New York Giants: Can OTAs signal the beginning of offensive progress?

I look at the New York Giants offense after the NFL Draft like I look at my lawn after this recent week of rain.

Some spots are full and lush, while the scattered bare spots still irk me. I know that I’ll have to put some work in patching up those bare spots. Hopefully, I have enough time to get the job done before summer begins.

I feel the same way about the New York Giants offense. For example, at this point, we’re not too worried about running back. With veteran pick-up Jonathan Stewart and No. 2 selection Saquon Barkley, things will be fine. Second-year man Wayne Gallman represents decent depth at the position.

The same dynamic applies at the quarterback position. I’m not claiming that Eli Manning will be invited to the Pro Bowl – yet. Also, it would be foolhardy to proclaim either Davis Webb or Kyle Lauletta the heir apparent to Manning. But that’s the hand we’re playing in 2018. I’m not overly concerned, but talk to me after the second preseason game.

At wide receiver, Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard are givens. Now can Roger Lewis, Travis Rudolph, Cody Latimer or one of the others rise to the top of the depth chart as WR3? I have to say that I am not a big Lewis fan. He’s not an efficient receiver. In his rookie season, he caught 36.8 percent of passes that went his way. In 2017, that production rose to 50 percent. Still not good.

If Latimer doesn’t emerge in the offseason and camp, I’m concerned. Maybe general manager Dave Gettleman scours the waiver wire for a veteran. That would seem to make sense. I am a bit surprised that Gettleman didn’t address this area in the NFL Draft.

New York Giants Line Dance

Through addition and subtraction, the offensive line is markedly better. Even though the New York Giants overpaid for him, Nate Solder is a legitimate NFL left tackle. I would certainly pair him with second-round selection Will Hernandez on the left side and call it a day. Let’s not expect perfection right away, but let’s not overthink this either.

If Ereck Flowers wins the right tackle position, you’ll be able to knock me over with a feather. One has to think that Chad Wheeler will be given every opportunity to win that job. Undrafted free agent Nick Gates received some notoriety upon his signing with Big Blue. Size-wise, he projects to a move to the guard position. I don’t see him as right tackle competition, and 2017 draft pick Adam Bisnowaty has already been cut. /

Right guard will be a battle between free agent signee, Patrick Omameh, and incumbent John Jerry. Jerry took a significant pay cut to stay in East Rutherford. That tells you everything you need to know about how brass feels about him. Either player may be simply stopgap – until Gettleman has another offseason to work on the line.

I cringe at the thought of Flowers and Jerry starting on the right side, but we can’t eliminate that possibility completely. Canadian-import Brett Jones gets the nod at center. He earned this opportunity, and the Giants will live and die with him right now. Big Blue has bigger issues than Jones, and I actually think he’ll be better than good.

Lastly, Gettleman isn’t signing a blank check to the young players. They will need to show tangible progress. We saw that mindset with cutting Bisnowaty. Hungry veterans like Chris Scott, Jon Halapio and John Greco are ready, willing and able to step in.

New York Giants Are Tight End Heavy

To my way of thinking, the New York Giants should simply play Evan Engram in the slot. This allows under-utilized tight end Rhett Ellison to get on the field. It also gets Ellison targets in the passing game. It’s a simple thought – use Ellison as the traditional tight end, and play Engram in the slot.

To the football “experts” out there, this concept will be criticized. Somehow the masses bought into the “Engram creating mismatches” narrative. That storyline was pure fiction, unless of course you believe Engram blocking an edge rusher creates a mismatch.

I’d rather get Ellison and Engram on the field at the same time, and not necessarily in a two tight end set. Given the bare spot at wideout, perhaps that’s the plan already. Word from inside Giants camp is that Jerell Adams has improved. Fan favorite Ryan O’Malley returned to Big Blue, and Kyle Carter came over from Minnesota.

Too many NFL players for maybe four positions, and we haven’t factored in fullback Shane Smith. I’m not a big believer in the H-Back and like a fullback on the roster. Then again I don’t make the decisions. I saw Smith as a valuable contributor in the run game and on special teams.

New York Giants Offensive Summary

Overall, the New York Giants will hold firm at quarterback. They will let the chips fall at running back, with Barkley being the primary mover and shaker. Constructing the offensive line will continue to be a process, especially on the right side. Wideouts could undergo a further transformation, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t. The strongest position currently is tight end – go figure. Who would have thought that when Larry Donnell and Will Tye were here? The one offensive wild card is Evan Engram and how Shurmur and offensive coordinator Mike Shula use him.

Outlook: Improvement expected, but let’s wait to see the pieces come together on the field.

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