Here we go again. 

Another new Giants season coming off another desultory season that spawned yet another upheaval is upon us. Brian Daboll is the fourth new head coach in the last seven years, which begs the question: Is this any way to run a franchise? 

At some point, a sense of stability must be established. Ben McAdoo for 28 games, Pat Shurmur for 32 games, Joe Judge for 32 games, round and round we go, where the winning starts nobody knows. Joe Schoen, the new general manager, worked with Daboll in Buffalo and this power duo will be given time to make things right. They present a unified front but, with little salary cap space to work with, there was only so much they could do to improve the roster, which is lacking in talent in too many places to view this as anything close to a contending team. 

The schemes on offense and defense will be vastly different and yet many of the marquee players return. Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, former top-10 first-round picks who share injury and performance frustrations, are back for what could be their final go-round, as they enter the final year of their contracts, hoping to impress the new guys in town. Schoen’s first two draft picks, edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal, represent the present and the future. 

The unspoken hope with the new front office and coaching staff is that steady improvement might allow this team to put together a decent record as a building block. The fan base is sick and tired of losing — the 22-59 record the past five years matches the Jets for the worst in the NFL — yet it is difficult to project anything other than more losing than winning as this new program hits the ground. 

No offense, but … sorry, couldn’t resist. 

If it is again no offense for the Giants there is going to be some explaining to do. Brian Daboll was hired largely based on his history as a play-caller and shaper of quarterbacks. The offensive line is fortified, running back Saquon Barkley is at full health and a wide receiver group of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, healed-and-ready Sterling Shepard and rookie Wan’Dale Robinson could be worth watching — if Golladay shakes free of his training camp lethargy and Toney figures out how to shed all his nagging physical issues. There are all sorts of caveats, leading with Daniel Jones, who in his fourth season with the Giants is trying to master his third different playbook. That is debilitating to any quarterback, but no one ever said life is fair. Tyrod Taylor is the best backup this team has had since Kurt Warner in 2004. 

Taking Evan Neal with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft was the easiest call new GM Joe Schoen will ever make. The towering and powerful Neal already looks like a fixture at right tackle, just as Andrew Thomas, entering his third year, figures to be an anchor at left tackle. The interior of the line will tell the tale with free-agent additions Mark Glowinski at right guard and Jon Feliciano (who had difficulty staying on the field this summer) at center, with Shane Lemieux — once he returns from a toe injury — or perhaps rookie Josh Ezeudu at left guard. 

Barkley had an invigorating summer and is hellbent to prove he can once again be an elite player. He will be a busy guy in the final year of his contract, as the ball will find him on a regular basis. Daboll’s use of motion and shifts will be a welcome sight after the dull stagnancy of 2021. Unless rookie Daniel Bellinger is a revelation, tight end could be an issue. 

Grade: C+ 

No team wins on scheme alone, which is why new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s arrival should be hailed only so loudly. Yes, no one is more blitz-happy. He will send pressure from everywhere, with everyone. Sounds great, right? Expect big plays for and against the Giants, as there are a few glaring holes. The secondary, with starting safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love, is solid. Adoree’ Jackson must prove he is a worthy CB1. After that? There are big questions at the second cornerback spot — Aaron Robinson or rookie Cor’Dale Flott — at nickel back — is Darnay Holmes capable of handling the load? — and with the third safety, as Dane Belton is coming off a broken collarbone and is a rookie. 

There are some areas to build upon. The defensive line tandem of Dexter Lawrence and especially Leonard Williams can be disruptive. The key with this entire unit will be how forceful the outside linebacker duo of Azeez Ojulari and rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux will be. Ojulari led the team with eight sacks as a rookie last season. Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in the draft, needs to make a full recovery from a sprained MCL that could keep him out of the opener. The Giants need him to be a dynamic player, sooner rather than later. 

Grade: C+ 

Perhaps the best gift the former front office left behind was the place-kicker, Graham Gano, who seems to be getting better with age. Gano, 35, is entering his 13th NFL season and is at the top of his game. In his two years with the Giants, Gano is 60 of 65 on field-goal attempts and four of the five misses were from 50 or more yards. Punter Jamie Gillan is in his first year with the team and he lives up to his Scottish Hammer nickname with his booming left leg. He did have some consistency issues last season with the Browns. Longtime coordinator Thomas McGaughey for years has been forced to mix and match with his returners and this season looks like more of the same. 

