Monday Giantisms: Will Beatty Blues

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Much of the Giants “agita” heading in 2014 stems from unknown commodities along the offensive front. Right guard Chris Snee holds a heavy hand in this worrisome O-line scene, but the list is spearheaded by 29-year old left tackle Will Beatty.

Here’s a look at Will Beatty’s 2013 advanced stats from Pro Football Focus:

• -19.9 pass block grade was 5th worst among eligible OT’s
• 92.2 Pass Block Efficiency ranked 6th worst among ALL offensive linemen
• 7.2 run block rating was good for top-20 at the tackle position
• Responsible for 13 quarterback sacks (worst)
• 39 QB hurries on his watch (tied-8th worst)
• 9 penalties (8th most)

As you can see above, Beatty flopped in any and all measures associated with protecting the QB. And while his run blocking was quietly effective, it hardly prevented the media from laying the pipe to his overall NFL effort.

NJ.com’s interview with offensive line coach Pat Flaherty last week produced some interesting nuggets of information:

"Do you look at Will as your left tackle, or is it an open competition at this point?“I think the way you have to approach things in this game is, when a player is rehabbing an injury, you have to get your next guy ready. As a coach, that is all you can do. You trust the player that they’ll get back as soon as they can. We have an outstanding medical staff as you well know, but as a coach, I have to continue to get ready to play because the game doesn’t stop.”Injuries aside, don’t you have concerns with Will technique-wise after last year?“No more, no less than what I had on a weekly basis. That is my job, is to correct guys when they’re not playing up to par. I take that from a looking-in-the-mirror perspective. I’m as critical as any of them. I’m looking at myself and thinking, what can I do to make this guy a better player?“There was a combination of things. It probably started with him being in training camp and not being able to execute the drills on a daily basis. He wasn’t able to because he was nicked up here or there and it just snowballs. You know. As an offensive lineman it will be glaring more so than a defensive lineman. Your technique and fundamentals. To improve at football you need to work at football. And the only way to work an offensive line is to put pads on and go block. If you don’t do that, your skills aren’t going to be sharp and that is what happens on game day. I expect him to be a better player this year.”"

Entering his 6th NFL season — just seven months removed from surgery to repair a right tibia fracture — proclaiming that Will Beatty will be a serviceable component again would be a dubious claim, at best. Nevertheless… Beatty has announced that he’ll be ready for training camp in two weeks: ““No doubt in my mind. I’m optimistic.”

Only time will tell, but the Giants desperately need a formidable blind side protector. Eli Manning was jumping at shadows in the pocket a year ago. The New York Football Giants simply can’t afford to have another year of inadequate line play. Beatty must take his 6’6″ 319 lb NFL frame and learn how to dominate (while staying health) if he wants to be the Jints long-term answer at left tackle. The former second round pick isn’t getting younger and only has so many opportunities to fall short on Sunday’s. 2014 is a make it or break it year for Will Beatty…

What do you think, Giants Nation: will Beatty rise to the occasion, or will he falter under the GIANT weight of Super Bowl expectations vs the reality of his actual talent?