5 Expectations New York Giants Have Failed to Meet in 2015

Making preseason predictions has become a way of life for many journalists and fans because it’s fun to see how well the predictions hold up throughout the year.

When those predictions/expectations don’t pan out, one of two things happen: either something better happens, or something worse.

As the curtain on the 2015 regular season starts to come to a close, let’s take a look back at some early season expectations/predictions for the Giants that haven’t panned out.

Uani 'Unga Could Be a Viable Replacement for Jon Beason at Middle Linebacker

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

The Giants made the rather shocking decision to cut veteran linebacker Jameel McClain—who last season led the team in tackles—at the end of training camp in favor of a first-year prospect by the name of Uani ‘Unga.

Sure enough, starting middle linebacker Jon Beason got hurt and ‘Unga was pressed into duty. In the beginning, he actually looked rather decent in filling the role. ‘Unga not only wore the radio in his helmet, he took every snap in the first two games and led the Giants in tackles with 12 against Dallas that first week.

Gradually though, things started to slide downhill. For one, ‘Unga just hasn’t been solid in coverage, where per Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed 24 of 29 pass targets to be complete for 246 yards, with 119 coming after the catch. He also allowed two touchdowns while picking off two passes for a 96.3 NFL rating.

‘Unga would develop a neck issue that cost him a couple of games.

When he returned to the lineup, which by then was without Beason, it was Jasper Brinkley and not ‘Unga who took the controls in the middle.

‘Unga still gets reps in certain personnel packages, but any thoughts that might have existed about him potentially becoming the starter after Beason have slipped away.

Shane Vereen Was Supposed to Be the Missing Piece in the Running Game

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

General manager Jerry Reese made good on filling a glaring need over the offseason, which was to get a running back to potentially fill the role they envisioned David Wilson playing before a neck injury forced him into premature retirement.

That running back was Shane Vereen, an established receiver out of the backfield who in the three years prior with New England, caught 107 passes for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Giants coaches gave Vereen chances to start the season. In the first five games (he wasn’t targeted in Week 4 against Buffalo), Vereen was targeted 22 times, an average of 4.4 times per game.

Since then, Vereen has been targeted in the passing game more than five times just once, that in Week 8 against New Orleans when he was targeted nine times.

Perhaps the birth of the four-man running back rotation, which happened after Week 5, has something to do with Vereen just not getting enough looks of late. Or maybe it’s the reliance on Odell Beckham Jr. that has made throwing to Vereen not as important.

Whatever the reason, the Giants would probably be best served to get him more involved in the offense again if for no other reason than to keep opposing defenses honest.

Jason Pierre-Paul Was Supposed to Boost the Sacks

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Once it was made known that defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul would be returning to the Giants after all, many hoped that he would provide a much needed jolt to a lethargic pass rush that had recorded 9.0 sacks prior to his 2015 debut.

That hasn’t been the case, even though the Giants have since recorded 7.0 sacks since Pierre-Paul’s return to the lineup (none of which have been recorded by the defensive end, by the way). 

The Giants’ four-man front continues to struggle with getting penetration, so much so that on Monday night, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo made it a point to bring a n extra man on the pass rush, blitzing Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill 55.6 percent of the time, according to Pro Football Focus.

In watching Pierre-Paul, it’s clear that he’s still trying to adjust to the club on his right hand. While it would be hard to fathom him not getting at least a half sack before the end of the regular season, time is starting out run out and the stakes are getting higher.

Receiver Geremy Davis Was Supposed to Contribute

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Sixth-round draft pick Geremy Davis showed lots of flashes of potential, so much so that it was thought he would at least have a role on special teams in the coming season, with an eye on potentially getting some snaps on the offense.

It hasn’t worked out that way for the 6’2”, 217-pound specimen out of UConn. In the last three games, Davis has been a healthy scratch, losing out a game day uniform to Myles White, whom the Giants picked up off waivers once the season began.

While head coach Tom Coughlin hasn’t commented specifically on the reason for Davis inactivity, all signs seem to point to special teams, an area in which Davis had limited experience during his college career.

However, with Rueben Randle unlikely to be back next year and the jury still out on Victor Cruz, Davis will get his opportunity to play a larger role on the team.

The only question is if it will be in the same offense, which will be the case if Coughlin is retained, or in a different system if Coughlin and his staff are fired.  

Rueben Randle Was Supposed to Have a Strong Year

Al Bello/Getty Images

Logic would seem to dictate that when a player is in his contract year and is presented with a golden opportunity to put on a show for the entire league, he seizes that opportunity.

Not so if that player is receiver Rueben Randle. An incredibly gifted receiver who stands 6’2” and weighs 208 pounds, Randle has been the very model of inconsistent in his role as the No. 2 receiver behind Odell Beckham Jr.

According to Pro Football Focus, Randle is tied with Odell Beckham Jr. as being the intended target on the most pass attempts (three), and is second among the receivers on the team with the most dropped passes (three).

While those numbers aren’t horrible, where Randle has come up short is when it comes to separating. He’s averaging a team-low 2.9 yards after the catch and has the lowest receiver rating (95.4) among the top three Giants receivers.

The sad thing is when Randle is good, he’s very good, such as in Week 3 when he caught all pass targets for 116 yards and one touchdown.

When he’s bad, he’s unwatchable, such as Weeks 12 and 13 when he caught three of 12 pass targets for 58 yards.

The bottom line is the Giants haven’t seen enough of the good to likely be contemplating investing a long-term contract in Randle.

If he does indeed move on, you can add him to yet a growing string of second- and third-round draft picks that were counted on becoming the core of the franchise who instead turned out to be disappointments.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.