If you told someone at the beginning of the season that the New York Giants would be 2-12 heading into their Christmas Eve game against the Arizona Cardinals, they would have laughed in your face.
But oddly enough that’s exactly where we’re sitting as 2017 has been the most disappointing season in the 93-year history of the franchise.
Fans are hoping that they will never have to live through a season like this ever again.
‘Tis the season of giving, and with everyone in the holiday spirit with Christmas just days away, here’s what Giants fans are hoping Santa will leave under the tree.
1. A reset button
As co-owner John Mara pointed out weeks ago, this season has been the perfect storm. Anything that could go wrong did, from injuries to suspensions to losing a game on a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
If there were a reset button to start the 2017 season over, there’s no way the Giants would be sitting at 2-12 despite their offensive line woes. Speaking of the O-Line…
2. A GM who puts an emphasis on rebuilding the offensive line
One of the biggest knocks on former general manager Jerry Reese is that he built the team from the outside in, rather than inside out, by taking receivers and defensive backs early in the draft while neglecting the offensive line, which has desperately needed quality linemen for years.
Giants’ fans are hopeful that whoever becomes the next general manager will put an emphasis on rebuilding the offensive line to protect Eli Manning (or whoever is under center) and open running lanes for the Giants running backs. Doing that starts with adding…
3. Two solid offensive tackles
This piggybacks off the previous wish as the struggles of starting tackles Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart has been well documented. Fans and even Manning (who would never admit it) want two new starting offensive tackles as it has been the weakest area for the Giants for the past couple of seasons. They don’t have to be Pro Bowlers. League-average tackles would be a massive improvement over the team’s current disappointing duo.
4. A healthy Odell Beckham Jr.
When OBJ was lost for the season in Week 5 with a fractured ankle, the Giants offense took a dramatic dive.
In the four games Beckham played in, Manning averaged 279 passing yards per game. In the eight games Manning has played in since then, he’s averaging just 216 passing yards per game.
Fans are hoping that Beckham can come back next season without any ill-affect or setbacks, and remain one of the best and exciting players in the league.
5. A game-changing linebacker
The last time the Giants had a linebacker play in the Pro Bowl was Antonio Pierce back in 2006. Since Pierce’s departure following the 2009 season, the Giants have lacked game-changing linebacker.
Giants fans hope whoever the new GM will be will either draft a sign a game-changing linebacker who can make tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and cover tight ends. Lest we forget, opposing tight ends have decimated Big Blue’s defense all season.
6. A disciplinarian head coach
Giants’ ownership likes interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo and the team has fought hard for him over the last two games. But it’s far from a lock that he’ll be the head coach in 2018.
Whether it’s Spags or someone else, Giants fans want a Tom Coughlin-like coach that will bring discipline to the locker room and eliminate the inner turmoil that plagued the team this season.
