on the roster and possibly unseat Nassib as Eli Manning’s backup.
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Wide receiver depth during preseason
Aside from Sterling Shepard, no receivers made a splash in the first preseason game. The receiving core is far from solidified and even further from instilling fear in opposing defenses. Although another one man show featuring Odell Beckham is unlikely, the lack of consistent play from anyone outside of a rookie has to be concerning. Victor Cruz has yet to play, Geremy Davis has yet to make the impression on the coaching staff that he is a reliable receiver, and Dwayne Harris is a number three at best.
Other rookies Darius Powe and Roger Lewis have looked promising. Each must do something in game to show both their coaches and their quarterback that they can be counted on. Lining up Shane Vereen at wide receiver is useful, but not a tactic the Giants would like to use regularly. As stellar as Eli Manning has been lately, he and one receiver can only do so much.
[edit: WR Geremy Davis will not be making the trip to Buffalo; others will need to step up.]
Josh Brown’s preseason replacement
A recent story posted on NFL.com on Aug. 19, 2016 highlights Josh Brown’s suspension and the domestic violence abuse allegations against him. Thoughts and a quick recap have already been covered on GMen HQ, and domestic violence and societal repercussions aside, the Giants will be without their Pro Bowl kicker for at least one game. That game also happens to be a very important road opener against the division rival Dallas Cowboys; a game that always seems to be one possession. This makes a reliable kicker all the more valuable. With Brown’s conduct, the Giants will be forced to carry two kickers on their roster come the regular season, something no NFL team is particularly interested in.
The other kicker currently on the roster is Tom Obarski, who was on the Cincinnati Bengals last year. However he has yet to record a point scored in the NFL. Hopefully the 23-year old can fill in to at least remedy the problems that a missing Pro Bowl kicker can cause. The preseason game against the Bills will be a great opportunity.