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What's the obsession with Erik Flowers at LT?

Section131 : 10/11/2016 2:44 pm
Am I missing something? Is there a rule that states you can't shift your lineman once drafted? We had Okung in the building and let him walk because he preferred LT and we wouldn't move Flowers to right? We've moved Pugh around but coaches afraid Flowers to RT would stunt his development? Gas mask Tunsil was there for the taking. Miami still laughing at every team who passed on him. Dare I say Pettigout & gt; Flowers? Or is it just sophomore slump? Frustrating to say the least with this guy.
They're probably being patient with him, because at times he  
Brown Recluse : 10/11/2016 2:53 pm : link
has shown he is fully capable of playing LT and they're hoping he can work out the brain farts.

And when the Giants are intent on something, they can wait forever for it to happen...even if it doesn't.
Just my opinion  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 3:02 pm : link
is Reese protecting Reese.

You normally don't draft an OL top 10 to play RT or G.

They may wind up there but if they do it's sort of seen as a failed pick.

they had Pugh at 19 and he wound up a guard and now if Flowers at 9 winds up a RT or G it just makes them look worse.

I believe the ends are more important than the means and if Pugh can be a good guard and Flowers a good RT who cares, but that's not generally how the picks will be viewed.
drafted #9  
RAIN : 10/11/2016 3:04 pm : link
and outside Beatty.. who else? Pugh? You lose a pro bowl guard.

It's a tough situation, because he has all the tools.. with the exception of good balance. Don't know if that is teachable.
RE: drafted #9  
chris r : 10/11/2016 3:04 pm : link
In comment 13169554 RAIN said:
Quote:
and outside Beatty.. who else? Pugh? You lose a pro bowl guard.

It's a tough situation, because he has all the tools.. with the exception of good balance. Don't know if that is teachable.


Good balance and quick feet.
This idea of throwing him at RT  
Old Dirty Beckham : 10/11/2016 3:15 pm : link
seems a bit foolish to me. In the offseason sure, but I doubt they can just throw Flowers to the right side and he'll improve mid season.

Personally, If they think Beatty can physically hold up I'd put him at LT and put Flowers on the Bench until he proves he can play with consistent technique.
It's such BS that you don't draft a  
Simms11 : 10/11/2016 3:18 pm : link
guy in the top 10 to play RT or Guard?! I don't think you can say that anymore. DCs are moving DEs around to get favorable match ups and the RT is just as important now as the LT. Additionally, if you tell me we will draft a Guard that will be a perennial Pro-Bowler in the top 10, then you do it.
RE: It's such BS that you don't draft a  
Giants2012 : 10/11/2016 3:23 pm : link
In comment 13169573 Simms11 said:
Quote:
guy in the top 10 to play RT or Guard?! .


Agree, it's just so dumb.
Where he's drafted is irrelevant at this point.  
Heisenberg : 10/11/2016 3:27 pm : link
It's a sunk cost. The only thing that matters is where he's best suited to play. He's not a good LT. Maybe he can improve but it's not promising now.
I doubt it's Reese protecting himself - that would be stupid  
jcn56 : 10/11/2016 3:28 pm : link
It's not as if the guy is a mediocre LT - he had an up and down rookie season, getting thrown in on day 1, which is understandable even for a top 10 pick. He's stunk on ice this year, so the fact that he's playing LT doesn't make Reese's pick any better. For Reese, a solid RT would look a whole lot better than a lousy LT, regardless of where he was picked.

I'd say the only reason he hasn't been moved is that they're waiting to get Beatty back into shape. Either that, or they're resolved to letting him work out his issues, whenever that might be. That could easily end up costing the Giants their season and Reese his job.
From the moment he was drafted, I expected him at RT  
Matt M. : 10/11/2016 3:40 pm : link
Almost all of the scouting reports on him and the comments from the Giants, indicated he was a RT and rafted to play RT. His technique was questioned for LT in the NFL. The Giants also had him penciled in at RT from day one. If Beatty never tore his pec, we never would have seen Flowers at LT. If he matched the expectations for RT, he may have played out his entire career there.

When Beatty went down, I was more in favor of finding a LT. But, once they moved Flowers to LT, it seemed like the organization was committed to him playing there long term. Whether or not you agree with that, he is likely entrenched there a little longer, unless they are 100% confident Beatty can still play LT in the NFL. That is a big question.

