Eli Manning and the 5 Problem Positions for the New York Giants

In a past life, Eli Manning must have stepped on the toe of Harry Potter’s great-great-grandmother.

That’s the only reasonable explanation for how cursed the Giants have been so far this preseason.

With the injury to Jonathan Goff, insult has literally been added to injury as the already below-average linebacking corps lost the only reliable player it's had over the past few seasons.

Not only have injuries thinned out positions and made them, at best, suspect, but there were already several questionable positions on the team heading into the season.

Here are five problem positions for Big Blue heading into Week 1. 

Middle Linebacker

The most glaring position is at linebacker. 

After making it through the final preseason game with no major season-ending injuries, it seemed as if the curse was finally breaking. Yes, there were losses, but none—not even Terrell Thomas—were insurmountable. 

Then Jonathan Goff inexplicably tore his ACL.

The position that was already the thinnest on the team has now lost its longest-tenured member. 

I do not count Mathias Kiwanuka, although he is probably the most athletic member of the unit, because he is a converted defensive end. Also, as a natural pass-rusher and playing in a Perry Fewell-schemed defense, he will likely be blitzing frequently.

The Giants are bringing in Chase Blackburn and Kawika Mitchell—both former G-Men—for workouts as well, but there is a reason they weren't on the roster already.

Problem Player: Greg Jones 

He has become the top middle linebacker by default after Goff’s injury. While he had a blocked punt in the preseason, the sixth-round pick out of Michigan State will likely struggle.

Player To Watch: Mark Herzlich

The feel-good story of the past year is now going to have a chance to see substantial field time in his rookie season. After his All-American 2008 campaign, Herzlich was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. 

He made his comeback for Boston College last season, but went undrafted in April; the Giants signed him. He may not have what it takes to make an impact his rookie season, but it will be worth watching simply because of the amazing story behind it. 

Defensive Tackle

While the pass rush is always the most feared unit on the team because of the bevy of talented defensive ends, the defensive tackles have been just as important to the D-line's success. 

Chris Canty is a very important and intimidating presence in the run game, but Barry Cofield was just as influential in collapsing the pocket. His role was to flush out quarterbacks and allow either Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck or Jason Pierre-Paul time to get to the QB. 

This worked effectively—just ask a concussed Jay Cutler. With Cofield gone, the D-line will have to rely on second-year player Linval Joseph.

Also, who is going to do the taser dance? (See video.)

Player To Watch: Rocky Bernard

Bernard was signed for far too much by the Giants (four years, $16 million) to have just 32 tackles. Those 32, however, sound much more impressive than the six Joseph has to his credit. 

Joseph may start the year, but don’t be surprised to see Bernard make an appearance before long if he proves to be ineffective. 

Left Tackle

Can we hire Sandra Bullock as an offensive line coach? 

Will Beatty could've probably starred alongside her in The Blind Side at any rate. 

Eli Manning hasn’t missed a start in 111 consecutive games, a streak that will be the longest in the NFL come next week. 

Part of what has made that extremely impressive streak possible is the amount of hits, or lack thereof, that Manning takes. Last season, Manning’s long-time left tackle David Diehl moved to guard, with Shawn Andrews filling the spot. 

Beatty, the 2009 second-round pick out of UConn, had two starts and wasn’t all that impressive. One stat to look at for linemen is total penalties. In two starts, Beatty had six penalties, a number which will have to decrease—or at least his penalties per game average. Did I just make that stat up? 

Another story told by the penalties is that he is overmatched. He has looked solid in the preseason, but his capacity to handle players like Demarcus Ware and Trent Cole will be a major key to his success in New York. 

Tight End

Jake Ballard, Bear Pascoe and Travis Beckum.

You don’t need to be an expert to see these are not go-to guys. 

The most dangerous of the three is Beckum, who is undersized and will have difficulty blocking larger pass-rushers. 

Bear Pascoe might actually be a better fullback than a tight end. He can block—I mean, his name is Bear—but he simply looks awkward catching passes. 

Jake Ballard is, well—does anyone know who Jake Ballard is?

The rookie is listed as the No. 1 tight end on the Giants depth chart. He is likely only there to block on run downs while Pascoe is fullbacking. 

I don’t think I need to explain why this could be a potential problem position. Kevin Boss is going to look like pure gold out there in Oakland. 

Quarterback

OK, this pick is more for potential problems than any other reason. Obviously with the quarterback position, depth is never an issue. First thing's first: QBs need to stay on the field—Eli's got that covered.

Additionally, it is about skill, execution, resolve and that special gear that drives a winner.  

Manning has to prove he has that gear.

He looked to have upshifted in the 2007 playoffs as he drove the Giants to an upset Super Bowl win. He then piloted the Giants to a No. 1 seed and a 12-4 record in 2008. 

Then the Giants were one of the league’s top-scoring teams as they powered to a 5-0 record in 2009. 

Since that point, the Giants are 13-16. 

As one of the highest-paid players in the NFL last year, he also led the league with 25 interceptions and 30 total turnovers. The argument can be made that not all of the interceptions were his fault, but the fact of the matter is the ball was in his hands, and then the next person to have it was a member of the opposing team. 

Thirty times! 

Manning was as much a cause for the Giants' late-season funk in 2010 as anyone. You can blame Matt Dodge for punting to DeSean Jackson; you can blame Steve Smith for being hurt; you can blame Hakeem Nicks for tipping balls.

The fact of the matter is: When you are paid like a star player, you need to produce like a star player. 

If Manning is not playing like a star, quarterback is a problem position for the Giants.

And can someone please teach the guy how to slide. It’s embarrassing really.