The New York Giants offense is elevating its game this season. They are scoring 5.4 more points and gaining 46 more yards per game over last year’s averages.
Another stat where the Giants have improved in is red zone scoring. Lat year, the Giants scored touchdowns on 44.7 percent of their red zone trips. This year, that average has increased to 58.3 percent.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka gives the Giants’ analytics staff kudos for putting his unit in better positions to succeed.
“I think when we evaluate the red zone we look at — obviously the closer you get down to the goal line, the more condensed everything becomes so you got to find a way to displace a defender or create an extra gap,” Kafka told reporters. “Do certain things that can give the offense an advantage because the defense gets a little bit more, the space condenses on the offense a little bit, so you can’t really go as vertical if you want to, so you got to think in different ways.
“I think our staff has done a good job of putting together plans like that which are creative and use the strengths of our players whether it’s on the perimeter or in the core. I really credit those guys, the staff and the players, for executing and then the staff for putting it together.”
The success on offense is also a residual effect of the Giants being able to run the football, mainly behind running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones.
Last season, the Giants rushed for just 99.3 yards per game. This year, they are second in the NFL in rushing with a 179.0 YPG average.
“The coaches do a great job of putting us in position to be successful. It’s a player’s league, it’s our job to go out there and execute it,” said Barkley.
“We’ve been doing it in creative ways, we’ve been doing it in ways where sometimes the play might not be perfect, but we find a way to get in there and make a play. That’s what we’ve got to continue to do. We work on it every week obviously, like every other team in the league, but continue to have a sense of urgency when you’re down there and find a way to put it in the box.”
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