I, for one, would still be pleased if Flowers moved to RT and ended up being the dominant force many expected him to be. I don't care where he was selected. If a guy plays at a very high level, which just about everyone was expecting at RT, then he is a good pick. Period.

If Beatty isn't your LT, then there really isn't a better alternative. You have to hope Flowers improves, as does the coaching of him and the OL in general.
RE: Just my opinion  
Mason : 10/11/2016 3:45 pm : link
In comment 13169552 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
is Reese protecting Reese.

You normally don't draft an OL top 10 to play RT or G.

They may wind up there but if they do it's sort of seen as a failed pick.

they had Pugh at 19 and he wound up a guard and now if Flowers at 9 winds up a RT or G it just makes them look worse.

I believe the ends are more important than the means and if Pugh can be a good guard and Flowers a good RT who cares, but that's not generally how the picks will be viewed.


Both Pugh and Richburg played out of the position they were drafted. If you think a GM is dictating where coaches line up players on the field you are kidding yourself.
RE: RE: Just my opinion  
Matt M. : 10/11/2016 3:49 pm : link
In comment 13169632 Mason said:
Quote:
In comment 13169552 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


is Reese protecting Reese.

You normally don't draft an OL top 10 to play RT or G.

They may wind up there but if they do it's sort of seen as a failed pick.

they had Pugh at 19 and he wound up a guard and now if Flowers at 9 winds up a RT or G it just makes them look worse.

I believe the ends are more important than the means and if Pugh can be a good guard and Flowers a good RT who cares, but that's not generally how the picks will be viewed.



Both Pugh and Richburg played out of the position they were drafted. If you think a GM is dictating where coaches line up players on the field you are kidding yourself.
Pugh was drafted to play OT. It wasn't until he declined at Rt that the talk of him playing OG began. Now, if you say he was drafted to play LT, I don't recall that specifically, because they had Beatty there.

As for Richburg, they played him at LG out of necessity. He wasn't going to start at all, until injuries hit, forcing Jerry to RT. I still would have started Richburg at OC given the alternative, though.
So if Reese isn't protecting himself  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 3:50 pm : link
how do you explain the Giants both keeping Flowers at LT or even putting him there initially?

Do they not see what the fans, other teams scouts and analysts see? Oh, I forgot, we're idiot know-nothing fans, we can't see DE's running around Flowers like he's a subway turnstile.

It would be a complete indictment of the scouts and FO based on all the post-draft comments about Pugh and Flowers if they move both out of their draft spots.

Otherwise explain it to me.
Based on his play filling in last year  
Matt M. : 10/11/2016 3:51 pm : link
I wouldn't even be opposed to Pugh at LT and Flowers at RT. But, then who plays LG?
RE: RE: RE: Just my opinion  
Mason : 10/11/2016 4:04 pm : link
In comment 13169643 Matt M. said:
Quote:
In comment 13169632 Mason said:


Quote:


In comment 13169552 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


is Reese protecting Reese.

You normally don't draft an OL top 10 to play RT or G.

They may wind up there but if they do it's sort of seen as a failed pick.

they had Pugh at 19 and he wound up a guard and now if Flowers at 9 winds up a RT or G it just makes them look worse.

I believe the ends are more important than the means and if Pugh can be a good guard and Flowers a good RT who cares, but that's not generally how the picks will be viewed.



Both Pugh and Richburg played out of the position they were drafted. If you think a GM is dictating where coaches line up players on the field you are kidding yourself.

Pugh was drafted to play OT. It wasn't until he declined at Rt that the talk of him playing OG began. Now, if you say he was drafted to play LT, I don't recall that specifically, because they had Beatty there.

As for Richburg, they played him at LG out of necessity. He wasn't going to start at all, until injuries hit, forcing Jerry to RT. I still would have started Richburg at OC given the alternative, though.


Flowers was going to play at RT when drafted. Beatty was healthy and the starting LT. There was discussion about Pugh competing with Flowers at RT or taking a few snaps at LT. Hell Schartz was still on the roster and the talk was whether he be at LG, RG or RT. Beatty gets hurt along with Schwartz and in pops Newhouse and JJ into the starting lineup. Those guys were to be backups.
RE: So if Reese isn't protecting himself  
Mason : 10/11/2016 4:07 pm : link
In comment 13169645 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
how do you explain the Giants both keeping Flowers at LT or even putting him there initially?

