The NY Giants have Tom Coughlin back for 2015 and moving forward some of the big issues include whether to sign back Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle in free agency and whether the team can return to the playoffs after missing out in the last three seasons.
The Giants have a decent schedule next season because they finished in third place in the NFC East and it could be one reason they make a return to the playoffs. Head coach Tom Coughlin was brought back for another year, but if the team misses the postseason again his run could finally end. The Giants dealt with a ton of injuries this season and brought in over 20 new free agents and that made it tough for the team to win week to week.
Odell Beckham had a breakout season for the 6-10 Giants and he is another reason why Coughlin was brought back. The team felt optimistic about next season despite the record this year and Beckham helped make that possible after he put up fantastic numbers in limited time as a rookie. The Giants now are locked in with a top 10 pick and they will be looking to add a top prospect after taking Beckham in the first round last year. Jerry Reese also kept his job and that came after a strong draft in 2014 that included Beckham, Andre Williams and Devon Kennard.
This year the Giants may target a defensive player in the draft, as they have some glaring needs on that side of the ball. The offensive line was up and down this season and they also have issues at linebacker and in the secondary. Many speculate the Giants will go offensive lineman in the first round and that would come after the team drafted Justin Pugh in the first round before last year and Weston Richburg in the second round in 2014.
The Giants also have a major question about JPP, as he is going to be a free agent and is a key part of the defense. JPP had just 8.5 sacks over the last two seasons combined before bouncing back with 12.5 this year, but the Giants will have to decide if JPP is the guy from the previous two years or the one from 2011 who was dominant and had 16.5 sacks. Pierre-Paul is young, but the Giants have drafted players on the line over the past two seasons and could be preparing to lose him. ESPN New York writes that the team will consider using the franchise tag on Pierre-Paul
The Giants schedule includes divisional opponents at home and on the road along with matchups against third place teams in the NFC North and NFC West. The team also has to play against the AFC East and NFC South, which in the grand scheme of things isn't as bad as the schedule was this season. The Patriots are in there, but that will be a home game and the Giants will have the Bills and Dolphins on the road, while the Jets will be a home game. The rest of the schedule includes the Panthers, Falcons and Niners at home, while the Saints, Bucs and Vikings are the other road games.
