Here’s Why The New York Giants Are Fine On The O-Line After Not Drafting An O-Lineman
The New York Giants didn’t draft an offensive lineman for the first time since 2008 to the disappointment of many fans. We’re taking a look at why the front office feels content with the offensive line they have as training camp approaches.
State of the O-Line
The bulk of the offseason activity has come and gone, and the 90 man rosters that teams are prepared to go into training camp with are slowly getting finalized. The New York Giants have been exceptionally active this offseason after three consecutive losing seasons and back-to-back 6-10 seasons.
Depending on who you ask and what kind of day they had, the Giants problems on the field could be linked to just about any position on the field. Evidently, ownership and the organization as a whole deemed the defense, the one that ended the 2015 season mere yards from statistically being the worst defense in history, as the weakest unit. And rightfully so.
The offense has deficiencies, no doubt, but after devoting over $200 million in free agent contracts, and first, third, and fourth round draft picks on defensive players, no one can doubt where the organization believes the weaknesses on the team are. Despite a historically bad defense and bringing in new resources to bolster it, fans and pundits continued to question the team’s motives and wondered how the offensive line was essentially ignored and completely dismissed in the draft.
Admittedly, the offensive line was not as cohesive and effective as would be expected from a winning team, but again the Giants have been anything but successful the past few years.
After forgoing the option to draft any linemen for the first time in the history of the draft, the Giants made it obvious that they are content with their current unit and the depth signings they have made thus far. Looking back on the teams that have been highly successful in the recent history of the Giants, all have featured a stout, cohesive offensive line that could bully and engage the defense with tremendous success. The ’07-’08 line is the most obvious example of this, and now, the current unit is in line to be the anchor that stabilizes the offense and moves the team towards a playoff appearance.
A Winning Group?
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The projected starters as it stands right now are, from left to right, Ereck Flowers, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse. This combination started a majority of the games last season, but after a paltry showing in the rushing department and six less-than-impressive wins, they were deemed more flimsy than formidable.
Newly inserted left tackle Flowers struggled mightily at one of the most important positions in football, the expenditure of high resources on a supposedly under-performing line was scrutinized, and the right side of the line was deemed liable and a “disaster.”
However, while the line has undoubtedly struggled, its deficiencies and relative inexperience has just been exacerbated by a porous defense and a team that finds more ways to lose games than win them.
With a year of continuity, another year of work for Ereck Flowers, and one of the best centers in the league manning the middle, the Giants offensive line is ready to improve on a season that looks better and better the more it is dissected.
The success of the offense’s passing attack relies as much on the play of the offensive line as it does on the arm of Eli Manning. Last year, the line gave up 27 sacks, tied for 4th fewest in the league and well under the league average. As a unit, they only let Manning get hit 74 times, which was 7th fewest this past season, and is a testament to not only the quarterback’s pocket awareness and mobility, but the overall athleticism and skill of the line.
Next: Answering the Giants' 5 Biggest Draft Questions
The offensive line has shown itself to be more than capable in pass protection, and along with a proficient quarterback and reliable receiving threats, the passing game should again flourish regardless of coaching changes or an ineffective running game.
2016 Expectations
The Giant’s offensive line has experienced hardship and less than stellar play. They have been appropriately criticized and singled out as a roster weakness. A new year of experience in the same system and working together will only improve this unit; and building upon what amounted to a productive 2015 season is not only needed, but expected from a team that is looking to win now.