Grade: B+ 

Daboll does not carry himself like a first-time head coach. He is 47 years old and has primed for this in his more than two decades as an NFL assistant. He has an easy way about him and is sure to be tested, as far as keeping the situation from unraveling, when adversity hits. There will be growing pains because there always are. Daboll installed his state-of-the-art offensive system and showed he is not power-hungry by giving the play-calling duties to Mike Kafka, a first-time offensive coordinator. Daboll also hired the grizzled Martindale to run the defense even though there was no prior relationship. Martindale retained Jerome Henderson as defensive backs coach and he is extremely well-regarded. 

Grade: B 

Most important offensive player: Saquon Barkley. He is on a mission to prove he can once again be a premier player — the kind of player he was in 2018, when he won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. If he remains healthy, watch out. The new offense will keep him on the move and make him a must-play in fantasy football leagues. 

Most important defensive player: CB Adoree’ Jackson. Note the category heading. It does not say “best defensive player’’ or “most dominant defensive player.’’ The Giants go into the season with one — repeat, one — proven cornerback, and that’s Jackson. Not that he is a Pro Bowler, but he does have an NFL pedigree and he must stay healthy and be a dependable CB1, or else all those exotic blitzes from coordinator Wink Martindale will get busted open. 

Rookie to watch: The first-rounders, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, must make immediate and significant impacts and they are obvious must-watch newbies. Let’s go a bit further down the line to WR Wan’Dale Robinson, the second-round pick from Kentucky. Robinson is going to be heavily involved in the passing game and used on jet sweeps and even at times out of the backfield as a runner. With Kadarius Toney’s availability always in question, a contribution from Robinson is imperative. 

Star on the rise: Love this quote from Andrew Thomas: “I run my own race.’’ Yes, he does. The burly left tackle, the No. 4 overall pick in 2020, endured some rough early moments and battled through ankle issues. He has the demeanor to last a long time in the league and is a serious-minded and mature 23-year-old with improving technique and the right temperament to excel as the blindside protector. 

Biggest coaching decision: Do they or don’t they? Daniel Jones opens up as the starting quarterback and the new coaching staff wants to make it work with him. There is a backup with all sorts of experience and a decent amount of NFL success, as Tyrod Taylor is a real option. There is no guarantee Jones, if he stays healthy, gets the full 17 games to prove himself. Daboll is a rookie head coach, and if he feels Jones is holding back the offense, a move to Taylor seems likely. But when? 

Don’t be surprised if… Thibodeaux does not break Azeez Ojulari’s franchise rookie record for sacks in a season (eight, set last year). First of all, sacks are hard to come by. Next, Thibodeaux must show he can stay healthy and on the field. Also, the new defensive scheme will call for blitzing from everywhere and expect the sack totals to be spread out. 

Sure to make fans grumble: Another slow start for a franchise that has started out 0-2 for five consecutive years. Seeing thousands of Cowboys-clad fans invading MetLife Stadium for the Week 3 “Monday Night Football’’ meeting. Hearing radio play-by-play icon Bob Papa say, “Kadarius Toney picks up the first down but he’s slow to get up.’’ 

Sept. 26 vs. Cowboys: This is the first NFC East game for the Giants and it comes against the team most will favor to win the division. The prime-time spotlight has a way of bringing out the worst in the Giants; will this season be any different? 

Oct. 16 vs. Ravens: Wink Martindale spent the past 10 years in Baltimore, the last four years running the Ravens’ defense. Things got stale for him and he moved onto the Giants. The blitz-happy Martindale is sure to have a few tricks up his sleeve for his former team. 

Nov. 13 vs. Texans: Really? An encounter with the woebegone Texans is a game that cannot be missed? Well, let’s put it another way. There are certain games on the schedule a team like the Giants has to win. Has to. This is one of them. The Giants will be well-rested, coming off their bye week. No excuses. 

Is this overly optimistic? Perhaps. The first-year coach bump could be in play here, as the energy Brian Daboll adds to the building should be worth an extra win or two. The schedule is more than fair and the NFC East is not a killer. If anything happens to Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor is more than capable and he will prevent the terrible 0-6 nosedive to close out 2021 that ended Joe Judge’s coaching tenure. The roster, though, does not have enough to nudge the Giants closer to .500.