Giants NFC East Predictions in 2016
New York Giants: 2015: Overall (6-10) Division (2-4)
With Head Coach Tom Coughlin returning for his 12th and final year with The New York Giants (6-10) in 2015, they were incompetent of closing games out, losing five games in which they led in the final 2 minutes.
We keep talking about Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr's infamous battle with then Carolina Panthers defensive back Josh Norman.
A battle that ended in physical calamities and 1-game suspension for Beckham Jr, was just a microcosm of the Giants season in 2015.
Offense: The starts of the Ben McAdoo era as the Giants head coach.
Despite already having an elite receiver in Beckham Jr, McAdoo has enhanced the Giants offense that finished 6th in total offense last year by drafting Oklahoma University star receiver Sterling Shepard in the second round.
I expect Victor Cruz to be salsa dancing his way back into the end zone in 2016 after only playing in three games last year due to a nagging calf injury.
Don't forget, Cruz was one of the most explosive receivers in the league with 1536 yards on 9 touchdowns in 2011.
Tight end Larry Donnell, standing at 6 foot 6 inches continues to grow as offensive weapon in the red zone for the Giants and could have a breakout year.
Eli Manning will be licking his chops with the weapons he has this year, and more offensive freedom with McAdoo as the head coach than with Coughlin.
The Giants running game was virtually non-existent last season, for I expect a balanced rushing attack from Rashad Jennings on early downs, and Shane Vereen on third downs in the passing game again.
Perhaps Orleans Darkwa will get thrown into the mix and get fantasy football owners excited again.
Defense: Cuba Gooding Jr. is somewhere screaming, " SHOW ME THE MONEY!"
The Giants are showing that money does indeed talk with the the abundance of money they spent during free agency on the defensive end year this off-season.
New York signed cornerback Janoris Jenkins to a 5-year 62 million dollar contract ( 28.8 million guaranteed), defensive end Olivier Vernon to a 5-year 85 million (52.8 million guaranteed) and defensive tackle Damon Harrison to a 5-year 46 million dollar contract (24 million guaranteed).
Money will continue to talk in the city that never sleeps when your team finishes in last place in total defensive yards, giving up 420 yards per game.
Drafting Eli Apple in the first round will be a good addition for the Giants as a nickel cornerback, who claims he can in fact whip up a smorgasbord of soul food despite one NFL scout's criticism on his culinary skills.
Jason Pierre Paul and his four fingers will be playing without that big club on his hand this year, so I expect a chock-full of fireworks from him this season. ( Too early? I know)
In short, I think the Giants will fix their failure to hold onto leads in the final two minutes of games.
The Giants juggernaut of an offense will only continue to grow from last year, and that high priced defense will have the biggest turnaround in the NFL. ( Well pretty easy to do when you finish dead last. Right?)
PREDICTION: I think the Giants had the best blueprint for reconstructing the deficiencies on their team, so I have the G-Men finishing first in the NFC East with a record of 11-5