INDIANAPOLIS — In 23 days, the Giants play a game that counts, and their getting-worse-instead-of-better offense looks light years away from being ready for anything resembling competency.
In the preseason, when established quarterbacks usually use these games for fine-tuning and getting into a rhythm, Eli Manning is finding it almost impossible to complete a pass. The supposedly rudimentary action of releasing the football from his right hand, thrusting it into the air and into the waiting hands of a teammate has become too difficult, almost impossible.
Soiling an eventual 27-26 victory over the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium — keyed by the reserves in the second half — was another dismal showing by Manning and the starting offense. He attempted seven passes and completed one of them, for six yards to Jerrel Jernigan. Perhaps the Giants should have stopped the game and saved the ball for Eli after that one. He did not produce a single point and could not manage the semblance of a cohesive series.
It was dismal and worrisome, and although these games don't count a lick, there have to be serious questions how this new West Coast offense installed by new coordinator Ben McAdoo is going to function.
"Well, it just wasn't good enough,'' Manning said. "We didn't do a very good job on third down. I felt like we had a couple of opportunities to hit some big plays, we just didn't complete them. We weren't efficient enough running the ball or throwing the ball. So overall, not very good by the starting group."
Is it possible Manning, after going 0-for-2 against the Steelers — the first time in his career he left a game without completing a pass — actually regressed in this third preseason outing?
"No, I'm not concerned right now, but we know we've got to get better,'' Manning said. "We've got to start executing better and start making some plays."
All involved figured there would be growing pains, but can anyone rightly say McAdoo's offense is sinking in? Manning and Co. stayed on the field for four offensive series and produced 38 total yards. That is pathetic. The running game got nothing accomplished, with Rashad Jennings gaining only 17 yards in seven rushing attempts.
The first offensive points for the Giants came in the fourth quarter, when they scored 27 unanswered points. Curtis Painter had a scoring toss to tight end Kellen Davis, and Ryan Nassib led pair of scoring drives, including a late touchdown pass to rookie phenom Corey Washington, who has scored a key TD in all three preseason wins.
But making things just a little (or a lot) more uncomfortable for the Giants was a player they gave up on, Hakeem Nicks, tearing them apart on the other end of so many pinpoint Andrew Luck passes. Running free and easy and showing the spark he rarely showed last season with the Giants, Nicks — in barely more than one quarter — caught five passes for 53 yards.
That did not include a vintage Nicks breakaway for 51 yards that was called back because he was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting, waving his finger at the cornerback he just beat, Trumaine McBride, right in front of the Giants sideline.
All week, there was talk it was time for the starting offense to show something, to begin throwing the ball down the field, even just once in a while. Then Manning and his mates trotted onto the field and proceeded to stink up the joint. It was as if they had never practiced together and barely met each other. Manning's first pass sailed over the middle, intended for Victor Cruz, and it wasn't close.
The second series was another three-and-out — stop us if you're heard this before — lowlighted by a third-down sack of Manning by linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who came on a blitz and beat right tackle Justin Pugh to the inside.
Put it this way: The best drive for Manning and the starters came late in the first quarter and it included two turnovers — a Manning interception canceled out by a Colts penalty and a fumble by Cruz after a 51-yard catch-and-run that was wiped out by an illegal contact penalty on cornerback Greg Toler for bumping Cruz.
Nothing worked. Manning finally threw the ball down the field but Jernigan twice could not get any discernable separation.
The first-team defense didn't light anything up, either. Luck kept the ball moving and hit Griff Whalen for a 5-yard touchdown, splitting Antrel Rolle and Walter Thurmond. Nicks shed a Thurmond tackle attempt on one play and later, Thurmond was beaten by Da'Rick Rogers on a 14-yard scoring pass. Luck, making it look easy, finished 12 of 18 for 89 yards.
"Overall, I think we still have a lot to work on,'' Rolle said. "Overall as a defense, I don't think we're played such a good game today.''
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