Well, it's that time of year again when the hopes of Giants fans everywhere spring eternal, where visions of playoff appearances dance like sugar plums in their heads.
Of course, deep down, we all know how this ends. A cruel and unforgiving schedule exposes the flaws, and hope quickly turns to despair. Another year lost, another postseason deferred. Reality sucks in Big Blue land.
So why should this season be any different? In one sense, it won't be. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are considerable upgrades over Dave Gentleman and Joe Judge. But when you dig a hole halfway to China, as the prior regime did, it's gonna take a while to climb out.
Let's not forget how long it took George Young to turn around this franchise. It would behoove Giants fans to manage their expectations over the next couple of seasons. Success will be measured incrementally. There are no "win and rebuild" short cuts when it comes to football. Gettleman couldn't accept that fact and wasted two whole years trying to prove everyone wrong. Schoen won't make that mistake. He spent the last five seasons helping turn the Buffalo Bills into a bonafide Super Bowl contender. He and Daboll will eventually do the same here in New York. Be patient and trust the process.
But in the meantime, though, the 2022 season beckons. As strange as it might seem, the schedule isn't as bad as past seasons. That doesn't mean the Jints are going to the playoffs, but it could mean that a repeat of last year's 4-13 travesty isn't necessarily a given.
A lot depends on two things: 1. Can Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka fix what's wrong with Daniel Jones? The 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft showed some promise in his rookie year but has struggled mightily since. If they can improve his pocket presence and decision making, maybe - just maybe - the Giants might not have to look for a new quarterback in next year's draft. It's a tall order, given Jones proclivities, but my gut tells me both men are up to the task. Don't expect miracles; the goal should be steady improvement.
2. Can Saquon Barkley stay healthy and productive? The overall number one pick in the 2018 NFL draft rushed for 1307 yards and was rookie of the year, but has been beset by injuries the last three seasons. In 2021, he rushed for only 593 yards. For this team to have any chance of being competitive, both players have to have impactful seasons.
So let's be optimistic and assume Daboll and Kafka can resuscitate Jones's career and Barkley stays healthy. What can we expect? Given that there's still plenty that's wrong with this team - the OL, the secondary - not much. But like I mentioned above, improving on last season's 4-13 record isn't out of the question.
Looking at the schedule, I see a number of winnable games. The Carolina Panthers (week two), the Chicago Bears (week four), the Jacksonville Jaguars (week seven), the Houston Texans (week nine), and the Detroit Lions (week ten). That's five wins right there. Let's assume the Giants split their two games with the Washington Commanders; that's six wins.
6-11 might not seem like much, but for an organization that's been moribund most of the last decade, it's something to build on; and for a football operation charged with the reclamation project of a lifetime, it's a good beginning.
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