Lessons learned. Check.
There are much better days ahead next season for the Giants’ offense now that rookie Odell Beckham Jr. has established himself as a difference-maker, and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo has learned what life is really all about in the NFL.
Start with the biggest lesson of them all learned by the first-year offensive coordinator and his West Coast offense:
Life isn’t just about the system.
Asked Thursday about that biggest lesson learned, McAdoo said, “I guess you don’t fall into the trap where you think the system is everything.’’
McAdoo fell into that trap, but give the man credit for expanding his game this season.
“The best play may not be the best play because it doesn’t give the person the ball that gives you the best chance to win the game,’’ McAdoo said. “So getting the ball to the right guy at the right time is the most critical.’’
McAdoo didn’t label it, but I will. You can call that The Beckham Rules.
Get the ball as often as possible to Odell.
Beckham is the Offensive Rookie of the Year, no question, and he will be on full display again Sunday in St. Louis when the 5-9 Giants go against the 6-8 Rams.
Then it’s the Eagles and on to 2015.
“I am really just looking forward to the offseason,’’ Beckham said. “Just to be able to get completely healthy and get your body right. Work on whatever you feel you need to work on and come back, and just the potential, everything is there. We just have to put it all together.’’
Of all things, Beckham was asked about fantasy football, and it was noted 41 percent of the fantasy teams in the finals have Beckham in their lineups.
He doesn’t play fantasy football.
He is too busy with reality. He makes fantasy catches.
Reality is more important than fantasy.
“Right,’’ Beckham said.
“I don’t play football to play for someone’s fantasy team. I play because this is what I love to do, this is now my job. Like I said, I really don’t pay much mind to it. I know earlier when I was hurt and would see the little tweets, ‘Oh, I dropped you from my fantasy team,’ and that is on them.’’
He is on the Giants and that’s all that matters. And next season Victor Cruz returns.
McAdoo now knows what makes these Giants tick.
“In tough times, you think about players and not plays,’’ McAdoo said, “maybe that’s something you can apply going forward.’’
Tom Coughlin, King of No Nonsense, was asked what he wants to see from his offense.
“I’d like to see it in the end zone a bunch more,’’ the coach said.
“We’ve made progress,’’ McAdoo said, “played a lot of games, spent a lot of time together, so being new is no longer an excuse.’’
The Giants are 14th in offense this season. They were 30th last season.
Safety Antrel Rolle studies offenses and said the improvement in the Giants’ offense going forward will be substantial.
“I expect it to be milestones better,’’ Rolle said. “A lot of people have expectations for you and you have them yourself, but when you learn a new system, it can take quite some time to really grasp the full concept.’’
Eli Manning had to make the biggest change this season, but is excited about the future.
“The more comfortable the quarterback is, the more comfortable the whole offense is, the better off they [will] be, you’ve gotten the mistakes out of the way,’’ he told The Post.
Plenty of mistakes have been made. More lessons learned. Check.
“Instead of trying to learn the basics, now you’ve got the basics, now you’re trying to become the expert at it,’’ Eli added.
“I’m now comfortable with what I’m supposed to be doing and now you can help other people grow and have a great understanding and have a great feel for what you are trying to do.’’
Like get in the end zone a bunch more.