OBJ and Giants offense in trouble
The foundation for a championship team is built on butts of the hogs in the trenches and a shutdown defense.
The Giants spent $200 million on their defense after the disastrous 2015 season that cost Tom Coughlin his job, but the cupboard is bare when it comes to the boys that protect quarterback Eli Manning.
Rarely is a team at a crossroad of a season in Week 2 - but the New York Football Giants are at that point.
All the hype of a Super Bowl run has been tempered with the realization that the Giants have a serious weakness in their offensive line and the health of their star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is in question.
Reports say Beckham will play Monday night verse the Lions, but if he doesn't recover from this ankle sprain, it could be a long season for Big Blue.
The load will then shift to quarterback Eli Manning and the offensive line, which was exposed in Week 1 against the Cowboys.
The Giants continued to struggle running the ball, totaling only 35 yards on the ground and were ineffective in their passing attack without ODJ in the line up.
Manning was sacked three times and threw one interception. His longest completion was for 31 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per attempt (from 2008 through 2016, his season average was never below 6.7).
Even veteran receiver Brandon Marshall couldn't help Eli's cause, hauling in one catch for 10 yards. Manning and Marshall are a long way from being football's M & M Boys.
In 2016, New York was 29th in rushing offense despite posting an 11-5 record, because they had a game-changer in Odell Beckham Jr.
OBJ has 35 touchdown receptions in 43 career NFL games.
In New York's six losses last year (including playoffs), OBJ caught only one touchdown pass.
With Beckham out and/or injured, even Manning's rosy outlook may not be enough to cover up this pungent Jersey stink.
Giant fans may have to realize the 2017 squad may not be who they thought they were.
Mike Damergis is the Graduate Coordinator at Iona College's Sports Communication & Media program and Author of "The USFL - The Rebel League The NFL Didn't Respect But Feared."
Mad-Sports.com
