Despite massive investment, NY Giants still pitiful in key offensive area

This offseason, the NY Giants added weapons hoping to fix the offense, but is still struggling mightily inside the red zone through five games 

The NY Giants did just about everything they could to fix one of the NFL’s most inefficient red zone offenses this offseason, and through the first quarter of the season, those investments have flatlined.

Despite guaranteeing wide receiver Kenny Golladay $45 million over the next four years, signing tight end Kyle Rudolph, and banking on Evan Engram finally living up to his first-round potential, the red zone still means stop for the Giants’ offense.

Prior to signing with the NY Giants, 13 of Golladay’s 31 touchdown receptions were caught in the red zone. Likewise, 37 of Rudolph’s 48 career touchdowns were caught inside the 20-yard line.

That production just hasn’t translated this season.

Through the first five weeks, not only are the NY Giants 1-4 and staring up at the rest of the NFC East, but entering Sunday boast the 30th ranked red zone offense.

New York is scoring touchdowns on just 40 percent of their red zone opportunities, and it likely won’t get much better on Sunday.

Almost astonishingly, Daniel Jones has yet to throw a red zone touchdown, and has been sacked twice inside the opponent’s 20 yard-line. His passer rating inside the 19-yard line is a meager 39.6. So far, Jones is just 4-of-15 passing in the red zone, and 1-of-6 inside the 10-yard line.

The fact that Jones has three rushing touchdowns inside the 20-yard line underscores that the issues plaguing the NY Giants’ offense run far deeper than their third-year quarterback.

The Los Angeles Rams arrive into MetLife Stadium Sunday, bringing along 11th ranked red zone defense in the NFL, allowing touchdowns on 52.63 percent of their opponents drives inside the 20-yard line.

The Rams have really clamped down over the past several weeks, as well. Last Thursday night, the Seahawks converted just 33.3 percent of red zone trips into touchdowns, and on the road, LA’s opponents have found the end zone just 28.57 percent of the time.

Sunday, the NY Giants will be without Golladay. And Rudolph’s contributions have been negligible, just seven passes for 71 yards so far.

If the NY Giants are going to turn things around, with an offense that is averaging 12th in the NFL, averaging 380.6 yards per game, the points are going to need to start piling in. After all, New York is averaging only 20.6 points per game, which can be attributed in large part to having to settle for field goals as often as they have, when entering the red zone.

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.