Turf Show Times
Will the New York Giants give the Rams a tougher battle than anticipated in Week 2? With a combined record of 7-27 over the past two years, one would think not, but if you look a little deeper at the Giants then the outcome may not be as cut-and-dry as an easy win for the Rams.
The Giants are my choice to go last to first in their division this year. This team should look nothing like the Giants we’ve grown accustomed to over the last decade. The changes they’ve made are plentiful, and they all seem to be upgrades.
Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh took the helm, bringing in a new coaching staff to reshape both sides of the ball. Only one coach from the original Brian Daboll era remains with the Giants (Charlie Bullen, who will serve as the Run Game Coordinator and Outside Linebackers Coach) but the headliners of this completely revamped staff are Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator and Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator.
Nagy was the offensive coordinator of the KC Chiefs from 2016-17, left for the head coaching position with the Chicago Bears, then returned to KC as the OC where he helped the Chiefs win a Super Bowl in 2023 and reach another in 2024. While his reputation as a head coach is not great, he’s made his mark as an offensive coordinator and will attempt to do for Jaxson Dart what he once helped do for Patrick Mahomes.
Even if Dart is not Mahomes, at least Nagy should have good advice to pass along to the young signal caller.
Dennard Wilson is entering his first season as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants after spending the previous two seasons in the same role with the Tennessee Titans. He brings 14 years of NFL coaching experience to East Rutherford. In 2024, the Titans’ defense allowed 311.2 yards per game and 177.3 passing yards per game, both of which were the second-lowest marks in the league. However, the Titans also allowed 27 points per game, which was the third-worst.
Wilson has yet to coordinate a great defense, but maybe he hasn’t had players as good as he has in New York.
On defense, the front office made a splash by drafting highly rated linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft. He’ll join a defense that already has some high-profile stars, such as Brian Burns.
Burns: The Carolina Panthers traded star pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants in March 2024. Shortly after acquiring him, the Giants signed Burns to a massive five-year contract extension worth up to $150 million. Burns is coming off the best statistical season of his career, tallying 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits, and being voted to his 3rd Pro Bowl while garnering 2nd-team All-Pro honors.
Burns was drafted by the Panthers in 2019 with the 16th overall pick.
Abdul Carter: Outside linebacker Abdul Carter[ recorded 66...
