New York Giants: 5 bold stat predictions for 2018

The G-Men recorded a franchise-worst 13 losses while allowing the second most yards in the NFL. Former head coach Ben McAdoo benched Eli Manning for Geno Smith, snapping the veteran quarterback’s consecutive starting streak at 210 games.

Evan Engram was one of the few New York Giants to put up impressive numbers. The first-round pick out of Ole Miss surpassed Bob Tucker’s record for most touchdown receptions by a rookie tight end. Engram finished the season with 64 catches for 722 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Multiple analysts expected the Giants to excel on both sides of the ball ahead of the 2017 season. Pro Football Focus gave New York’s secondary their No. 1 ranking. Good Morning Football debated whether Big Blue had the league’s best pass-catching trio.

Injuries, poor coaching, and a lack of effort resulted in a dismal 3-13 record. But there is hope for the upcoming season.

The Giants have a new coaching staff led by head coach Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator James Bettcher. They are just one season removed from an 11-5 record in 2016. Most of all, general manager Dave Gettleman has addressed some of the team’s biggest weaknesses in his first offseason.

For those reasons, there is hope for success in 2018. The Giants undoubtedly have a talented roster. If they can remain healthy and execute Shurmur and Bettcher’s game plan, this team has the potential to go from worst to first in the NFC East.

They will need their star players and new acquisitions to step up. Here’s a look at five bold stat predictions for the New York Giants. If all five come true, the G-Men will likely find themselves back in the playoffs.

No. 5 – Saquon Barkley Surpasses 1,500 Total Yards

The New York Giants have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Ahmad Bradshaw in 2012.

That’s about to change this upcoming season. Big Blue’s highest draft selection since Lawrence Taylor, Saquon Barkley, is set to take the league by storm in his rookie year.

The 6-foot, 230-pound running back was considered the top talent in this year’s draft class. He has drawn comparisons with Hall of Famer Barry Sanders coming out of Penn State. In three seasons with the Nittany Lions, Barkley amassed 5,038 total yards and scored 51 touchdowns.

Predicting Barkley to surpass 1,000 yards rushing is not enough for New York’s first-round pick. The Giants are expecting him to make an immediate impact as a receiver out the backfield and lined up outside.

For that reason, Barkley will surpass 1,500 total yards in his rookie season. He is considered the frontrunner for NFL Rookie of the Year, according to Pro Football Focus.

Both Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley fell short of 1,500 total yards in their rookie seasons. Ezekiel Elliott amassed 1,994 total yards behind Dallas’ dominant offensive line in his first season.

It surely won’t be an easy feat for Barkley to break 1,500 yards. It will be Shurmur’s commitment to the ground game, and the rookie running back’s ability to play on all three downs that make this stat possible.

No. 4 – Olivier Vernon Records Double-Digit Sacks

Olivier Vernon has only recorded double-digit sacks once in his NFL career. It came in his second season with the Miami Dolphins.

The 6-foot-2, 262-pound edge rusher has been a consistent playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in his first season with the Giants in 2016 but has yet to have his breakthrough as one of the league’s elite pass rushers.

That could quickly change under New York’s new defensive coordinator. Bettcher helped Chandler Jones reach career-highs with the Arizona Cardinals.

He plans to utilize Vernon in a similar way. Bettcher will look to put New York’s 27-year-old pass rusher in positions where he can succeed. It worked for Jones, who just led the league with 17 sacks last season.

Having a three-man front of Damon Harrison, Dalvin Tomlinson, and B.J. Hill should only make Vernon’s job easier. Look for the former third-round pick out of Miami to have a breakout season under Bettcher and even possibly surpass his career-high of 11.5 sacks.

Vernon was the highest graded edge defended for the New York Giants in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus.

Look for No. 54 to turn it up a notch in 2018.

No. 3 – Eli Apple Knocks Down 15 Passes 

Eli Apple’s career with the New York Giants has gotten off to a rocky start, to say the least.

But the 22-year-old cornerback is looking to make the most of his clean slate with a new coaching staff and front office. Apple has shown promise in his short career but has lacked consistency.

Through his first two seasons, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound corner has amassed 100 tackles, 15 passes defended, and one interception. Look for Apple to double his passes defended in year three.

That may be a lofty prediction for the former first-round pick out of Ohio State, but the Giants are counting on him to step up as the team’s No. 2 cornerback.

Gettleman’s decision not to add a legitimate starting cornerback in free agency or the draft was a vote of confidence in the young defensive back. Apple has shown significant strides through the team’s offseason program.

From Week 6 through Week 10 last season, Apple allowed just 9-of-19 passes to be completed when thrown in his direction, according to Pro Football Focus. He will have no shortage of playing time in Bettcher’s defense and will have plenty of opportunities to knock down passes, playing opposite Janoris Jenkins.

Only 16 players in the NFL recorded 15 passes defended or more in 2017, according to ESPN. Look for Apple to make the most of his second chance.

No. 2 – Eli Manning Throws Over 28 TDs

New York’s two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback has only thrown over 28 touchdowns four times in his career, according to Pro Football Reference.

Manning threw 35 touchdowns in 2015, 31 touchdowns in 2010, 30 touchdowns in 2014, and 29 touchdowns in 2011. The 37-year-old threw just 19 touchdowns last season. But it wasn’t all Manning’s fault.

Losing Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Dwayne Harris to season-ending injuries didn’t help. Playing behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines allowed him little time in the pocket to make throws downfield. Even when Manning did have time in the pocket, his receivers continually dropped routine catches. So much so that New York led the league in dropped passes.

But with a healthy OBJ returning and a more complete offensive line, Manning is looking to turn back the clock. The additions of Nate Solder and Will Hernandez should immediately alleviate some of the pressure Manning has faced in recent seasons.

Playing in an offense with two quarterback gurus in Shurmur and Mike Shula should only help his chances to succeed. This will arguably be one of the most complete offenses Manning has played on in his 15-year career.

With so many weapons, Manning should be able to pick defenses apart. The threat of a ground game will only open things up downfield. However, it’s undoubtedly a bold prediction for Manning to surpass 28 touchdown passes.

Only four quarterbacks, Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Tom Brady, and Matthew Stafford, did so this past season.

No. 1 – James Bettcher Leads Giants To Top 10 Defense

This may seem like a wild prediction given New York’s defensive play in 2017.

But don’t sleep on Big Blue’s new defensive coordinator. Bettcher led the Arizona Cardinals to three consecutive top-six finishes in terms of yards allowed.

It’s not as though the Cardinals didn’t have player turnover or injuries during his tenure. They lost key starters like Tony Jefferson and Kevin Minter in free agency. They lost players like Tyrann Mathieu, Deone Bucannon, and Tyvon Branch to season-ending injuries. But Arizona’s defense continued to play well as a unit.

The same can not be said for the Giants. Over the past three seasons, the G-Men have posted the league’s 31st, 10th, and 32nd ranked defenses.

Giants former general manager Jerry Reese spent $200 million on Big Blue’s defense during the 2016 offseason. The team undoubtedly has talent on the defensive side of the ball. There are five players on the roster, Landon Collins, Alec Ogletree, Harrison, Vernon, and Jenkins, who were All-Pros in 2016.

The additions of Lorenzo Carter, Kareem Martin, and Hill should only elevate this defense to another level. The Giants have already shown the ability to go from worst to top 10 in 2016.

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Under Bettcher, the Giants have the potential to return to their defensive dominance. Don’t be surprised when he leads Big Blue’s defense to a quick turnaround in 2018.