Giants fall on Bill Barnwell’s list of top NFL offensive weapons
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There’s a lot of expectations for the New York Giants’ offense this year after making a flurry of moves this past offseason to add weapons to assist third-year quarterback Daniel Jones.
Not everyone is sold, however. Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes the Giants really haven’t done that much to improve. In fact, he’s dropped them from No. 7 on his list of NFL teams with the best weapons to No. 16.
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For as many promising pieces as the Giants sport, the offense doesn’t add up to the sum of its parts. As exciting as Saquon Barkley might look on a highlight reel, the former Penn State star has now missed most of one season with a torn ACL and hobbled through a second with a high ankle sprain. Kenny Golladay, the team’s new addition at wideout, missed most of 2020 with hip and hamstring injuries. Darius Slayton repeated his 2019 numbers, but he did so on 176 more snaps. Tight end Evan Engram continues to struggle with drops and averaged just 6.0 yards per target last season. First-round pick Kadarius Toney could be a valuable weapon in the slot, but his presence conflicts with Sterling Shepard’s best spot, just as was the case with Golden Tate two years ago.
Hmm. That is certainly a glass-half-empty approach. He’s forgetting the fact the Giants were operating under a new coaching staff that was not allowed a proper gestation period due to the COVID-19 restrictions. That hurt them greatly.
They came out of the gate 1-7 but found their sea legs in the second half, winning five of the final eight games. Th loss of Barkley was a devastating one, especially for Daniel Jones and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who both planned on leaning on Barkley to get through the rust.
Barnwell says it was more than just that. Garrett’s bland offensive approach is holding the team back, and of not changed, will do so again.
All of these pieces are being put into an offense by an organization whose espoused philosophy is running the football, which is one of the reasons why the Giants are so frustrating to watch. There’s top-six talent here on paper, but counting on everyone to stay healthy and be used properly seems to be too big of an ask. At the very least, they desperately need a healthy, productive season from Barkley — who said Monday that he’s uncertain he’ll be ready for Week 1 — before figuring out whether they want to give the 2018 No. 2 pick a contract extension next spring.
Head coach Joe Judge has not discussed the play calling duties for the upcoming season but there is some speculation that Garrett may not be doing it. That would appease many Giant fans who last year questioned the team’s dink and dunk offensive approach.
