Bold Giants Predictions For 2016
I sit around with my buddies during the off-season and make predictions about what the Giants will do in the upcoming season. I have never gone on the record with my predictions. That is about to change. Here are some things that I believe Giants fans will have the pleasure of seeing in 2016:
Eli Manning will pass for over 5,000 yards and throw for 40 touchdowns
Eli Manning is poised to have a monster year. It may seem like a long shot for him to get to 5,000 yards as well as throw for 40 touchdowns, but Manning has thrown the ball significantly more in the past two seasons. In his first nine seasons, Manning averaged 535 pass attempts per year. In the past two seasons, he has averaged 610. Manning will also have a major upgrade in his receiving core with rookie Sterling Shepard and a rejuvenated Victor Cruz. He has three seasons with at least 30 touchdowns, two of which were with Ben McAdoo as offensive coordinator. Manning is entering his third year in this offense and looks as comfortable as ever. If he gets the kind of production that we are anticipating from his receivers this year, then the sky is the limit for the two-time Super Bowl MVP.
Sterling Shepard will have a bigger rookie season than Odell Beckham Jr. did
Many are going to disagree with me on this one. Some would even go as far as to say that I am crazy and that my predictions are unrealistic. They would argue that the two are from different conferences and that Shepard had easier schedules. Sure, Odell Beckham Jr. was in the SEC (at LSU) while Shepard was in the Big 12 (Oklahoma). While the SEC may be the tougher of the two conferences, the Big 12 is no pushover by any means. The beauty of this sport is the excitement of the unknown. Nobody thought that Aaron Rodgers would be able to just take over for Brett Favre almost seamlessly. I would also be willing to bet that not many people would have said that Peyton Manning would come back from neck surgery to throw for just under 4,700 yards and 37 touchdowns. If you look at the stats for both Shepard and OBJ, than you will see that Shepard is more than capable of doing it. Another thing that will help is that OBJ will likely see a lot of double coverage, which will give Shepard plenty of opportunities to put his ridiculous speed, ability to get separation from the defender, and those glue-like hands to work. If healthy all season, look for Sterling Shepard to have a lot of success this upcoming season.
Rashad Jennings will rush for over 1,000 yards and reach over 1,500 total yards
It’s no secret how lackluster the Giants have been when it comes to their run game. One back that has shown potential is Rashad Jennings. Jennings has been playing the backup role for quite some time. Jennings was drafted 250th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009. He took on the backup role for Maurice Jones-Drew. Even in his first year with the Giants in 2014, he was essentially a backup to Andre Williams. Last year was Jennings’ first year as a pro where he wasn’t in the shadows of another back. He was productive for the Giants, putting up 863 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 195 carries. With this upcoming season, he will emerge as the starter for the Giants. I think he will be looking at around 215-230 carries and he will make this year his time to make a statement. He has a lot to prove and I don’t see the determination in him fading anytime soon. I also believe he is out to show the world that he also has some pretty good hands. Jennings is a versatile player with the ability to score both on the ground as well as in the air.
Eli Manning will rush for 100 yards and have 3 rushing touchdowns
For those who know about Eli Manning, this is going to be an interesting prediction. He is a cautious runner to say the least, and is not known for his playmaking ability on the ground. Unless, of course, we are talking about his ability to get out of the most unlikely of situations to find a big play down the field. Just ask New England Patriots fans about that. However, being able to elude tackles to make a big play is totally different than being able to tuck the ball and rush for some good yardage and possibly a score. Eli Manning has never rushed for 100 yards in a season in his career. He also has never run for more than one touchdown in any given season. In fact, he has only a total of 5 rushing touchdowns in his entire career. The main reason I feel that this is more than just attainable is based on the comfort level Manning has in running this offense. He knows the plays, he feels good about running different offensive schemes. Given all the talent out on the field for the Giants,it is safe to say that he will have his chances at some good runs. There is no reason to believe that we can’t see some quality running from Manning. He only runs with the ball an average of about 23 times a year, so three touchdowns may be a bit of a gamble. However, that is more than enough carries to get him to the century mark.
Ben McAdoo will be named Coach of the Year
It is hard to think of the New York Giants without Tom Coughlin as their head coach. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo was named Coughlin’s successor on January 14. He wasted no time making changes. From the vibe given off in the locker room to the way he will handle his players, McAdoo has made his mark. He has gone above and beyond to give his defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, the tools for him to rebuild the once-dominant defense. All the pieces of the Giants’ puzzle have been set on the table. Now it’s up to McAdoo and the Giants to fit that puzzle together. Given the drastic changes to the organization, a definitive winning record and a playoff run would make McAdoo as a serious candidate for Coach of the Year discussions.
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