After several years of disappointing seasons, the New York Giants are trying to change the narrative after a successful 2022 campaign.
With new leadership at the helm, an infusion of young talent, and a renewed commitment to excellence, there is a palpable sense of optimism surrounding Big Blue despite its rough start to the year. For a proud franchise with four Super Bowl titles in its illustrious history, the bar is set high for the Giants.
Based on several key factors, the team seems poised for better days ahead after a brutal stretch of seasons in the 2010s and a horrible 1-3 start.
New coaching staff bringing energy and focus
The New York Giants made significant changes to their coaching staff in the 2022 offseason. They hired Brian Daboll as their new head coach and Joe Schoen as their general manager. Daboll previously served as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and helped turn Josh Allen into an elite quarterback. Schoen also came from the Bills front office and is known for his scouting acumen and ability to build talented rosters through the draft.
This new regime has brought a sense of energy and focus to a Giants team that seemed directionless in recent seasons. Daboll and Schoen are emphasizing discipline, fundamentals, and playing smart football. There is an emphasis on out-scheming and out-preparing opponents rather than relying solely on talent.
The Giants succeeded in 2022, finishing 9-7-1 and making their first postseason since 2016. However, dreadful offensive line play and injuries have led the team to take a step back so far in 2023.
Young core of playmakers emerging
The Giants have quietly assembled a strong core of young talent led by offensive playmakers like Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. Despite a recent setback with a high-ankle sprain, Barkley appears fully recovered from knee surgery and looks as explosive as ever. Jones has shown improvement with his decision-making and accuracy under Daboll’s tutelage.
On defense, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is a shutdown cover man, while linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux provide pressure off the edge. With these young stars leading the way, the Giants have the makings of a dynamic offense and aggressive defense down.
Concerns in the trenches
Schoen and Daboll understand that NFL success starts in the trenches, which is why the Giants have invested heavily in the offensive and defensive lines over the last two years. However, those investments have undergone some struggles. They signed guard Mark Glowinski in 2022, but the coaching staff benched him for poor play. An MCL injury has forced 2022 first-round pick Evan Neal to miss time. The rest of the line has seen a lot of movement, trying to find something that works.
Against the Seahawks on Monday night, the Giants gave up 11 sacks. Jones was also sacked seven times in the home opener against the Cowboys. The offensive line has given up 23 sacks in four games, the most of any team in the NFL.
Defensively, the Giants expect Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence to carry the load and get more pressure on the quarterback. And Thibodeaux’s speed off the edge gives them a fearsome pass rusher. By controlling the line of scrimmage, the Giants aim to impose their will on opponents and dictate the tempo of games.
Winning culture takes root
For much of the last decade, the Giants lacked leadership and accountability. There was no clear direction from the top down. Now, Daboll and Schoen are trying to instill a winning culture where every player must earn their role. Increased competition in practice, hard coaching, and an emphasis on discipline are hallmarks of this new regime.
There have been promising signs as players have embraced this old-school, no-nonsense approach. Rookies and veterans alike are being held to the same high standard. Egos are being put aside in favor of team success. After years of dysfunction, the Giants finally have the culture in place to achieve consistent winning.
Returning to physical, downhill running game
Daboll comes from a coaching tree that values physical run games and play-action passing. With Saquon Barkley healthy and running behind a hopefully improving offensive line as the season unfolds, expect the Giants to return to their smash-mouth roots. The additions of backs Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell give them depth in the backfield.
Play-action off downhill runs will help Daniel Jones take shots downfield to Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, and rookies Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt. Daboll knows how to create and exploit mismatches through creative personnel groupings and pre-snap motion. Giants fans should be excited to see a modernized version of old-school, physical Giants football.
Betting odds reflect Giants’ struggles
As we enter into the second quarter of 2023, the New York Giants odds have taken a bit of a hit. Their win total over/under sits around six at most sportsbooks. Their odds to make the playoff have risen to about +800, while their Super Bowl odds are a bit long at +15000. These numbers indicate the Giants are a longshot to make the playoffs this season, given their slow start and challenging road games coming up against Miami and Buffalo. That being said, there’s still a long way to go in 2023.
Success
The New York Giants have had a rough start to the 2023 season, with a 1-3 record and significant struggles in their offensive line play. To build off their 2022 success, the Giants need to address several challenges and make improvements in critical areas.
The offensive line has been underperforming, with quarterback Daniel Jones facing pressure on his dropbacks and being sacked 23 times in the first four games. The line also struggles in the running game. Improvements in the offensive line are crucial for the Giants’ success moving forward.
It has been a while, and even though the fans are not that patient, the future still looks bright in New York. This young, hungry team has bought into a proven coaching staff, culture, and identity. The rebuild is ahead of schedule. You should not be shocked if the Giants are still involved in competitive football games in December and January.
