CBS analyst and former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green previews the Giants-Ravens and reviews Tom Brady’s return with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Why has the Giants offense failed to meet expectations in the early season?
A: They’ve allowed Eli [Manning] to get hit. You have to have the balance to keep the defense on its heels. Helping the run game will help out the passing game in pass protection. When you’re not staying ahead of the chains, it affects the third-down percentages. I know they’ve got explosive receivers and want to get the passing game going, but right now that would be my thing.
Q: You retired when you were around Manning’s age, were there adjustments you had to make as you got older?
A: I didn’t really make any adjustments, but everyone is a little bit different. Tom Brady is still going strong at 39, but players hit that wall at [different] times. You have to understand your body and the recovery from taking hits and how you get prepared every week.
Q: Between Odell Beckham’s tantrums and Ereck Flowers pushing a reporter, is it fair to question the Giants leadership?
A: As you were asking that, the thing that popped to my mind was the Cowboys in the ’90s throwing garbage cans at reporters and getting in shoving matches, but it’s been proven that it’s about the talent you have on the field. It can be distractions, but if you have the right guys on the field then it will be productive. There’s a lot of receivers in the Hall of Fame who have had antics much worse than Odell. I always wanted guys who wanted the football.
Q: You were in the booth for Brady’s return. What struck you about his effectiveness?
A: The amazing thing was that he was in sync with everyone, not having that work with Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan because of the suspension. I was looking for the smaller details of the position — footwork, ball-faking, going through progressions — those were all things game-speed wise you can’t practice for when you are away from the team, and there was no adjustment.
Q: Is Bennett the weapon they’ve been missing since Aaron Hernandez?
A: When you trade for Martellus Bennett that’s what you are hoping for. Their offense is really built inside-out, anything on the outside is a bonus. Bennett fits nicely into what they are doing, and the amazing thing is the size of the both of them. Bennett is actually bigger than [Rob Gronkowski], and both of them are good runblockers.