The New York Giants (2-2) held a mid-week press conference to discuss the team’s preparedness for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers (2-1) and Aaron Rodgers.
Prepared to win or prepared to fail?
Prepared. It’s what the Giants aim for every week. However, this preparation has not guaranteed the best results over the past two games.
The team appears to be executing plays even though the results are disappointing. This is happening offensively and defensively. Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN on October 5, 2016, injuries to the secondary inhibits the Giants.
It appears as if the Giants are prepared to do poorly on both sides of the football. Despite looking like a marginally winning team against the Dallas Cowboys
and New Orleans Saints, the hours the Giants have spent preparing for the weekly game appears to have been futile.
Even though head coach and former assistant coach to the Packers Ben McAdoo prepares well and has an impeachable record, this aura does not seem to be trickling down to the players.
In Wednesday’s press conference, McAdoo expressed his faith in his experience and leadership:
"Rodgers is a master of the hard count…He is great when escaping the pocket. We have to keep him contained. Their O-line is well coached and physically tough…They play well together. They have a strong one-two punch at the running back position with big backs in Lacey and Starks. Their receivers are back at full strength with Jordy in the mix. Defensively, they’re multiple and well-coordinated…"
The issue is the obstacles to McAdoo’s omniscience and track record.
First, there is the controversy of Odell Beckham.
Second, there is the sense that the offense cannot maintain possession of the ball longer than the opposition to score touchdowns.
Third, the injuries to Shane Vereen and Rashad Jennings early in the season exposed a frailty that has not been sorted out even after three weeks.
More attention better focused on players commitment to McAdoo’s ethic and grit
Too much attention may be on one head coach and not enough on the organization as a whole. The Giants’ offense has been nearly non-existent against the Redskins and Vikings. The opposition outscored the Giants 54-26. The Giants’ defense has seemed flimsy allowing too much yardage in passing and rushing. In 2016 the Giants allowed 1,059 yards. In 2015, the number by week 4 was roughly the same.
The Giants seem to be suffering form an undiagnosed illness causing them to appear more prepared than they really are. It has affected the Giants for years and a superficial measure of installing a new head coach will not work. Hoping that this will solve the Giants’ offense and defensive woes is asking for the moon.
Eli Manning, Ben McAdoo and coaching staff must take medicine to expose a truth that must be given voice to. The voice would say that the Giants have never really prepared for the 2016 season and need to take a proactive approach to finding replacements to a tattered secondary and running back corps, deescalating an emotional roller coaster caused by Beckham and promoting a environment of law and order from the top to the bottom of the organization.