Things did not really pan out for the 2013 New York Giants, and their most recent offseason did not do much to quell the suffering. After losing Brandon Myers, Hakeem Nicks, and Chris Snee to free agency, retirement, and inefficiency respectively, New York is reeling on both sides of the ball.

The largest uncertainty for the Giants at this stage is who will emerge as the starting running back? Rashad Jennings is the favorite for the job, but is a 29 year old career backup who has never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. David Wilson cannot seem to get heatlhy, Peyton Hillis has yet to show signs of anything resembling a professional rusher, which leaves Andre Williams as a top candidate.

A bruising rusher out of Boston College, Williams combines speed and size to create a bowling-ball style of running attack reminiscent of Carolina’s Mike Tolbert or Steeler’s great Jerome Bettis. Williams’ downhill style of rush is exactly what Coughlin is looking for in a runner, so expect Williams to get red zone carries at the very least.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, there is much uncertainty in Giants’ camp as to who will actually catch passes for the team this season. Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle would be competing for the starting role, if Beckham Jr. had not been sidelined by a hamstring injury, the same soft-tissue injury that kept him out of offseason team activities in June. As of now it appears Randle will be the man next to Victor Cruz in Ben McAdoo’s new style of offense, but will their quarterback be up to task?

We have all heard that “the ball is coming out of Eli’s hand faster” and that is just terrific, but will it translate to on-field success? The man who has more interceptions over the last four seasons than anyone else in football must have a resurgent 2014, or risk being labeled as “in decline”. As Eli Manning goes so do the Giants, so their success for this season depends on a rejuvenated Eli.

While the Giants secondary looks as good as it has in years, the team’s front seven is just the opposite. Outside of Jason Pierre-Paul and Jon Beason, there is no defender that evokes fear in opposing offenses within the team’s line backing corps or on the defensive line. Plus with Beason hurt, any setback could spell doom for the Giants' defensvie unit. As of now two former Eagles in Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson are set to start as the two defensive tackle positions, a recipe for disaster as Philadelphia’s 2012 campaign could attest to.

While former Raven Jameel MClain will fill one starting outside line backing role, the other remains a mystery. Either Jacquian Williams or Spencer Paysinger will be the starter come opening day, and this is a major issue for the Giants. Paysinger lost his starting role when Beason was signed last season, and Williams has yet to prove that he is a legitimate option as a starter. At this stage, it does not appear another viable outside linebacker is on the team’s roster and that is a major shortcoming from the Giants’ brass.