National Football League

Giants' offensive approach could change in wake of Will Beatty injury

Published May. 21, 2015 5:35 p.m. ET

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On Thursday, we took a look at how Will Beatty's injury will impact the New York Giants' offensive line individually and as a whole. Beatty's injury has the potential to have an impact on more than just the Giants' offensive line personnel. In losing their best offensive lineman from 2014, the Giants may be forced to alter the way they run Ben McAdoo's offense in 2015.

When McAdoo was hired as offensive coordinator last offseason, he promised to bring an up-tempo offense that focues on quick-breaking routes designed to get the ball out of Eli Manning's hand fast. He delivered on this promise.

According to Pro Football Focus, Manning got rid of the football in 2.49 seconds, the sixth-fastest out of 39 qualifying quarterbacks who played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps. This was a stark contrast to the Kevin Gilbride offense Manning had grown acustomed to. In 2013 under Gilbride, Manning averaged 2.73 seconds to throw.

With the absence of Beatty, the team's best pass blocker per Pro Football Focus in 2014, things could speed up even more for Manning and the offense in 2015. Protection breakdowns could lead to Manniing avoiding or not having enough time to attempt some of the deep and deep-intermediate passes that he connected on over the final six games of 2014.

Rueben Randle should be worried. In his third season, Randle posted career highs in catches and yards, with 71 and 938 respectively. Previously miscast in Gilbride's offense that featured multiple option routes every play, it took him some time to transition, but eventually McAdoo's more straightforward offense clicked for him. Over the final two games of the 2014 season, Randle racked up 290 receiving yards and a touchdown on 12 catches.

Manning and McAdoo finally took advantage of what Randle is best at—winning downfield. Randle is not a straight-line burner, but he wins in the vertical game because he's big, strong at the catch point and fluid in adjusting to the football in the air. In the final two games of 2014, Randle hauled in catches of 49, 43, 36, 31, 25 and 24 yards. He could have had another on a 34-yard touchdown down the deep middle nullified by a holding penalty. He also added two grabs on go routes down the right and left hashmark, repsectively, for 18 and 19 yards.

The Giants could also be forced to alter their offensive personnel packages. In 2014, McAdoo's offense featured more 11 personnel packages—three wide receivers, a running back and a tight end—than the vast majority of NFL teams. After taking over third wide receiver duties for Victor Cruz in Week 7, Preston Parker had four games where he was on the field for over 75 percent of the team's snaps and only two games where that number dipped below 50 percent, per Pro Football Focus.

On a positive note, this is not their only option. Larry Donnell was the worst run-blocking tight end in the NFL in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, but he also the single best pass-blocking tight end. Staying in more to pass block would limit opportunities for Donnell to showcase some of the exciting potential in the passing game that we saw from him at times in 2014. In an effort to keep Manning upright and utilize Donnell's talent in the passing game, the Giants could be forced to use more 12 personnel packages, featuring a second tight end and one less wide receiver.

Beatty's injury isn't bad news for every Giants skill position player. Newly acquired running back Shane Vereen could see an expanded role. Manning could look to Vereen as his safety valve when protection breaks down. Also, if the Giants are in 11 personnel, with Donnell staying in to block, Vereen could be utilized in the short-middle of the field on arrow and quick-in routes.

There remains a lot to be decided in the aftermath of Beatty's injury, and the transition of first-round offensive tackle Ereck Flowers could play a major role. If Flowers seamlessly transitions to the Giants' vacant left tackle spot and holds down the fort, the Giants won't be forced to tailor their play-calling to their pass protection. In the scenario where the Giants' pass protection falters, now you know what direction you can expect the offense to go.

For more on the Giants and the NFC East, you can contact Dan on Twitter @DanSchneierNFL.

Related Content:

No time to wait on Ereck Flowers following Will Beatty's injury

How Beatty's injury will impact the Giants' offensive line

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