Throughout the first five games of the 2022 campaign, the NY Giants are sitting at a spectacular 4-1 for the first time since 2009. This is truly an unreal start for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen in their first year in East Rutherford.
No one expected this, but these wins wouldn’t be possible without the elite play of certain members of the Giants offense. This is an offense which, despite having some ups and downs, has looked quite impressive early on. In this piece, we take a look at five key players and offer up our early grades for them. Some, of course, are better than others.
5: OT Evan Neal: C-
Evan Neal was seen as a generational offensive tackle prospect with an insane combination of size, speed, and athleticism entering the 2022 NFL Draft. While this remains true, his level of play throughout the first five games has left a lot to be desired. However, before we dive into his play, Giants fans must remember that this is Neal’s first professional season.
If there is one thing we know, it is to be patient with offensive linemen. In Andrew Thomas’s rookie season, he was playing worse than Neal currently is, and now Thomas is looking like potentially the best tackle in the NFL. We’re not saying that this is how Neal’s career will carve out, however, we all must remember to stay patient.
Neal certainly has the power and athleticism to succeed in pass protection snaps, and he has shown it off this season. The biggest issue with Neal thus far has been his footwork. Often times, Neal looks too sluggish with his feet, which causes him to consistently get beat around the edge. While his insane reach and strength made up for it in college and at times still in the NFL, it is no way to stay consistent as a pass-blocker.
Neal obviously has plenty of room to improve as a pass protector. However, with Bobby Johnson as his offensive line coach, and Thomas as a teammate, we truly believe he has what it takes to be worthy of his top 10 selection. Give the kid some time. He can improve that C- grade.