Giants’ Mike Kafka wants to improve the ‘explosive passing game’

It’s no secret the New York Giants need to get more dynamic and explosive in the passing game. Last season, they were 31st in passing yards and averaged just 6.5 yards per passing attempt.

Granted, the Giants suffered several injuries at the quarterback position, including a season-ending knee injury to starter Daniel Jones halfway through the year.

Backup Tyrod Taylor started five games and also got injured, leading to the team turning to rookie Tommy DeVito to start six games.

That revolving door, along with another season of ravaging injuries to the offensive line, made for a challenging season for offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

The Giants should have all of the injured players back — including Jones — this summer and general manager Joe Schoen has filled in holes along the line and backfilled the loss of star running back Saquon Barkley with veteran Devin Singletary, and is planning more additions.

Kafka knows he has to make do with what he has and recently stated what he expects in 2024.

“I’d like to see us take a step forward in our explosive pass game,” Mike Kafka said during a recent episode of ‘On the Drive with Shaun O’Hara‘ on Giants.com. “I’m really excited about the guys we have. I’m excited about the schemes that we’ve been talking about all offseason and implementing those things.”

The Giants hold the sixth overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft. They will either take a quarterback or a wide receiver. Most pundits believe they will end up with one of the three stud receivers in this year’s class: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers of LSU, or Washington’s Rome Odunze.

Regardless of the weaponry added on offense, the passing game will hinge on how well the offensive line blocks. They allowed 85 sacks in 2024, the second-most in a single season since sacks became an official stat in 1982.

Kafka believes a full season of Andrew Thomas at left tackle and John Michael Schmitz at center combined with free agent additions Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor under new position coach Carmen Bricillo will improve the overall play.

“I think our O-line will take a step forward as well and continue to grow,” Kafka said, “but all 11 guys are going to have to do that.”

Kafka is still unsure about who will call the plays — either him or head coach Brian Daboll — and the overall strategy of the offense heading into the summer.

“It’s been cool,” Kafka said. “As the offseason goes on and the season (goes on), I think things will start to roll more. Right now, it’s really fluid and Dabs has done a really nice job of keeping me included.”

The Giants, of course, will need Jones to fully recover from the torn ACL he suffered last year that cost him the second half of the season. Jones is expected to be ready by tailing camp in July.

“Within the scope of his rehab, his ability to get mental reps, that’s going to be super important,” Kafka said. “Obviously you’re not going to be able to do the physical stuff, but the mental reps are going to be super important. I think Daniel will do an awesome job of building in those mental reps, taking it, understanding, and then still being able to communicate, be on the field and communicate with players and make sure that they kind of see it through his lens and they’re both seeing it the same way.”

If Jones suffers any type of a setback, Schoen signed Drew Lock in free agency to steer the ship until Jones — or a possible rookie quarterback — gets up to speed.