New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Shula said today that the offense is “light-years” ahead of where it was last year, his first on the job.
Many might say Shula is overly optimistic with that statement, especially since the Giants traded Odell Beckham Jr. and drafted only three offensive players (Daniel Jones, Darius Slayton and George Asafo-Adjei). Jones is unlikely to see any playing time this season, and Slayton may get a shot or may not. Asafo-Adjei is projected to start, however.
That said, the lack of change on the offensive side of the ball is the exact reason for Shula’s statement. Sure, the loss of OBJ might hurt, but it’s likely going to help more than it hurts. His attitude and diva-like nature were hard on the locker room, and with that gone, the team is free to focus on the field and coming together as a cohesive unit instead of wondering whether Beckham’s ego will be injured.
Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, Cody Latimer, Russell Shepard and even Saquon Barkley are all capable of being impact players as receivers. Last season, they combined for 223 receptions for 2,548 yards, 14 touchdowns and zero fumbles. On top of that, the Giants signed Golden Tate this offseason to help offset the loss of Beckham. Tate has averaged 89 receptions and 1,000 yards per year over the last five seasons.
Entering their second season under Shula, the players now know what is expected of them. They understand the scheme and the methods, and can implement the processes better than they could a year ago. The fact that Shula already thinks they are light-years ahead of where they were last year speaks volumes about the effort they put forth and their desire to make the system work.
Consistency is the key to success for any team, and with major distractions gone this season, the Giants look to put that consistency to work for them.
