OBJ vs. Ramsey leads list of Week 1 matchups for New York Giants
By Henry Buggy
Ereck Flowers vs. Calais Campbell
The New York Giants heavily invested in their offensive line this offseason, but they still have plenty of question marks entering the 2018 season, particularly along the right side of the offensive line.
Ereck Flowers, Jon Halapio, and Patrick Omameh will have their hands full on Sunday, but it’s New York’s former first-round pick that likely faces the most daunting task. Flowers is set to go one-on-one with Jaguars left defensive end Calais Campbell in Week 1, and the All-Pro pass rusher is coming off one of the best seasons of his 11-year career.
The Giants elected not to pick up Flowers’ fifth-year option after signing Nate Solder this offseason. He has yet to develop into a quality starter, and Giants fans can only hope his transition to right tackle will alleviate some of his issues.
Sunday’s game is an opportunity for Flowers to show that he still deserves to be a starter in this league. If he can keep Campbell at bay, he can silence his critics. However, keeping Campbell out of the backfield and around the quarterback is easier said than done.
The 6-foot-8, 300-pound defensive end recorded 14.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his first season in Jacksonville. It’s not as though Flowers’ job will get any easier if Campbell switches sides with Yannick Ngakoue. The 23-year-old has amassed 20 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in his first two seasons.
Both players can create havoc for an opposing quarterback. It will be up to Solder and Flowers to give Eli Manning time in the pocket. Solder has shown he can have success against Jacksonville’s pass rushers in the past.
Flowers has yet to do so.