One thing the New York Giants didn’t have this year was health. They were trashed by injury and landed dead last in the NFC East with a 4-13 record. Big Blue has now missed the playoffs for five straight seasons since the 2016-2017 season. Several attributes fell apart and the Giants have much to revamp. Whether it’s a new head coach or searching for a quarterback, the Giants have much to accomplish in the offseason.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Season Recaps.
What Went Right
While injuries piled up, many rookie players stepped up to fill big roles for the G-Men. From Kadarius Toney on the offense to Azeez Ojulari and Quincy Roche on the defensive side. Many other rookies played a big part including cornerback Aaron Robinson and linebacker Elerson Smith. Toney was just explosive at the receiver slot. He was a big target for Daniel Jones as the G-Men were short on receivers for most of the season. Ojulari was just dominant and lead the team in sacks with eight. The youngster glued the defense together and could be a huge piece for the Giants’ defense in the near future.
What Went Wrong
The Giants 2021 season was extremely disappointing. Many things went sour; mainly the offense. Although there were injuries, even when the Giants were healthy, the offense looked cold. Whether it was a Jones interception or a busted play by the offense. Jones had to miss a chunk of the season due to injury and was replaced by Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm. Although, even when Jones was healthy he didn’t have many options to target.
The G-Men receivers struggled mightily with injury and missed several weeks. Prior to the season, the Giants acquired all-star Kenny Golladay. Many thought he would light up the offense but sadly, Golladay didn’t record one touchdown. On the ground, Saquon Barkley had a rough year. He was inconsistent and missed a chunk of the season. Overall, the offense looked disorganized, and struggled to put the ball in the end zone.
Team Award Winners
MVP- Xavier McKinney
McKinney made a huge impact on the Giants’ secondary. He was reliable and played tough every play. He led the team in interceptions with five and recorded 93 tackles. The second-year man out of Alabama proved that he can contend with all-star receivers. McKinney dominated every game and could be a huge piece for the Giants in the coming years. While there weren’t many options to choose from, McKinney definitely stood out from all the other contenders for MVP.
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Kadarius Toney
Toney played a huge role in the Giants’ offense in 2021. He recorded 39 receptions with 420 yards. To say the least, Toney only appeared in 10 games and still persevered. He came up big on needed first downs and always was a target to turn to. Toney proved that he can contend and definitely deserves his spot for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Azeez Ojulari
What a season it was for the rookie out of Georgia. He led the team in sacks and dominated every snap. The linebacker played all 17 games and made an impact the second he stepped on the turf. From his 2.5 sack game against the Carolina Panthers to three consecutive games with a sack. The 21-year-old is explosive and will be someone to look out for in the coming season.
Biggest Surprise- Tae Crowder
Nobody expected Crowder to dominate in 2021. While his 2020 season didn’t stand out, Crowder’s performance in 2021 showed his potential. He recorded a team-leading 130 tackles with two interceptions and one forced fumble. The linebacker made a huge improvement from 2020 and intends to move forward. There were a few options for “Biggest Surprise” but Crowder stood out on top of the rest.
Biggest Disappointment- Kenny Golladay
Prior to the 2021 NFL Season, the G-Men signed Golladay to a three-year $72 million deal. While the Giants’ offense seemed invincible after the signing, Golladay proved otherwise. He didn’t record one touchdown and reeled in 37 receptions. While the Chicago native dealt with injury, even when healthy it seemed Golladay was astray. The Giants will expect more out of Golladay coming into the 2022 season.
One Burning Question
Who will the Giants turn to at Head Coach?
Mystery floats in the air as the G-Men fired Joe Judge. The Giants have struggled over the past few years searching for a reliable head coach. From Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur, the Giants haven’t had a dependable head coach in several years. While the Giants might not be the best team out there, they still need a coach to rely on. Whether it’s Josh McDaniels or promoting Patrick Graham, the G-Men have many options to turn to.
[pickup_prop id=”19307″]
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk
Follow Rephael Negnewitzky on Twitter @RephaelN613
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