Do they not see what the fans, other teams scouts and analysts see? Oh, I forgot, we're idiot know-nothing fans, we can't see DE's running around Flowers like he's a subway turnstile.

It would be a complete indictment of the scouts and FO based on all the post-draft comments about Pugh and Flowers if they move both out of their draft spots.

Otherwise explain it to me.


Coaches make those calls. Whether they feel Eli Apple can play slot or they move DRC to it. It's their call. Not a GM's.
Another of Reese's "Projects"!  
Blackbeard : 10/11/2016 4:08 pm : link
And the Rookie Head Coach doesn't feel secure enough to put up a fight and move Flowers.
RE: So if Reese isn't protecting himself  
jcn56 : 10/11/2016 4:12 pm : link
In comment 13169645 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
how do you explain the Giants both keeping Flowers at LT or even putting him there initially?

Do they not see what the fans, other teams scouts and analysts see? Oh, I forgot, we're idiot know-nothing fans, we can't see DE's running around Flowers like he's a subway turnstile.

It would be a complete indictment of the scouts and FO based on all the post-draft comments about Pugh and Flowers if they move both out of their draft spots.

Otherwise explain it to me.


Flowers wasn't as bad last year as he is this year. They were short on options last year, so even if they wanted to move him, we wouldn't know.

He's much worse this year, and they have nobody to step in at LT, unless you weaken the line in another spot and move over Pugh. I don't think they would have signed Beatty without wanting to try to get him inserted into the starting lineup, so his progress will be something to watch.
RE: RE: So if Reese isn't protecting himself  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 4:16 pm : link
In comment 13169674 Mason said:
Quote:
In comment 13169645 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


how do you explain the Giants both keeping Flowers at LT or even putting him there initially?

Do they not see what the fans, other teams scouts and analysts see? Oh, I forgot, we're idiot know-nothing fans, we can't see DE's running around Flowers like he's a subway turnstile.

It would be a complete indictment of the scouts and FO based on all the post-draft comments about Pugh and Flowers if they move both out of their draft spots.

Otherwise explain it to me.



Coaches make those calls. Whether they feel Eli Apple can play slot or they move DRC to it. It's their call. Not a GM's.


So you think coaches have complete autonomy to play who they want when they want and where they want with total disregard to draft status and no pressure from the front office?
thisis getting crazy now. Flowers has not been worse than last year  
Victor in CT : 10/11/2016 4:17 pm : link
he was bad/worse on Sunday against GB. He played very well against Minny, maybe his best game as a Giant. GB was probably his worst game as a Giant. Gee, a 2nd year LT is inconsistent. Stunning news.

Way too soon to be giving up on him at LT. And in case people forgot, Beatty wasn't very good.
RE: Another of Reese's  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 4:18 pm : link
In comment 13169676 Blackbeard said:
Quote:
And the Rookie Head Coach doesn't feel secure enough to put up a fight and move Flowers.


that's pretty close to what I believe is true.

Only it's not just Reese. Go back and read what Reese, Coughlin and Ross all had to say about Flowers post-draft. It was a total whiff. So far.
RE: RE: So if Reese isn't protecting himself  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 4:23 pm : link
In comment 13169689 jcn56 said:
Quote:
In comment 13169645 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


how do you explain the Giants both keeping Flowers at LT or even putting him there initially?

Do they not see what the fans, other teams scouts and analysts see? Oh, I forgot, we're idiot know-nothing fans, we can't see DE's running around Flowers like he's a subway turnstile.

It would be a complete indictment of the scouts and FO based on all the post-draft comments about Pugh and Flowers if they move both out of their draft spots.

Otherwise explain it to me.



Flowers wasn't as bad last year as he is this year. They were short on options last year, so even if they wanted to move him, we wouldn't know.

He's much worse this year, and they have nobody to step in at LT, unless you weaken the line in another spot and move over Pugh. I don't think they would have signed Beatty without wanting to try to get him inserted into the starting lineup, so his progress will be something to watch.


Flowers was the worst graded starting LT by PFF last year, so ok, everyone hates PFF, he was also regarded as one of the overall worst first round picks last year by multiple sources.
RE: thisis getting crazy now. Flowers has not been worse than last year  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 4:23 pm : link
In comment 13169696 Victor in CT said:
Quote:
he was bad/worse on Sunday against GB. He played very well against Minny, maybe his best game as a Giant. GB was probably his worst game as a Giant. Gee, a 2nd year LT is inconsistent. Stunning news.

