Flowers discussion...

But some analysts say that his technique is very sloppy at times and in other games he didn't look good at all. I emailed one analyst who complained about his technique and pointed out he is still very young. He agreed that Flowers is young and has upside, but pointed out, "Its also true that his techniques for a player who has played at his college level with the repetitions that he has under his belt should be further along with those techniques."

I hope that helps.

He's considered to be unfinished so there's some work to do, but as high a ceiling as anyone, yet he could probably step in and play.

but, if you're expecting Anthony Munoz from day one, you'll be a bit disappointed. He will be a terrific right tackle, and probably will move over to LT with time and coaching. I'm excited about this kid, he can really punish defenders. :)

but I agree with you? One, who else was available. I really like Gurley but he is often dealing with an injury or hurt in some capacity. Not necessarily enough to miss playing time but enough of a concern at 9. Peat? You could easily make the argument for Peat but it is similar to Flowers.

Flowers needs a lot of work. There is no doubt about that. To plat devil's advocate here, though, Miami seems to get the ball out quick so would those deficiencies be magnified in a different style? Was Miami's other offensive linemen maybe worse where they were getting beat and their defender got to the QB before Flowers' guy? This is like the theory where you don't have to be the fastest gazelle to survive, you just have to not be the slowest.

All we can really do at this point is speculate. His attitude is what I really like. Even if he struggles he sounds like the type that will overcome it. I'm good with that because when he does get it it will be something pretty great.

a minor and correctable technical issue with his feet. I think it was that he has his feet too far apart but I can't remember exactly. Either way, it was minor and correctable.

dorgan would know better than most/all of us.

some analysts have given the Giants a mediocre grade on Flowers' value.

He is still a child at 20 years of age. This is the guy the Giants wanted. Regardless of what any analyst says, he was going to be ours if he was there. He was and the rest is history.

Some of them taking bows for Zack Martin. I'm unsure whether the kid can play LT in the league. I mean if the Giants stick Flowers at LG and he is serviceable to great there, I'm not sure how you answered the questions about whether he can play tackle in the NFL.

and probably conditioning as well, as the first two will decline if fatigue kicks in. Much like Peat in that regard. EF's a young kid, barely 21, coaching and training in pro systems will bring him along.

Imv, the downside is probably related to his lack of polish. Picking in the top 10, teams want polished starters ready to step into the starting lineup. EF needs to attack this and bring his skills up to match his battle level.

But bigger, stronger, more experienced veterans may be able to exploit his weaknesses better than college opponents. Just one or two mistakes against the best in the business, and down goes Eli.

Anyone want to comment on these comments:OTTOM LINE
There is something that some players coming out in the draft never get and it is the main reason why players with the physical talent don’t succeed at the NFL level. The NFL is a 24/7, 365 job if you want to be successful. If you’re not working with your teammates and coaches on plays, techniques, timing, etc, then you have to work on your body. You might be able to take a month off after the season, but after that, you better get back to working 24/7 or you will be left behind and your body will not do what your mind thinks it can do. I don’t believe Ereck has that work ethic with what I see in his play on the field. He hasn’t worked on his body and that alone is his biggest problem. His techniques are poor and while he has those quick feet that get him into the correct position to block, he has no technique to follow through and finish. He gets tired and when he gets tired, he gets mad and commits a bunch of penalties. His favorite pass blocking techniques when he gets tired is to take both his hands and clamp down on the outside shoulders of his opponent and hold him so that a pass rush move cannot be used against him. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s called holding at the NFL level. Ereck will be overlooked because of his size and athletic talent, but for me, I don’t think he plays with enough pride to be a left tackle and I’m not sure how much he will play without getting injured for his first contract. Maybe Ereck, with a little help from a cattle prod, will become better than I have suggested but right now, I think there are other offensive linemen who will be better and I would let some other team “coach him up” first!

Not surprising since he was 7th on their board.

Quote:

New York Giants: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami Any time you land the best tackle in the NFL Draft with the ninth-overall pick, you know you came away with a great value. The Giants were able to do that with Flowers, and they now have a difference-maker on an offensive line that has allowed too much heat on Eli Manning. Flowers will also help New York to improve its ability to run the ball. He will start out at right tackle as a rookie, but in time, he should be Will Beatty's replacement at left tackle. Flowers is only 20 years old and has a ton of upside. When analysts review the 2015 class years from now, Flowers could easily be one of the top players to come out of this draft.

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to be as good as he wants to be. Hope Flaherty is the one to get him "coached up" and ready to contribute this year and even more in the future at LT. Love his feisty competitive attitude and love of the game. That may be the key to a bright future. We will see just like JPP.

The thing about sloppiness in technique, is that you can get away with it at the NCAA level if you have other dominant attributes - strength, agility, size, etc. However it will be exploited in the NFL, if not corrected.

Think about it, what is it like 1% of college players that make it to the NFL every year? That means even for journeyman NFL players you are playing the best of the best every week.

So really that is the question here, he has incredible ceiling as many drafted (and undrafted) players do, but is he able to correct, and grow, and step up to the next level?

It's impossible to know, and why the draft is such a crap shoot.

will be a Shawn Andrews type guard. His flaws can be corrected if he will put in the work which from all reports that shouldn't be an issue since he is a hard worker.

while he works on his technique.

I'm equally okay with Pugh at RT for 1-2 years.

When all is ready, Beatty will move out of LT and either Flowers or Pugh can step in at LT; the other one can play RT.

With this maneuvering, in the same 1-2 years, the Giants will need 1 or 2 more starting o-linemen to replace Beatty and Schwartz.

by the ghosts of John Hicks and Luke Pettigout.

Gordon King

In comment 12271789 Ira said:

Quote:

But some analysts say that his technique is very sloppy at times and in other games he didn't look good at all. I emailed one analyst who complained about his technique and pointed out he is still very young. He agreed that Flowers is young and has upside, but pointed out, "Its also true that his techniques for a player who has played at his college level with the repetitions that he has under his belt should be further along with those techniques." I hope that helps.

Ira, many have also questioned the quality of the Miami coaching staff of late. Tutelage/coaching he recieved may have been sub-par as well.

he would of went number 3, and the Rams at 10 were ready to pounce at 10

He is not a once in a generation guy like Pace or Ogden. That's a fair and accurate observation/criticism. But performance wise he has been very good his entire career at Miami. He was the best lineman on a roster that now has 7 players on NFL rosters. He obviously has ideal measurables and rare size/strength. Any rookie (no less a 21 year old junior entry) has techniques to improve, but calling him a project is ridiculous IMO. A project is someone with tools and no production. Danielle Hunter from LSU is a project. Andre Smith (T) was a project because he was way over weight and not dedicated to football. James Brewer, Marvin Austin, Osi Umenyiora and Brandon Mosely were projects. Flowers is a rookie who has a track record of production against top competition, he's not just a projection of skills.

Quote:

He will start out at right tackle as a rookie...

Nice to have a crystal ball. Wonder if it's the same one they used in 2012 when they penciled Pugh in at guard?

....and EF's 37 reps on the bench at the combine.

....and TWO penalties.

It's the guys doing all the analysis that are trying to find stuff to earn their pay. It's very rare when you read about a player these days without the discussion entering on the negatives. Every player has pros and cons because they can't be perfect. I'm very happy with this pick. His work ethic alone is so stellar that any weakness he may have does not scare me at all.