With the calendar flipped to July, Giants.com asks 20 important questions heading into the team's 2020 training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
For 20 days, a member of the Giants.com crew will answer one question about the roster, coaching staff, schedule, and much more.
No. 18: What is one storyline that people might have overlooked this offseason?
Dan Salomone: At their core, I think Giants fans appreciate linebackers more than any other position, so this offseason was for them. Inside and outside, old and new, the team added several intriguing players to the unit.
In free agency, Blake "The Tackling Machinez" Martinez and Kyler Fackrell, who has a double-digit sack season on his resume, came over from Green Bay. In the draft, the Giants used 40 percent of their 10 picks at the position: Cam Brown (Penn State), Carter Coughlin (Minnesota), TJ Brunson (South Carolina) and Tae Crowder (Georgia). That's six new pieces right there for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer, and outside linebackers coach/senior assistant Bret Bielema.
"I think it says a lot more about how our defensive scheme fits together, that we are going to play with a lot of linebackers throughout the game," coach Joe Judge said. "You build your defense to build two-thirds of your team, that's really your defense and your kicking game for covering kicks. These guys have a lot of impact across the board right there."
While we're on the subject, don't overlook the return of linebacker Ryan Connelly, who was on his way to being the steal of the 2019 draft. The fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin recorded 20 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in the first four games of his rookie year, but then it abruptly ended due to a torn ACL. He was also high school teammates with Coughlin in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Connelly, then the quarterback, helped the school to three Minnesota Class 6A football state championships.
That's not exactly the type of versatility that Judge has spoken about since he took over – I don't think Connelly is throwing a pass anytime soon – but the linebacker corps has a little bit of everything to make it dominant once again.
John Schmeelk: Dominance. I consider myself a realist and try to go out of my way to temper expectations on most things, in general. I'm a "regression to the mean" kind of guy. Give me a bucket and cold water and I'll find something to pour it on. I see no reason to be like this when it comes to Saquon Barkley. He is that talented and capable of putting together a special season.
I'll be so bold as to say that I would be surprised if Barkley doesn't gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage, find a way to score 10 touchdowns, or catch more than 55 passes.
Given the high frequency Jason Garrett made sure Ezekiel Elliott had the ball while they were in Dallas, I expect Barkley to be among the NFL's Top 3 running backs, based on most metrics. He is a special player and should consistently impact the game, either running the ball or catching it.
Barkley should be the centerpiece of everything the Giants do offensively and his numbers should be immense, barring injuries. I predict: 317 carries for 1,462 yards, 64 receptions for 588 yards with 12 total touchdowns.
View photos of Giants running back Saquon Barkley's time with the New York Giants.