Your inbox approves Men's coaches poll Women's coaches poll Play to win 25K!
NEW YORK GIANTS
Eli Manning

Giants poised to explode on offense with Eli Manning surrounded by weapons

Lorenzo Reyes
USA TODAY
Giants quarterback Eli Manning is heading into his 12th NFL season.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants appear loaded on offense, so it's little surprise optimism is running high as they aim to make their first playoff appearance since capping the 2011 season with a win in Super Bowl XLVI.

"You just hope you have opportunities to get everyone the ball,"quarterback Eli Manning told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday as the team held its first practice of voluntary organized team activities.

"By everybody doing their assignment, by everybody playing sound football, I don't think the scheme changes much."

The offense is entering its second year under coordinator Ben McAdoo and his West Coast attack, and the front office has assembled arguably the most talented and diverse group of skill players Manning, 34, has had at his disposal since he entered the league in 2004.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. burst onto the scene in 2014 as one of the most dangerous playmakers in the league after a highlight-heavy, 91-catch, 1,305-yard, 12-touchdown rookie season in which he played 12 games. His 108.8 receiving yards a game paced the NFL.

All things Giants: Latest New York Giants news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Fellow wideout Victor Cruz, who suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear last October, is a reliable veteran looking to recapture his Pro Bowl form. Running back Shane Vereen might be one of the most underrated free agent additions of the offseason given his ability to contribute in the passing game as well as on the ground. A healthy Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams will team with Vereen in a suddenly loaded backfield.

"We just have different options, different weapons we can get to, different checks we can get to, and put those guys in position to do what they're good at — to get open and make plays for us," Manning said.

Translation: if the Giants can stay healthy, they can put up points.

One year ago, that wasn't the case.

Manning had offseason ankle surgery and was trying to learn McAdoo's system while trying to forget years of terminology and language tied to previous coordinator Kevin Gilbride's playbook. Beckham started the year on the sideline with a hamstring injury and only played alongside Cruz for six quarters.

It showed on the field. Despite stretches of effective play, New York's offense also displayed a lack of cohesion, which was a big reason for the team's 6-10 finish.

This year, Manning said he has used the entire offseason to work with McAdoo on timing, footwork and rhythm as the unit seeks to achieve more consistency.

And you can expect to see a lot more movement before Manning takes the snap this fall.

"I think that's going to be a lot of the offense: moving," Beckham said. "Moving (Cruz) around, moving myself around, whoever is in — it has just been a point of emphasis that we're all moving around right now. Everybody has to know every spot.

"It makes it as unpredictable as possible for a defense."

But there might be one major obstacle to achieving offensive flow: the line.

The blocking was considered the weakness of the unit, and that was before starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle last week while lifting weights. He's out for the next five or six months after surgery.

First-round pick Ereck Flowers might be the team's best option to replace Beatty given the 2014 struggles of right tackle Justin Pugh, who is now practicing at guard.

Still, the Giants stress that they're confident in the pieces they have in place.

"Well, I don't think that would be the case," coach Tom Coughlin said when asked if the line will hinder the offense's progression. "We'll coach them up, and they'll play. And they'll play well. I really believe that.

"(But) there is nothing to be assumed about anything. A lot of things have to happen to get right back where, or above where we played last year. It wasn't good enough."

While the Giants did have success last year in pass protection, they struggled to run the ball, ranking 23rd in the NFL with slightly more than 100 yards a game.

Manning isn't worried.

"I feel comfortable," the seemingly unflappable two-time Super Bowl MVP said.

"I feel really good right now, and I'm excited about what we can do with this offense."

***

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @Lorenzo_G_Reyes

Featured Weekly Ad