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 White Jonathan Stewart Jerseys , but they finished the 2018 season just about the only way they could. They lost, but they made it a close loss, complete with highlight reel plays from Saquon Barkley and a disappointing defensive performance at the end to let victory slip away. The Giants’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys was a nearly perfect encapsulation of their 2018 season. This was our last look at the Giants before the 2019 free agency and draft seasons, let’s see what parting lessons they had for us. The Giants have work to do on the offensive lineWhen Dave Gettleman was hired he came in with sturm und drang, declaring that he would fix the offensive line, bring in “Hog Mollies,” and in general return the franchise to an earlier era of Giants football. Pat Shurmur talked about “changing the transmission” of the Giants’ offense, as they proceeded to completely tear down and rebuild the offensive line over the course of the year.Unfortunately, the Giants’ offensive line regressed.Eli Manning was sacked 47 times, eight more times than his previous high of 39, and 16 more sacks than in 2017 (despite attempting all of five more passes). The Giants finished with the 27th ranked run blocking offensive line (according to Football Outsiders), and spent most of the season with one of the very worst. A year ago they were ranked 15th. The Giants found a keeper in left guard Will Hernandez. The guard, who nobody expected to fall out of the first round of the draft, looks to be a long-term foundation piece. The team is locked in to left tackle Nate Solder for at least another year, and while Jamon Brown wasn’t the mid-season savior many hoped he would be Jonathan Stewart Jerseys 2019 , he was an upgrade over Patrick Omameh and he might be the Giants’ best option going forward. They could also hope that he plays better with better pieces around him.Center and right tackle, however, need to be addressed and upgraded this season. Chad Wheeler is a high-effort player, but a liability on the edge. Jon Halapio will return from injury, but he wasn’t particularly good before hie was hurt. (In particular, he struggled using his hands in the run game, and too often couldn’t snap the ball and get his hands up before defenders were into his pads. He is a low-cost option and should have the chance to continue to develop and compete, however.)Spencer Pulley showed why the Los Angeles Chargers felt comfortable in letting him go. Whether it is in the draft or in free agency, the Giants need to find answers for their offensive line. They were able to scheme around it in the last two weeks, and these two games should heavily inform their offensive scheme next year. Doing football things, however, will be MUCH easier if they don’t have a leaky, inconsistent offensive line.Saquon Barkley is really good at football The debate whether Barkley was the right pick for the Giants in 2018 will probably rage on for some time. In all honesty, it hasn’t been decided yet, but drafting Barkley instead of a quarterback leaves them with uncertainty at the most important position on the field. There is still time to address the position and maximize the potential of Barkley White Nate Solder Jerseys , Odell Beckham Jr.We can pick that debate up again tomorrow. For now, let’s just appreciate that Barkley joins Edgerrin James and Eric Dickerson to became the third rookie in NFL history with 2,000 yards from scrimmage.And in the final game of the season, Barkley got back to giving us highlight reel plays. Plays like these: Whoops, that was a scene from Space Jam. I meant this: And, of course, there was the play that put him over 2,000 yards on the season: He also set the record for receptions by a rookie running back: Evan Engram needs to be a major piece of the 2019 offenseIs Engram a 6-foot-6, 270-pound monster who can match up with a defensive end in pass protection and blow open holes in the run game? Nope, and attempts to use him as such are a mistake by the coaching staff. But credit where credit is due, with Beckham injured, Pat Shurmur has adjusted his usage of Engram, and Engram has responded by being the Giants’ most consistently productive offensive player over the last quarter of the season. Engram is a high effort player in the blocking game, though his frame will always limit the types of players he can match up against. Where he has an advantage over the prototypical tight ends is that he can play from all over the offensive formation, and be a true explosive mismatch. He is also a very tough ball carrier Nate Solder Jerseys 2019 , consistently working through contact and selling out for every yard.The trick for Pat Shurmur will be to remember what Engram is capable of when Beckham gets back healthy.The Giants need pieces on defense I already mentioned that the Giants need to add pieces to their re-built offensive line. They also still need to address the future of their quarterback position. They also need many pieces to field the kind of defense that James Bettcher wants to put on the field. Olivier Vernon finished the game with 2.5 sacks and was harassing Dak Prescott all game long — but he has struggled to convert pressure into production all season long, and only really produced against back-up offensive tackles. Curtis Riley had four interceptions on the year, but has been a liability at free safety all season ... And then he did whatever this was: The Giants still have struggled against tight ends and have a habit of making them — particularly Dallas tight ends — look like All-Pro players. Eight of