The Giants made some big changes in 2018 with the intent of getting the best out of the core players who helped them make the playoffs in 2016.
At the top, Pat Shurmur and Dave Gettelman form the new head coach-general manager combo, replacing Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese. Under Shurmur, offensive coordinator Mike Shula and defensive coordinator James Bettcher are taking both sides of the ball in new directions.
Everything has been done with two goals in mind: Get quarterback Eli Manning right again, and get the defense to perform like the often dominant force it was two seasons ago. Armed with a high draft pick and some room under the salary cap, the Giants were aggressive in implementing a refreshing attitude for the upcoming season.
That leaves a lot of newness to break down by position, so let's get right to it:
Quarterback
In the end, McAdoo didn't do so well in turning Manning into a more efficient passer. Manning's rating (80.4) and yards per attempt (6.1) dipped to paltry levels. With the big wide receiver injuries, the downfield game was disrupted. With no legitimate rushing attack, the Giants became predictable with their formations and their short-to-intermediate routes.
Manning has started all but one game in 13 seasons, and there were signs of wear on his arm at age 37. But the fact that the Giants did not draft a QB high after hiring Shurmur means they still think improved support can rejuvenate the veteran.
Shurmur's hybrid scheme, which incorporates the best of the West Coast, spread and Ehrhardt-Perkins passing systems, can be tailored more to Manning's strengths without overexposing his weaknesses. It also helps that there will be an expectation of a solid running game.
Behind Eli, the Giants did use a fourth-round pick on Kyle Lauletta, but second-year third-rounder Davis Webb has separated himself as the better No. 2. With a strong camp, Webb is pushing to nail down the role of near-future successor to Manning, who's signed only through 2019.
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Running back
The Giants scrapped the messy committee of Orleans Darkwa, Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen for a many-trick pony in Saquon Barkley. Former Panthers power back Jonathan Stewart was signed, too, but he's showing some of his last legs at age 31. He is limited veteran insurance for the rookie No. 2 overall pick.
Barkley is an explosive runner and receiver who also does all the little things well. His speed and quickness are ideal for the outside zone concepts of Shurmur and Shula. He gives them someone who can both squeeze out tough yards and go the distance on any play. Barkley's versatility allows them to have a run-pass option on three downs and a better safety valve for Manning than Vereen or Perkins were.
Shurmur used his backs, first rookie Dalvin Cook and then both Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray, well in Minnesota last season. Although the yards per attempt were low, the Vikings ran a high percentage of the time to produce among the top 10 teams. Both Cook and McKinnon averaged more than 8 yards per reception.
All signs point to Barkley being the dynamic workhorse he was at Penn State.
Wide receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard both are coming off seasons mostly lost to ankle injuries. For Shurmur, they represent strong parallels to Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Beckham is the dangerous scorer, while Shepard is the half outside, half slot option.
Like in Minnesota, Shurmur will have a tough time finding a reliable No. 3 in New York, given the best option is former Broncos second-round disappointment Cody Latimer. At best, Latimer probably gives the Giants slightly more production than Laquon Treadwell provided the Vikings in the same role.
It's still important to feature the three-receiver staple of McAdoo so Shurmur and Shula can have something to keep defenses off balance in relation to two-tight end sets. Although he isn't the inline player Kyle Rudolph is, Giants second-year first-rounder Evan Engram will continue to emerge as the key third target all over the field. Shula got big seasons from Greg Olsen in Carolina, and his collaboration with Shurmur will be tight-end friendly to Engram.
Offensive line
The Giants did not re-sign Justin Pugh or Weston Richburg, but they made a pair of splashy make-up additions in the signing of former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder and the drafting of left guard Will Hernandez in the second round. They also brought in former Jaguar Patrick Omameh to start at right guard after not keeping D.J. Fluker.
Jon Halapio has become the new starting center over Brent Jones, who was re-signed after a good 2017 season. Solder allows the team to move struggling 2015 first-rounder Ereck Flowers to see if he can resurrect his career at right tackle, which has been a struggle in the preseason.
Solder turned 30 in April and is coming off a season in which he lost some solidity as a pass protector, but he remained an elite outside run blocker. Hernandez is a natural mauler. Barkley will love running behind both. Solder still is a huge upgrade over Flowers in protecting Manning's blindside.
Omameh is a better blocker than Fluker, and even if he's not an overwhelmingly better inside option than a returning John Jerry, Omameh's smarts and experience from a run-heavy Jacksonville attack will help in making all the new pieces jell.
Manning can't suddenly expect all kinds of time, but he should be thrilled the Giants got what they needed to deliver balance with a downhill running game.
Defensive line
Bettcher's version of the three-man front in New York is based on everyone attacking gaps. It was successful in Arizona with Calais Campbell and others.
Damon Harrison played nose in a 3-4 with the Jets and will be comfortable snacking on the backfield from that position. Dalvin Tomlinson was strong at 4-3 tackle as a rookie and will respond well to be being put in more favorable pass-rush situations from end.
B.J. Hill was drafted in the third round because he has ideal, hybrid skills for the scheme. The team signed former Cardinal Josh Mauro as a familiar asset for Bettcher, but his four-game suspension will thrust Hill into a starting role.
With Kerry Wynn and Robert Thomas returning, the Giants are deep on the line, even as Oliver Vernon drops back to play outside linebacker under Bettcher.
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Linebacker
Vernon will be joined in impacting off the edge by rookie third-round pick Lorenzo Carter. Vernon's production waned in his second season with the team, so the Giants are hoping the ability to stand up on the second level will rejuvenate him, as it did for Chandler Jones under Bettcher. Carter will try to channel the best of another former Bettcher Carfdinal, Markus Golden.
B.J. Goodson will share the inside with Alec Ogletree, who did not have a great 2017 season under Wade Phillips with the Rams. The Giants, though, were looking at Ogletree as a key leader who can rebound as a well-rounded playmaker. New York might give up a little against the run, but it will be more effective against the pass with its linebackers.
For a team undergoing big transitions on two levels, the Giants are set up to get more impact from their returning players. Hill and Carter will determine whether the defense can turn the corner from good to great again, this time with a different alignment and mentality.
Secondary
Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple are trying to shake off their differing reasons for not living up to their talents last season. In the preseason, both health and attitude have been in their favor.
The Giants did not keep Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Ross Cockrell, so they had to sign another veteran, William Gay, as their new nickel corner. Gay, 33, has value in both keeping Jenkins and Apple in line and having a good influence on younger depth.
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At safety, Landon Collins will benefit from Bettcher's influence and look more like the dominant thumper and ballhawk he was two seasons ago. Free safety is a big question mark, however, as Darian Thompson is losing his job after a bad season.
New York could use a situational committee approach at free safety, with Andrew Adams and former Dolphin Michael Thomas being the best 1-2 punch to complement Collins over Thompson and former Titan Curtis Riley, who could be more useful as a dime corner behind Gay.
With Jenkins, Apple and Collins, the secondary remains the strongest part of the defense, even with some coverage concerns in the middle of the field.
In 2016, the Giants were tied for 14th in sacks and tied for 11th in takeaways. Last season, they fell to 29th and 23rd in those respective categories. Bettcher is used to those rankings being high from his units in Arizona.
The offense controlling the ball with Barkley and protecting it better with Manning is only half of the equation for the Giants. They also need the defensive complement of forcing shorter drives and more turnovers. The sum of the parts points in the right direction for 2018.
