In two years under Brian Daboll, the New York Giants have gone from a surprise playoff winner to a disappointing bottom-six club. What will Year 3 bring?
Receiver Jalin Hyatt believes Big Blue is on a path back to the postseason.
"New year, new opportunities, new goals," Hyatt said on Thursday, . "You know, for me, I always set high expectations. Just looking at our team, looking at what we got, we have a good chance to do whatever we want to do.
"For goals, I just want as a team goal. We have a playoff team and that's what we want to do and that's our focus. We're going to get there."
Those outside the locker room aren't as optimistic. The Giants' win total projections have hovered around six this offseason. Big Blue was miserable on both sides of the ball last season, with a slight blip of Tommy DeVito mania providing a buffer of levity.
With Daniel Jones returning under center, can the addition of first-round receiver Malik Nabers and a revamped defense -- importing Brian Burns and a new coaching staff -- immediately turn things back around?
Hyatt's comment shouldn't come as a surprise. What is he supposed to say? We stink and this year will be a waste? One, that's not a mentality any professional football player can take. It's too physical of a game. Negative mindsets get you run over. Secondly, teams regularly go from poor to the playoffs in a sport that prides itself on competitive balance.
It might surprise some if the Giants make a run at the postseason, but wilder things happen in the NFL.