Justin Pugh returns to play the NY Giants for the second time as an Arizona Cardinal.
The Arizona Cardinals come to play the NY Giants in a much different game than they anticipated at the start of the season.
The Cardinals, who were off to a red hot start to the season, have gone 1-4 since their bye week in Week 8. The Giants, meanwhile, have gone 4-1 since then, after starting the season 1-6 and now sit atop the NFC East standings.
The game is a must win for both teams to keep playoff aspirations alive. It’s also a game for former Giants guard Justin Pugh to prove his worth, to both teams. But to do that he’ll have to play a surging Giants defensive line.
Pugh played his first five seasons with the Giants after being drafted 19th overall in 2013 out of Syracuse by the Giants. Over that stretch, he was part of a putrid line on a bad team, which had only one winning season. That season, 2016 when the Giants lost the Wild Card, Pugh played in 11 games.
He only played one full season for the Giants, his 2013 rookie year. That year, the Giants were only able to rush the ball 83.3 yards per game, which was in the bottom 10 of the NFL. In fact, three of the five years Pugh anchored the Giants offensive line, the Giants rushing yards per game were in the bottom 10.
Injuries and penalties seemed to plague Justin Pugh. After playing 16 games in 2013, he played 14 games for two consecutive seasons before playing in 11 in 2016 and dropping to just eight in 2017. He had 19 penalties during his career as a Giant, and allowed 18 sacks.
Still, PFF gave him the highest grades of his career during his Giants tenure. In order of his seasons played, he recorded grades of 75.1, 70.3, 78.8; 81.1, and 64. And the Cardinals believed in the first rounder’s potential enough to lock him in with a five-year deal worth $44.8 million, though there is a potential opt out clause after this season.
But his two biggest problems followed him from NY.
Pugh only played in seven games in his first season for Arizona. He played in all 16 in 2019, and had his best year perhaps since his rookie season. He played 98 percent of the offensive snaps, the Cardinals had a top 10 rushing team, and Pugh only had two penalties. PFF graded him a 66.8.
But he’s personally taken a step back this season, racking up 8 penalties by himself — tied for second among offensive lineman. His PFF grade is a 65.5.
He and the rest of the Cardinals’ line will need to be at the best when they travel to New Jersey this week. They may have a top 10 rushing offense, with 150.6 yards per game. But they play the Giants top 10 rushing defense, which only allows 96.7 yards per game.
Justin Pugh himself will have to ace the hardest part of the test. Pugh plays on the left side of the line, and will have to defend the right side of the Giants’ defensive line, home to Leonard Williams.
Pugh vs. Williams a key matchup
Justin Pugh will likely have to face Leonard Williams for much of Sunday’s game. Unfortunately for Pugh, the matchup comes at a time when Williams has established himself as one of the leagues most disruptive defensive lineman.
Williams is currently in the top 10 in the league in three huge categories: QB hits, sacks, and tackles for loss. Further, the Giants as a team are in the top 10 in sacks, racking up 32 so far.
Williams has been on fire over the Giants last five games, and is a big reason why the team is where they are. He’s racked up 5.5 sacks, having at least one in every game outside of the Giants victory in Week 10 over the Philadelphia Eagles.
But even in that game, he proved his disruptive abilities. He had five QB hits, which was a season high until Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks, where he had another five QB hits to go along with 2.5 sacks. He has 17 QB hits during the past five games.
Those hits matter. Even if the quarterback gets rid of it before Williams can get to him, the hits stay in the quarterbacks head. Each time he sees Williams, he’s likely to throw it away quicker, less accurate, which can help the defensive secondary make a better play on the ball.
In addition to keeping the quarterback on the turf for much of the past five games, Williams has also blown up opponents ability to run. He’s had 14 tackles over that stretch, five of which were tackles for loss. He’s also recorded a fumble recovery.
When teams can’t run the ball, they’re bound to drop back and make up the yards through the air. Williams not only stops the ground game but disrupts the pass game with his constant pressure. PFF’s current grade for Williams is a 79.9.
As effective as Williams has been over this stretch, he’s had help from his fellow D lineman.
On the other side of the line is Dexter Lawrence, who’s also ranked as a 79.9 from PFF. He currently has six QB hits, three sacks, and 36 tackles, four of which are for losses.
In between the two powerful ends sits the Giants 2020 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year, Dalvin Tomlinson. He has eight QB hits, 1.5 sacks, and 37 tackles, five of which are for losses. PFF has him graded as a 72.
Together this line also faces a huge test, as the ever-dynamic Kyler Murray has the ability to make even broken plays scoring opportunities. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury that’s impaired his ability to run the ball. Since hurting his arm in Week 11, he has only rushed the ball five times in each game — all tying his season low.
To get to Murray, though, the Giants D line, led by Williams and company, will have to get through Justin Pugh. If Williams is able to put Murray into the ground as he has to the last five quarterbacks he’s faced, the Giants will solidify their names as one of the fiercest defenses in the league.