their eleven losses were by a touchdown or less. While their offensive struggles certainly contributed to that, their defense’s inability to hold a lead and close out games was the primary reason. When the Giants had an 11-5 season and went to the play-offs in 2016, the defense’s ability to finish close games was a deciding factor, and it’s a factor that eludes them. They need to pour resources into this defense, and make smart decisions doing so.Giants cuts tracker: Tracking Giants roster moves, trades, rumors, updates, and more The NFL preseason is over and teams are now going about the serious business of trimming rosters from 90 players to the regular season limit of 53. New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree said Friday that it’s a “bittersweet” time because the regular season is starting, but players who will stay are bidding goodbye to players who may be seeing their NFL dreams come to an end.Giants coach Pat Shurmur said after Thursday’s preseason finale that the Giants have “enough information” to make good decisions about the roster.“I feel like we’ve got enough information,” Shurmur said.” We played all the players through the preseason, so we’re not going to be guessing as to whether a guy can do it or not. We’re in a position now to pick that initial 53-man roster.”Cutting players you have worked with for months is part of a head coach’s job, but not an easy one. “The human element of it is tough White Kareem Martin Jerseys ,” Shurmur said. “I think we all get used to it, but if you’ve got a heart and you’ve got a soul, you’re talking about guys’ livelihood. It’s a tough situation that way, but it’s real.”Shurmur said Friday that but that the Giants “have a decent idea” who will and won’t make the roster. We will find out who those guys are today.GM Dave Gettleman said Thursday that the Giants “will keep the 53 best” players and would then “work the waiver wire” to try and upgrade spots on the roster where possible.We will be tracking the cuts between now and the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Saturday to reach the roster limit, so keep checking back for updates. Roster movesThe reported list of cuts with less than an hour to go:— WR Marquis Bundy— WR Alonzo Russell— OL Malcolm Bunche— RB Jhurell Pressley— DT A.J. Francis— WR Travis Rudolph— DT Tyrell Chavis— LB Calvin Munson— OL Zac Kerin— CB Grant Haley— CB Chris Lewis-Harris— S Andrew Adams— WR Roger Lewis Jr.— RB Jalen Simmons— WR Kalif Raymond— OT Chris Scott— WR Amba Etta-Tawo— K Marshall Koehn — ILB Mark Herzlich — DT Izaah Lunsford — S Darian Thompson— LB Warren Long— TE Garrett Dickerson— CB Leonard Johnson— CB Mike Jones— OL Nick Gates (placed on IR)— OLB Avery MossThought Darian Thompson might end up on IR due to his lingering hamstring injury. Didn’t think Giants would outright waive him. If Thompson, a 2016 third-round pick goes unclaimed, he reverts to the Giants injured reserve list. [Full story]Garrett Dickerson, an undrafted free agent, seems like a favorite to land on the practice squad.With Leonard Johnson, Chris Lewis-Harris and Grant Haley all released, the Giants are obviously going to be scouring the waiver wire for cornerback help.A fifth-round pick last season by then-GM Jerry Reese, Avery Moss missed most of the spring with an injury and never caught up. I don’t believe he has practice squad eligibility, so he will be moving on.There was some thought that veteran offensive lineman Chris Scott could sneak onto the roster. That, apparently, isn’t happening.More to come on the release of veteran linebacker Mark Herzlich. [Full story]It has been obvious for a while that Aldrick Rosas was going to win the placekicking job.Amba Etta-Tawo had a good spring and a fast start to training camp. He disappeared in the preseason Kareem Martin Jerseys 2019 , though, with his only reception being Thursday’s 41-yard touchdown catch-and-run. He would seem like a logical practice squad candidate.Jhurell Pressley had two good preseason games, but he was never really likely to make the team. He was roster fill to help the Giants through preseason.Surprised by the cut of A.J. Francis. Said multiple times that he and Robert Thomas have similar skill sets, but thought both guys would make it. Guess that might be good news for someone like Romeo Okwara. [Full story]Travis Rudolph made a splash in the 2017 preseason, but his lack of speed and size made it difficult for him. He was also injured for a lengthy stretch in preseason, limiting his opportunities.Tyrell Chavis would be a logical practice squad addition.In my 53-man roster projection I had Grant Haley going to the practice squad. Thought he might sneak onto the roster once news broke that Chris Lewis-Harris was being released. Looks like the Giants will be scouring the waiver wire for some cornerback help. I would think Haley will land on the practice squad if he clears waivers.The Alex Tanney move is no surprise. He was never making the roster unless there was a major injury to Eli Manning, Davis Webb or Kyle Lauletta.The release of Kalif Raymond likely means Hunter Sharp wins the punt return job.Andrew Adams is a player the Giants just didn’t seem to believe was a fit in James Bettcher’s defense. I thought Chris Lewis-Harris played well enough on Thursday vs. the New England Patriots to earn a roster spot. Giants thought otherwise. [Full story]We have been telling you since the spring that the Giants’ new coaching staff has had Roger Lewis Jr., who had 26 receptions last season, buried on the depth chart. Now, the Giants are moving on without him.2018 Waiver Wire OrderOrderTeamOrderTeam