Isay: New York Giants show potential this season

The New York Giants have a losing record for the fourth straight season, but this year feels undeniably different.  It has become increasingly clear that the Giants have an excellent coaching staff and a nucleus of young players with real potential.

Coach Joe Judge is a no-nonsense, detail-oriented head coach who has kept the Giants competitive in almost every game this year. Since the team’s offense, which was ranked 30th out of 32 NFL teams, has performed poorly this season, it is the defense that has kept them in games. The defense lacks talent in key edge pass rusher and cornerback positions, but they have five potential pro bowl players: James Bradberry, Blake Martinez, Logan Ryan, Jabrill Peppers, and Leonard William. Despite their flawed roster, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham deserves credit for the defense’s success. Joe Judge and his coaching staff have Giants’ fans excited for what the team could look like if they acquire more talent during the offseason.

Another reason Giants fans are excited about the future of their team is young quarterback Daniel Jones. While the jury may still be out on Jones, he has potential. Jones, a first-round pick from Duke University, had a poor start. This may be attributed to missing the preseason due to the pandemic, or because of coaching changes over the offseason. Still, despite a few bumps, Jones has improved dramatically over the season. He looks sharper, faster, and stronger than he has during any point in his 2019 rookie campaign. There is still much to work on with Jones, but he has secured his starting spot for 2021. It is hard to say for certain, but it seems that Giants General Manager (GM), Dave Gettleman – who was initially mocked for selecting Jones sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft – made the right decision.

Dave Gettleman is a divisive figure among Giants fans. Since he arrived in 2018, the Giants have been one of the worst teams in the NFL. At the end of last year, it was unclear if Gettleman would return for the 2019 season, and until recently, a majority of Giants fans wanted to see him fired. While plenty of fans still feel that way, Gettleman deserves credit for the Giants’ 2020 free-agent class consisting of James Bradberry, Blake Martinez, and Logan Ryan – all of whom are playing at an All-Pro level. If the Giants somehow stumble their way into a playoff spot, Dave Gettleman will likely return for his fourth season as GM.

In a regular season, a team with a mediocre record like the Giants would have little chance of making the playoffs. At this point in a normal season, Giants fans would usually be looking forward to the draft. Yet, this year is different. The NFC East division is probably in the worst in recent memory. No team in the division has a winning record or Super Bowl aspirations. This puts the Giants in playoff contention despite their poor record. 

Regardless of whether or not the Giants make the playoffs, their future is hopeful. It seems as though they have found a prospective franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. They have players – on both offense and defense – who have potential, and the team has maintained enough cap space to acquire talented free agents in the upcoming offseason. A playoff spot would greatly benefit the young players and general team culture, and even if they fall short, the Giants have a bright future worth looking forward to.