Predictability has been an issue for the New York Giants’ offense since Ben McAdoo has been in charge of it. Just don’t tell that to Ben McAdoo.
Until this year — when a concerted effort was made to change it — the Giants ran “11” personnel (three wide, one back, one tight end) upwards of 90 percent of the time. Even with that aspect getting marginally better this year, the Giants have still relied on the same formations and route combinations with almost comical consistency.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr acknowledged as much on Wednesday, telling reporters that Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves knew what was coming when the two faced off on Sunday.
McAdoo, however, has a different take on things.
“Your interpretation of what Odell said and mine are entirely different,” McAdoo said, per ESPN. “Teams do a good job scouting the opponent. That’s a part of gamesmanship. We have things to counteract it, and it paid off for us in the game. Every defensive back thinks they know what you’re running until they don’t. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the game.”
McAdoo is right insofar as acknowledging that every team has certain tendencies on film. If you study enough tape, you’ll know what’s coming some of the time, even against the best coaches. But there’s a difference between some of the time and all of the time.
McAdoo said the “every defensive back thinks they know what you’re running until they don’t.”
At what point this year have opposing defensive backs been surprised by the Giants? Their passing offense has been utterly anemic.
Even with some minor improvements over the last two weeks, New York has not scored 30 points since January 3, 2016. That was their last game before McAdoo became head coach. Maybe it’s not a coincidence.