The Giants will have their home opener vs. the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, but it will be a different offense than the Christian McCaffery-centered scheme we are used to.
Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo
It is hard to judge anything accurately by statistics alone, and the curious case of Ben McAdoo is no different. Giants fans may remember their former head coach with disdain, but he did join the team when it truly began its decline in talent, especially along the offensive line and running back, which does not exactly invite a coach to run the ball 30 times a game. On the other hand, does seem to be a system-first guy from a west coast offense coaching tree. This was evident in how he forced veteran Eli Manning to conform to his no-huddle, three-step drop passing, and bland running scheme that often left the running back to create on his own.
The disparity between the offense’s run/pass rankings during his four years in New York as an offensive coordinator and head coach shows that his game concept was more flag football than smashmouth. It would be quick moving, meant to get receivers in space on short routes to do their open field magic. It was great for Odell Beckham but not so much for anyone else on a consistent basis.
Giants May Need to be More Concerned With Rush Defense Than Pass Rush
Running Back Christian McCaffrey
What does he do now with Christian McCaffery, who had touched the ball no less than 300 times in 2018 and 2019 before being derailed by three consecutive injury-ravaged seasons? Their week one loss to Cleveland tells us little because Carolina fell behind early and was playing catch-up. Going by stats alone, Christian may have his career lengthened with McAdoo. The Panthers passed about twice as many times as they ran the ball as try to create an offensive identity outside of the running back.
McCaffery had 14 touches, running ten times for 33 yards and having four receptions for 24 yards. Besides his rookie season, McCaffery is used to 20-25 touches per game. A way too early conclusion could be that the Carolina offense no longer runs through McCaffery, with an offensive coordinator that leans on the quarterback on a team with a new quarterback in Baker Mayfield.
What Might We See?
After McAdoo gets to see the tape of last week’s game vs. the Titans, he may conclude that he is best off challenging the middle of the Giant’s defense with his characteristic short passing attack, which was again on display last week vs. Cleveland. This is unfortunate for the Giants, for after holding King Henry to a peasant 82 yards and no touchdowns, the defense might like to see another team try to jam the ball down their throat. What they don’t need is Christian McCaffery finding himself in space covered by Tae Crowder and Austin Calitro.
Scat back Dontrell Hilliard took the pair for 61 yards on three receptions with two touchdowns. If an undrafted free agent is going to expose the Giant’s linebackers so efficiently, what will McCaffery do to them?
How Might the Giant’s Prepare?
The Giants displayed that they could set the edge against the Titans. Much improved Oshane Ximines and journeyman Jihad Ward made their presence felt containing Henry and at times taking him to the turf. Will they be called on to do it again, or will Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux be back to show what they got?
The defensive coordinator Wink Martindale keeps his week-by-week game plan and his entire scheme for that matter, an enigma. Still, it would be surprising if he let McAdoo and Mayfield isolate McCaffery on the Giant’s middle linebackers. A third safety or some other shuffling of personnel is to be reasonably expected.