A new, more glorious dawn awaits for the New York Giants. Gone is Ben McAdoo, the worst head coach in the history of the organization since Ray Handley. In his place is Pat Shurmur, who actually turned Case Keenum into a decent quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings. What will he do with Eli Manning and the weapons in place in New York?
Better than McAdoo, according to the oddsmakeers at BetDSI Sportsbook, but that’s not saying a lot. Here’s the odds they’re giving on over-under wins in 2018.
New York Giants 2018-19 Regular Season Win Total
Over 7 (+100)
Under 7 (-130)
First off, there’s no comparison between McAdoo and Shurmur as far as offensive minds go. The knock on Shurmur was how poorly his last head coaching job went with the Cleveland Browns. The problem there was that Shurmur got that job too early. He’d just been an offensive coordinator with the then St. Louis Rams for two seasons and they didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard.
While Shurmur, unquestionably, was in over his head in Cleveland, he did manage to win nine games in two seasons there. Something that seems nearly impossible today.
https://twitter.com/JordanRaanan/status/1001626176228503552
Shurmur has a franchise quarterback this time around in New York with Eli Manning, a guy some were stupidly trying to run out of the building just a year ago. Don’t be surprised to see Eli have the best statistical season of his life this year. They’ve upgraded the offensive line in free agency and the draft, locking down the left side with Nate Solder from the New England Patriots and rookie Will Hernandez at guard.
Odell Beckham Jr. should be healthy and the team drafted the best offensive player in the entire draft, running back Saquon Barkley. Manning hasn’t had a quality, franchise back since Tiki Barber retired.
In fact, the Giants are now completely loaded in the backfield. Behind Barkley, they’ve got free agent acquisition Jonathan Stewart and last year’s fourth round pick Wayne Gallman.
How much will Pat Shurmur affect Eli Manning's play in 2018?https://t.co/rL6yQEGbKW pic.twitter.com/LmPQINBaxG
— PFF (@PFF) June 1, 2018
This will be a new defensive look in New York under James Bettcher. Betcher runs a 3-4 and Olivier Vernon will now be an outside linebacker. The team traded for Alec Ogletree in the offseason, bringing him over from the Rams, and drafted Lorenzo Carter who will probably start as a rookie.
Looking at the Giants’ schedule, there probably isn’t a team in the league with a tougher September and October to begin the season. In the eight games before their bye, New York will play five 2017 playoff teams. The three that didn’t make the playoffs are the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans with a presumably healthy Deshaun Watson and the Washington Redskins.
Coming out of that stretch 4-4 would be a victory in itself. I think 3-5 is a lot more likely.
The second half of the season gets considerably easier, with a Week 12 match up against the Philadelphia Eagles the only significant stumbling block. When Eli has a defense and healthy weapons around him, he seems to find a way to make it work. I’m not sure the 2018 Giants are a playoff team, but I see 8-9 wins here. I say go the over.
