Wednesday, August 18, 2021

New York Giants - 2021 NFL Season Preview

NEW YORK GIANTS                                                    



 

2020 Record - 6-10-0

 

Head Coach - Joe Judge

 

Key Additions - Mike Glennon (QB), Kyle Rudolph (TE), Zach Fulton (OL), Ryan Anderson (LB), Kenny Golladay (WR), Adoree' Jackson (DB), Johnathan Harrison (OL), Reggie Ragland (LB), Ifeadi Odenigbo (DL), Danny Shelton (DL)

 

OFFENSE - Daniel Jones is the quarterback and he passed for 2,943 yards last year along with eleven touchdowns and ten interceptions while also rushing for 423 yards (6.5 ypc average) and one touchdown. Mike Glennon, Joe Webb and Clayton Thorson are in camp battling for the backup spot.

Saquon Barkley suffered a knee injury in the second game last season and only had 19 carries, so his return to full health is essential to the Giants running game. Also in the fold is Devontae Booker along with several others in camp. The wide receivers are led by Sterling Shepard (66 receptions for 656 yards and three touchdowns) and Kenny Golladay, who comes over from Detroit, where he caught 20 passes for 382 yards and two scores in just five games due to injuries. Darius Slayton (50, 751, three TD) and rookie Kadarius Toney (Florida) will see action as well this season. Tight ends Evan Engram (63, 654, one TD) and Kyle Rudolph (28, 334, one TD with the Vikings) will look to form a solid duo.

The Giants only averaged 17.5 points per game last year and that was next to last in the NFL while also ranking 31st overall on offense, averaging 300 yards per game. The running game averaged 111 YPG and 189 passing yards per game.


DEFENSE - Leonard Williams (11 1/2 QB sacks), Dexter Lawrence II and Danny Shelton anchor the front line for the defense. Linebackers are Blake Martinez, Reggie Ragland, Lorenzo Carter and either rookie Azeez Ojulari (Georgia) or Oshane Ximines. Providing depth in the front seven are B.J. Hill, Austin Johnson, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Devante Downs, Tae Crowder and Cam Brown. 

James Bradberry (three interceptions) and Adoree' Jackson are the corners with Darnay Holmes and rookie Aaron Robinson (UCF) as the backups. The safeties are Jabril Peppes and Logan Ryan along with Xavier McKinney and Julian Love.


2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Giants Head Coach Joe Judge is entering his second season with the team and would like to see the offense do much better than what happened last season. Getting running back Saquon Barkley back this season and fully healthy will go a long way to improving the offense. Quarterback Daniel Jones had an up-and-down season and will need to improve the passing game if the team wants to have better success this year. 

The defense was the definite strength of the team last year, allowing 349 yards per game (12th overall in the NFL) and gave up 22.3 points per game, which was ninth in the league. The run defense gave up 111 yards per game (tenth in NFL) and the pass defense allowed 238 YPG, which was 16th overall. The front line gets pressure on the opposing quarterbacks as the team had 41 sacks a year ago along with eleven interceptions. As long as the Giants get that type of effort, they will likely stay in most games. They had five one-score game losses last year and finished just one game back of Washington for the NFC East title while going 4-2 against divisional foes. 

Tightening up the loose ends and playing with discipline to avoid mistakes will be a key to the team having a better season and perhaps getting a playoff spot for the first time in five years. The likely finish this season is 7-10 and that won't get it done. But who knows? Perhaps with a couple of breaks, the Giants could make the playoffs.

 

2021 SCHEDULE

Week 1 - vs. Denver 

Week 2 - at Washington 

Week 3 - vs. Atlanta 

Week 4 - at New Orleans 

Week 5 - at Dallas 

Week 6 - vs. L.A. Rams 

Week 7 - vs. Carolina 

Week 8 - at Kansas City 

Week 9 - vs. Las Vegas 

Week 10 - BYE 

Week 11 - at Tampa Bay 

Week 12 - vs. Philadelphia 

Week 13 - at Miami 

Week 14 - at L.A. Chargers 

Week 15 - vs. Dallas 

Week 16 - at Philadelphia

Week 17 - at Chicago 

Week 18 - vs. Washington 


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