According to many reports the Giants aren’t done adding to the offensive line on their depth chart but what the Giants have may be better than anything they can bring in. Free agents that remain on the market are free agents for a reason. There is no signing that the New York Giants could make that would magically make all their problems disappear.
The Giants pretty much have no choice. They have to start rookie, Ereck Flowers at left tackle. The Giants cannot afford to bring Flowers along slowly. When you draft a player with the ninth overall pick you expect them to be a key starter right away. Often we baby our offensive tackle prospects, saying that they’ll grow into the left tackle position. Flowers doesn’t have time to grow into the left tackle position but he must be the Giants left tackle.
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Nobody is expecting Flowers to put up a Jonathan Ogden or Orlando Pace like performance, at least not right away. What the Giants need to get from Flowers is steady pass protection and strong run blocking. There is no reason to think that Flowers cannot do that. It doesn’t matter that he is a rookie, what matters is he has the physical tools and the talent to get the job done.
Flowers isn’t perfect but that’s why the Giants employ coaches. That’s why the Giants have training camp and four preseason games. Flowers will be asked to prove himself long before the Sunday Night Football opener gets here.
Oct 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Ereck Flowers (74) in action against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated Miami 28-17. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nobody can say that Flowers doesn’t look the part with his massive 6-6 329 pound frame. Flowers has long arms, balance and quick feet which are three of the most important attributes an offensive lineman can have. Flowers is as strong as they come.
The point is that there is nobody the Giants can bring in that could give the Giants more promise than Flowers. And when Will Beatty returns as the weather gets cold, the Giants offensive line will be more than just okay. The Giants just have to get through the first half of the season with Flowers as their left tackle.
If the Giants want to add depth to the offensive line I cannot argue with that. However if they are looking for a replacement to Beatty-an excuse not to throw Flowers into the most important offensive line position, they aren’t going to find one. Flowers needs to step up for the Giants and all indications point to him being successful.
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