Offensive Coordinator: Ben McAdoo ***
Ben McAdoo had a remarkable impact last season, his first as offensive coordinator for the Giants. Eli Manning adapted to his schemes and they took the best out of a spectacular receiving corps, which has only improved this year. It is expected that this year, the trend of playing through the air will become even more pronounced.
Offensive Star: Odell Beckham Jr.
The emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. last season was almost a miraculous revelation. His ability to catch impossible balls has elevated him to the heights of the Giants' fans.
Quarterbacks ****
Eli Manning is a great mystery within the NFL. Is he elite or not elite? This season will be decisive in answering this question. What is beyond doubt is his importance and how he knows how to rise to the occasion in the face of adversity. This is demonstrated by the role he played in winning two Super Bowl rings. This will be his second year under the guidance of Ben McAdoo and a West Coast offensive system that left a very good impression in the first year. As a backup, he is accompanied by Ryan Nassib who, at one time, was considered a possible high draft pick but ultimately fell in the draft. His selection by the Giants was considered a steal. He is joined by Ricky Stanzi, another reputable college player who, despite being in the league for four years, has not had any snaps.
Offensive Line ***
Will Beatty's injury forced a reconfiguration of an Offensive Line that seemed to have a promising future. Justin Pugh will have to play tackle again, and therefore will not be able to play in his natural position, guard. Ereck Flowers will start at left tackle, a shiny first-round draft pick with enormous physical characteristics for the position, but his technical deficiencies are more than noticeable. Therefore, it is not expected that his performance will be positive from day one. This offensive unit allowed only 30 sacks in 2014, improving on the performance of 2013, but it is somewhat deceptive given that the offensive system focuses on getting Eli Manning to release the ball quickly. Fortunately, Weston Richburg seems to be a center for many years to come, and the return of a versatile Geoff Schwartz, who is solid in protecting his QB, will be important. Despite everything, there is still much room for improvement.
Running Backs ***
David Wilson was a resounding failure. He didn't have the best of luck from the start, both on and off the field ("I'm going to be a Hall of Famer"). Rashad Jennings doesn't offer fireworks, but he provides consistent and steady performance. He will be complemented by Andre Williams, a second-year player, and newcomer Shane Vereen, who seems to fit perfectly into the team's offensive system and will be key in situational passing plays.
Receivers *****
The sensation of 2014, Odell Beckham Jr, missed several games. Despite this, his impact was such that if we average it out and add it to the games he missed, we get historic numbers that would have possibly put him close to the MVP. There was nothing statistically comparable. The bar was set very high, and it's scary to think that his career has just begun and if injuries allow, it can only get better. Expect a more noticeable connection with Eli Manning, in addition to being able to play from the start with Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle, something impossible during 2014 due to the injuries the trio suffered. A resurrection is expected from Cruz, while with Randle, we have an inconsistent player like few others but who is in a scenario that could benefit him. Finally, the addition of Dwayne Harris from the Cowboys could bring imbalance, although he is more of a specialist in returns.
Tight Ends ***
Since the departure of Jeremy Shockey, Eli Manning has not had any player who made a difference from the tight end position. Despite this, he has always known how to take advantage of them: Jake Ballard, Brandon Myers... Larry Donnell had a good performance in 2014 and should improve this year. He is complemented by a blue-collar worker like Daniel Fells, who may not stand out as a flashy player but is solid when it comes to blocking and making life easier for his teammates.