Preseason Game Preview: New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts, August 16 , 2014

Baltimore Colts at New York Giants, NFL Championship Game Program (December 28, 1958)

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts, August 16 , 2014

THE STORYLINE:
Well, the Giants starting offense couldn’t have looked much worse than they did against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aside from Rashad Jennings’ 73-yard touchdown run, the offense ran a total of 12 plays for a netted three yards. Victor Cruz spoke this week at training camp and said the offense is now entirely installed. It’s time to see some progress and what Ben McAdoo’s scheme can do.

Victor Cruz – © USA TODAY Sports Images

FOUR DOWNS:
First Down
Victor Cruz
When Victor Cruz burst onto the scene in his second year, he was considered one of the more dangerous receivers after the catch. The West Coast Offense is designed around receivers making plays after they catch the ball. It would appear to fit Cruz’s skill set perfectly. In the Giants first two preseason games, Cruz hasn’t caught a pass. It’s time to get the receiver the ball and see what he can do in this offense.

Second Down
Damontre Moore versus the starters
The one common factor throughout the first two preseason games is that Damontre Moore has shown it’s time he play against a higher level of competition. Beating up on second and third team offensive linemen is one thing. Beating up on the starters? That’s something entirely different. Moore has shown that he deserves playing time with the ones and to show what he can do against a team’s best big men, not their second and third teamers.

Third Down
How does Ryan Nassib handle the demotion?
The Giants have down everything they can to let Ryan Nassib take the No. 2 quarterback spot being Eli Manning. Ryan Nassib has done everything he can to make the Giants look another direction. After two preseason games, the Giants pulled the plug on the Nassib experiment and gave all second-team reps to Curtis Painter. Can Nassib make a case to get his backup job back?

Fourth Down
Is Will Beatty healed?
Saturday will mark the first time this season Will Beatty steps foot on the field. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Beatty was ecstatic about the opportunity to play for the first time since fracturing his leg versus the Redskins in the final game of the season. The fact he’ll get to face Robert Mathis will be a huge tall-tale sign of how healthy Beatty is.

Andre Williams – © USA TODAY Sports Images

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Connor Hughes — RB Andre Williams
I love everything that I’ve seen from Andre Williams when he runs with the football. The Boston College alum has the size speed and power to be something special out of the backfield. I hate everything that I’ve seen from Andre Williams when he attempts  block for the quarterback. Versus the Steelers last week, Williams whiffed terribly on two attempted blocks. That needs to improve or his playing time come September will be very, very limited.

Eric Kennedy — LT Will Beatty
Will Beatty is the most important question mark on the offensive line. If he plays well in 2014, the line will probably be alright and could actually develop into a strength. If he does not, then the Giants will likely struggle on offense. Given this is Beatty’s first real action since severely fracturing his leg in the 2013 regular-season finale, I don’t expect him to look particularly sharp against the Colts on Saturday. Physically, he’s still not there both in terms of his recovery and overall football stamina. But this is an important step on the road back. I’ll be thrilled if he doesn’t look too rusty, very concerned if he looks terrible. It will also be interesting to see how much he can play. Tom Coughlin already said he won’t play as much as the rest of the starters. The more he plays, the better. He needs to get into game shape.

THE INJURY REPORT:

• RB Peyton Hillis (foot-ankle/out)
• FB John Conner (concussion/tbd)
• WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring/out)
• WR Trindon Holliday (hamstring/out)
• TE Daniel Fells (knee/out)
• TE Xavier Grimble (hamstring/out)
• DT Mike Patterson (shoulder/out)
• LB Jon Beason (foot/out)
• CB Jayron Hosley (unknown/out)

Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

FROM THE COACHES MOUTH:
Tom Coughlin: “I would like to stop the run. I don’t want anyone to run the ball on our first defense. We have kept people out of the end zone. Again, the offense contributed to the scoring the other night. We would like to be a little bit more consistent and have a little bit better tempo on the offensive side of the ball. I would like to see if the opportunity is there that something positive happen with the return game, be it punt return, kickoff return or whatever it might be. Some type of an opportunity to evaluate that aspect of it.”

THE FINAL WORD:
Connor Hughes — Between training camp and the Giants preseason games, I have had seen such little promise from the offense. Trust me, I’ve tried to look for positives and at times it is impossible to find any. At the end of the day, I just don’t believe — without Odell Beckham Jr. — the Giants have enough playmakers to make this offense work. Be it in practice, or in games, the offense just looks bad. Saturday is another chance for the team to show something—anything— that makes me think differently because right now, I don’t see how this team wins six games this year. Colts 24 – Giants 13.

Eric Kennedy — I’m going to piggyback on what Conner is saying. I’m not sure the Giants have enough weapons at receiver/tight end for this offense to take off in 2014. Not counting the time he missed in OTA’s, Odell Beckham has missed one month of practice. That’s huge and horrible setback for the Giants and the passing game. That time cannot be made up. Victor Cruz has yet to show he is a good fit for the West Coast Offense. Rueben Randle isn’t demonstrating that he can be consistently relied on. The fact that Cruz, Randle, and Beckham haven’t caught a pass in the first two preseason games is a red flag. The team – AGAIN – probably has the worst contingent of tight ends in the entire NFL. For the Giants to compete in the NFC East this season, completely contrary to recent seasons, the defense and running game may have to carry the Giants. And Eli will have to be far, far more conservative in order to protect the football. As for Painter-Nassib, I don’t buy the notion that Painter has moved ahead of Nassib. I see this more as a coach’s ploy to motivate. But if Painter does beat out Nassib, good grief Jerry Reese. Colts 20 – Giants 13.