After 12 years and two Super Bowl wins, coach Tom Coughlin was shown the door. Ben McAdoo moves an office over, having been promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. The Giants spent $200 million on defensive players to bolster a unit that gave up an NFL record five fourth-quarter leads last year. The additions of free-agent defensive linemen Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon should give the Giants their best front four since when they won their last Super Bowl, and the signing of Janoris Jenkins and addition of Eli Apple via the draft adds depth to the secondary.
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The rookie out of Boise State has seized the starting free safety job this camp with a game that coaches praise as polished beyond his years. His emergence will allow strong safety Landon Collins to play closer to the line of scrimmage as a run stopper.
He started as a rookie and was one of the worst left tackles in the game, particularly in pass protection. The Giants don’t have much of an alternative, so Flowers has no choice but to make a massive first- to second-year leap.
Victor Cruz’s time is nearing an end — if it isn’t already done — and someone is going to have to step up as the outside receiver opposite Odell Beckham. Rookie Sterling Shepard is a better option as a slot receiver, so Harris has a chance to make a huge impact in 2016.
Last season, the Giants’ receiving corps gave opposing defenses every reason to smother Odell Beckham Jr. with coverage. Victor Cruz was out all season, and Rueben Randle didn’t scare anyone. Enter rookie Sterling Shepard, who had an 86-1,288-11 line at Oklahoma in his senior year. Shepard figures to be busy in a high-octane offense that ranked sixth in pass attempts and seventh in yards last season. The second-round pick can play outside or in the slot (but figures to be better at the latter), and he’s been very impressive in camp, displaying good hands and route-running skills. Sixty receptions should be his floor.
(All lines courtesy of Bovada.com, as of 8/31)
Season win total over/under: 8 (over -150, under +120)
Odds to win the Super Bowl: 20/1. Beware of any Super Bowl bets that are in the range from 20-to-1 to 30-to-1. This is the danger zone, where oddsmakers are trying to wrangle you into wasting money on long shots that could potentially work out ... maybe ... in a best-case scenario. Just because Eli Manning has two Super Bowls already doesn't mean he's on pace for another.
One thing we wish we could bet on: The number of different celebrations Odell Beckham Jr. busts out this season. Beckham's creativity rivals his ability on the field. We're talking about a wide receiver who busted out two completely unique, intricate TD celebrations in the same game in 2015, after all. And if opponents are sick of Beckham's dancing, there's an easy answer: Stop him.
September 25, vs. Washington
In a Week 2 divisional game, it’s critical for the Giants to take care of home field and get the upper hand on a playoff spot early in the season.
October 23, vs. Los Angeles
The Giants are heading to London. The Rams’ defense should be stout, but this is a game the Giants need to win, no matter the venue, if they’re to be taken seriously in 2016.
December 11, vs. Dallas
This is the start of a stretch in which the Giants take on three of their divisional opponents in the final four weeks. Beating Dallas here is critical to making sure that stretch has meaning.
We say: 10-6, Divisional Round playoff loss
WhatIfSports simulation says: 7-9
-- Dieter Kurtenbach, John Halpin (fantasy), Andrew Lynch (betting)
