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New York Giants LT Ereck Flowers Struggles; Time For Will Beatty On The O-Line?

By Christopher Schwarz

Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defender Kyler Fackrell strips the ball and forces a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/The Post-Crescent via USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defender Kyler Fackrell strips the ball and forces a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/The Post-Crescent via USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants offensive line struggled on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. LT Ereck Flowers allowed the most pressure on Eli Manning. It’s time for a change and Will Beatty may be a better option on the offensive line.

The New York Giants lost in frustrating fashion on Sunday night to the Green Bay Packers 23-16. Eli Manning was consistently pressured all game preventing the offense to move the ball either on the ground or through the air. The main culprit on the offensive line was left tackle Ereck Flowers.

Flowers is not the only one to blame, however. Bobby Hart, starting in place of Marshall Newhouse, also struggled trying to keep Green Bay out of Manning’s face. Here’s Pro Football Focus’s assessment of Flowers and Hart:

"“It was a rough night for Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart in pass protection, regardless of who lined up across from them. Hart allowed a sack, two hits, and four hurries, while Flowers allowed seven total pressures of his own. Flowers also had another sack and hurry nullified by penalties on the plays; otherwise, he would have had nine pressures allowed in 42 snaps in pass protection.”"

Former Giants center Shaun O’Hara’s criticism of Flowers went deeper and should concern Giants fans about his future. On MSG’s New York Giants Post Game Live, O’Hara said, “Ereck Flowers is what in the business you call a coach killer. You can’t beat yourself because of poor technique… it finally showed up and cost them a game tonight.”

Time For Will Beatty At LT?

If Flowers continues to struggle with technique and cost the Giants, it may be time to look to Will Beatty. Beatty was the starting left tackle when the Jerry Reese drafted Flowers in the first round. Beatty was injured and missed the entire 2015 season forcing Flowers to start his rookie year.

Oct 19, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants tackle Will Beatty (65) in game action against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New York 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants tackle Will Beatty (65) in game action against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New York 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Beatty is collecting dust on the sidelines while Hart and Flowers struggle on the field. Head coach Ben McAdoo needs to put the best version of the offensive line on the field by any means necessary. That could mean Flowers moves to right tackle while Beatty starts on the left. Once Newhouse returns from his calf injury, he may be a better option than Flowers at this point.

Manning and the offense will continue to struggle without consistent offensive line play. The Giants coaching staff needs to shake things up and Will Beatty may be the solution.

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