The New York Giants could have a tough time on defense this season. Rookie Second-round safety Landon Collins should help the secondary and as an extra tackler in the box and the hope is that Jason Pierre-Paul will still be able to contribute after suffering a hand injury in a fireworks incident earlier this summer. But ultimately, if the Giants want to challenge the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East this year, it will have to be with their offense.
With better health from both Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz, some NFL Insiders are expecting a top five-year from quarterback Eli Manning. This team will be dangerous in the air. But the Giants haven't forgotten about the ground game either and that's where things start to get interesting.
Rashad Jennings assumed the starting role last year before suffering an injury. Behind him stand Andre Williams and free agent Shane Vereen. Throughout the first week of training camp, Williams and Vereen have been seeing more action with the first team than Jennings. Should Giants fans view this as a depth chart shake up?
"Now, I know the coaches really like Williams and the work he's done to improve this offseason," ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano wrote. "And there's a specific role for Vereen, especially on passing downs. I also know there is concern among the coaches about Jennings; health, as he's 30, missed five games last season and has never played 16 in a season. So it's possible they're just limiting his reps the way they are with receivers Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. and tight end Larry Donnell, all of whom are coming back from injuries.
"However, if health were the concern with Jennings, I don't think we'd be seeing him as take as many special teams reps as he's taking right now. That as much as anything might indicate a bit of a slide down the depth chart."
Jennings carried the ball 167 times for 639 yards (3.8 YPC) and four touchdowns in 11 games last year. Throughout his career, he has been of the solid-yet-unspectacular variety. The Giants will have to decide if that is good enough for them in 2015.
