There's a lot of focus for the NY Giants offensive line heading into the new season and rightfully so. New York gave up a league-worst 85 sacks in 2023, with the unit seemingly getting worse each week. The line's play led to Bobby Johnson getting fired.
Johnson has since been hired as Washington's new offensive line coach - he's your problem now, Washington. With that, Carmen Bricillo is in town and the hope is he can develop some of the Big Blue youngsters. The list of course includes former second-round pick John Michael Schmitz.
The second-year center had an up and down first year in East Rutherford, but the expectation is that he'll be able to improve in his sophomore season. Recently, Pro Football Focus dropped its breakout candidates for each team, and JMS was their pick for the G-Men.
Is a breakout year coming for NY Giants center John Michael Schmitz?
"There’s really nowhere to go but up for Schmitz after a thoroughly disappointing first season, in which he posted a 41.4 overall grade and a 26.9 pass-blocking grade as a rookie. If you’re looking for solace, his run-blocking grade was a bit better (51.3), and it’s worth noting that eight of his 30 pressures allowed came in Week 18."PFF's Bradley Locker
Schmitz had a year to forget in terms of his PFF grade, but things were complicated for him early on too due to a shoulder injury he suffered in early October on a failed 'tush push' play in a Monday Night Football loss to the Seattle Seahawks. That injury was infuriating to see.
Now, the expectation is that Bricillo will be able to make a big-time difference working with Schmitz. If he can show improvements, it will be massive for Daniel Jones. Matter of fact, the new-look offensive line has given Giants fans some optimism ahead of the new season.
With Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor ready to make plays, along with Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, things should be far improved in 2024. Obviously, a big year for Schmitz too will be ideal for Brian Daboll. We've seen the potential JMS has - now it's time for him to put things together.