QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Eli Manning. Backup – Ryan Nassib.
Manning didn’t have a very effective preseason showing, at times appearing to struggle in the new system installed by offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Still, with some game-planning and continued reps, there is optimism that Manning will get back to his 2010 self, when he posted a career-best 62.9 completion percentage. Nassib finished his strong summer showing he can be a capable backup, and more important, looking comfortable in the team’s hybrid West Coast offense.
RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Rashad Jennings. Backups – Andre Williams, Peyton Hillis, FB Henry Hynoski.
Jennings emerged as the team’s most complete running back, showing strength not just in running between the tackles, but in also picking up the blitz and being a threat out of the backfield. Williams is a dynamic runner, but he still needs work as a receiver and in picking up the blitz. He’ll probably be limited to goal-line and short-yardage detail at first. Hynoski, the fullback, figures to be a key role player this year in that he can serve as an emergency running back and will get to run a few plays as the team’s H-back. The question, though, is can he stay healthy?
TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Larry Donnell. Backups – Daniel Fells, Adrien Robinson.
This unit was very underwhelming all summer long and potentially could be looking at some tweaking before opening day. Donnell is expected to be the starter; he is the most versatile of the group. Fells will likely handle most of the in-line blocking work while Robinson will look to show the coaches that he can contribute in this, his third year in the NFL.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle. Backups – Jerrel Jernigan, Odell Beckham Jr., Preston Parker, Corey Washington.
The miscommunications between Eli Manning and Randle continued in the preseason, creating some concern as to whether the passing offense, which supposedly has been simplified, will be successful given the talent. Jernigan, who had a pedestrian summer, will start as the third wideout, but he’s shown that he’s at his best when working from the slot, Cruz’s best position. Newcomer Washington didn’t see any reps against the opponent’s first- or second-string teams, so his contributions might be limited at first. It’s unknown when Beckham, who nursed a hamstring strain all summer, will be able to return to practice.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Will Beatty, LG Weston Richburg, C J.D. Walton, RG John Jerry, RT Justin Pugh. Backups – G/T Brandon Mosley, T Charles Brown, G/T James Brewer, G/C Dallas Reynolds, G/T Adam Snyder, G/T Geoff Schwartz (IR).
Richburg will get the start for Schwartz at left guard, who is currently recovering from a dislocated toe injury on his right foot. Meanwhile, the veteran Jerry, who signed as a free agent from the Dolphins, is believed to be the starting right guard, ahead of Mosley, who had some back issues late in the summer. All eyes though will be on Beatty, who is trying to bounce back from a poor 2013 season as well as a serious leg injury. Beatty has only played in 64 snaps all summer long, so will he be able to handle that many in a game this early in the season?
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LDE Mathias Kiwanuka, RDE Jason Pierre-Paul, LDT Cullen Jenkins, RDT Johnathan Hankins. Backups – DE Robert Ayers Jr., DT Mike Patterson, DT Markus Kuhn, DE Damontre Moore, DT Jay Bromley, DE Kerry Wynn.
One-half of the Giants’ starting defensive line will be new in 2014, specifically the return of Kiwanuka to the starting lineup (for Justin Tuck at LDE) and the projected promotion of Hankins (for Linval Joseph). However, all eyes will be on Pierre-Paul, who has repeatedly declared himself to be fully healthy and poised to have a big season similar to his 16.5-sack, 86-tackle Pro Bowl season in 2011.
LINEBACKERS: Starters – MLB Jon Beason, SLB Jameel McClain, WLB Jacquian Williams. Backups – Devon Kennard, Spencer Paysinger, Mark Herzlich.
Beason remains on schedule to be in the starting lineup on Sept. 8 after spending the entire summer on the PUP list while recovering from a broken foot. The eight-year veteran, who will wear special orthotics to protect his feet moving forward, told the NFL Network that he was able to do all the movements required in football without any issues. Williams quietly had a strong summer, finishing third on the team in total tackles with 15. Rookie Kennard has been a nice surprise in his development and figures to see a lot of playing time in the team’s sub packages.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – RCB Prince Amukamara, LCB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, SS Antrel Rolle, FS Stevie Brown. Backups – CB Walter Thurmond III, CB Trumaine McBride, S Quintin Demps, S Nat Berhe, CB Zack Bowman.
Rodgers-Cromartie’s assignment is simple. Shut down the opponent’s top receiver. That should be easy enough for a man who last season allowed just 47.1 percent of the passes thrown against him to be completed and who gave up just four touchdowns en route to a 70.0 NFL rating, according to Pro Football Focus. Amukamara figures to be targeted more this year thanks to Rodgers-Cromartie’s presence. While he allowed just two touchdowns last season, he also allowed 64.9 percent of the passes thrown against him to be completed. Thurmond will take over the slot cornerback duties. Last season for the Seahawks, Thurmond kept opposing slot receivers off the scoreboard. Brown will return to the field after missing last year recovering from a torn ACL. His knee has held up so far, but the interceptions haven’t been coming as easily to him, at least in preseason, as they did in 2012.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Josh Brown, P Steve Weatherford, LS Zak DeOssie, KOR Quintin Demps, PR Preston Parker.
Brown held onto the kicking job over rookie Brandon McManus, who was traded to Denver for a conditional seventh-round 2015 pick following the first round of roster cuts. Parker’s hold on the punt-return job appears to be temporary as head coach Tom Coughlin has indicated a desire to put rookie first-rounder Odell Beckham Jr. in that spot.