Offensive Line - and TEs -

I was debating whether to weigh in on this tonight but here goes. And granted - I did not watch the second half of today's game - I recorded it - so any spoilers left out are appreciated. Having played against and with some household names and coached both sides of the line I'd like to add some brief points if you'll bear with me.

It was not a good first half performance from the OL. That's easy to see. But I'm going to maintain some semblance of optimism for now (very little, holy shit) - especially considering it's the 2nd preseason game and honestly, they haven't really practiced as a cohesive unit...at all yet.

Line play - especially on the OL - is about the unit. It's not as easy as saying - "Flowers sucks!" "Hart got steamrolled!" "Richburg is garbage!" The whole is definitely, without question, no doubt about it greater than the sum of its parts - and the forest is greater than just its trees. It's about synergy and trust. Tonight we saw a unit that was at worst shape than the Giants' OL ending the 2015 season. And I can be somewhat optimistic because we will not see this unit comprised of its parts like today's game to start Game 1 in 2016. (pretty fucked up was to view it right? ugggh)

Flowers - the first thing I noticed was how stiff in the hips he was and how he seems to lack flexibility right from his first step. I was surprised to see this. He was reaching rather than establishing his base and punching through the defender. His bucket and kick step was short, forced, slow off the snap and oddly tentative. His kick step was so slow and short that the defender had no choice but to skinny either shoulder, rip low and surge. There was absolutely no reason to engage with Flowers tonight. He was a statue. And when his feet worked a bit, he failed with his hands and arms. Holding. He played really high in the torso and seemed to lunge at times - almost as if his legs, butt and hips were in complete disarray with his upper body. He seemed unsure in both stance and start. A really poor performance today. However, he was on a fast track, he's had limited snaps so far in a live environment, he played with a new LG and two TEs who had no fucking clue what they were doing. I didn't see a two-back set shaded strong where they allowed a back to chip or fit an oncoming rusher (are the Giants really going to do this without a FB at this point? - I'd be surprised if that doesn't change and something else is installed). Flowers was on an island in the truest sense of the term and he struggled. A good blocking TE (or one who knows what the fuck he's doing - we'll get to that in a bit) and his LG will help a ton.

Hart - he looked overmatched on the strong side and really had issues with his footwork and protection calls. Again, a lack of familiarity with his linemates, against a well-coached and hungry DLine foaming at the mouth to replace some knuckleheads - he was bad. The jury is definitely still out and I'll hold judgement until he proves otherwise at RG.

The right side of the line is a huge concern of mine. Cohesion, reps as a unit and honestly - talent and ability - along with the complete lack of any help from a blocking TE - and it's hard to see how this could possibly be a passable unit over a 16 game season. One of the posters - EricJ perhaps - mentioned his concerns about the right side of the line and how they should have signed three new players to augment a crew that struggled mightily over the last two seasons. I don't think he's wrong, folks.

Look - I wish I could come on here and say - Flowers lacked his linemate Pugh - as did Richburg and that's why they struggled. The weak side is a work in progress and it's only the second preseason game. Stay tuned.

BUT - when I see players like Will Tye not checking his protection and chopping his route - Nassib failing to call out a blitz and adjust the protection and the ensuing sack fumble...something ain't right. What is going on? How are they getting better in practice?

Donnell can't block a lick. Teams know this. They'll zone it, blitz, stunt, delay and roll all day long

This stuff from the TEs is easy. You learn this in JV and HS football. You don't just put your head in the dirt and run a stop route without checking your protection.

You don't lunge like a pop warner kid and hope you make contact in a space of 18 inches. Donnell looked like he's never played football before - he thought he was blocking a Jpad or a sled. Did he forget the count? Was he hung over? What the fuck was he doing out there? If I graded him tonight out I'd discuss cutting him. Awful.

So yes - I'm disappointed in tonight's performance and I'm starting to get concerned that the OL wasn't addressed with more vehemence and attention in the offseason - especially with the money available.

All that said, we have to rely on the experts in the room. The player personnel folks constructing the team. The scouts watching the film. The coaches evaluating the players. And the players performing.

It's early fellow Giants fans. Too early to call it a day. But it's getting fucking close. I hope that this was the wakeup call needed to right this ship. Just remember - it's only preseason.

Sorry for the length. It's all I can come up with at this late hour. I'll watch the game again and focus on some keys. Thanks for reading if you got all the way through.