Way too soon to be giving up on him at LT. And in case people forgot, Beatty wasn't very good.


Beatty at his worst was Joe Thomas compared with Flowers.
RE: RE: RE: Just my opinion  
drkenneth : 10/11/2016 4:58 pm : link
In comment 13169643 Matt M. said:
Quote:
In comment 13169632 Mason said:


Quote:


In comment 13169552 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


is Reese protecting Reese.

You normally don't draft an OL top 10 to play RT or G.

They may wind up there but if they do it's sort of seen as a failed pick.

they had Pugh at 19 and he wound up a guard and now if Flowers at 9 winds up a RT or G it just makes them look worse.

I believe the ends are more important than the means and if Pugh can be a good guard and Flowers a good RT who cares, but that's not generally how the picks will be viewed.



Both Pugh and Richburg played out of the position they were drafted. If you think a GM is dictating where coaches line up players on the field you are kidding yourself.

Pugh was drafted to play OT. It wasn't until he declined at Rt that the talk of him playing OG began. Now, if you say he was drafted to play LT, I don't recall that specifically, because they had Beatty there.

As for Richburg, they played him at LG out of necessity. He wasn't going to start at all, until injuries hit, forcing Jerry to RT. I still would have started Richburg at OC given the alternative, though.


Pugh at G was mentioned on draft day, it was stated it may be his best position....And his play didn't declined at RT, he was hurt in his second year. He was our best OL as a rookie.
Trying to justify the high pick  
jeff57 : 10/11/2016 5:08 pm : link
At the expense of on field performance.
Way too many accusations versus opinions on this thread  
Jimmy Googs : 10/11/2016 5:22 pm : link
- Reese doesn't set the lineup. Even if he has input, you really believe the coaches would be over-ruled if their judgment was different?
- Flowers has not been worse this year vs last year. Your memory is only fixated on Sunday night.
- Flowers has played for just over 1 year (in every game mind you), and he is already by de facto the worst pick in last years draft?
Kind of semantics between an accusation and an opinion  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 5:39 pm : link
no?

Here are some external links: PFF: they had some first round picks miss the entire season with injury and some who simply didn't play, so I guess you could rank Flowers ahead of them, of the players graded from the first round, they had Flowers the lowest. and Flowers was their lowest rated LT https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-how-are-all-32-rookies-faring-in-the-2015-season/


Bleacher Report: Flowers top 5 worst first round pick

Quote:

What's worse than selecting an offensive guard in the top five? Selecting the next best one in the top 10. Like Washington, the New York Giants said Ereck Flowers will play tackle as he did in college, according to Bill Pennington of The New York Times.

Not only did the Giants seem to reach for a need in the top 10, but they pretty much have to play Flowers at tackle to justify the pick. It's no secret the Giants wanted Scherff, but the board fell in such a way that they didn't get Williams, Beasley or either of the two top wide receivers in Amari Cooper and Kevin White.

It was a perfect opportunity to roll the dice on a top talent like running back Todd Gurley, who could have helped quarterback Eli Manning just as much as Flowers. While Flowers has potential as a tackle, he'll need to be a good one on the left side to make this pick worth it in hindsight.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2450882-nfl-draft-2015-the-worst-picks-of-the-year/page/3

From a Peter King MMQB in May of 2015 before Flowers took a snap.

Quote:
1. I think the Giants are fooling themselves if they think the pectoral muscle injury suffered by left tackle Will Beatty, which reportedly could keep him out until at least October, won't have huge ramifications. Beatty had developed himself into a very capable left tackle, and now the Giants are left with either Justin Pugh (who underwhelmed so much at right tackle he had been penciled in at guard) or Ereck Flowers, the ninth overall pick out of Miami earlier this month. I recently spent the weekend at the Coaches of Offensive Line (COOL) Clinic in Cincinnati, and the reviews on Flowers were not good. "Some of the worst technique I've ever seen in a player drafted that high," said one veteran NFL line coach. "He played for one of the best coaches, Art Kehoe, and his technique was terrible," said another coach. "That tells me he doesn't take coaching well. That's a big problem because all of the recent tackles have struggled making the transition. It now takes them until Year 3. You can thank the spread and the [collective bargaining agreement] for that."


and there are many more....

and I'll caveat all this by saying I 100% want Flowers to succeed and be a blue goose franchise left tackle, but if he excels at RT I don't care fine with me, if he moves to guard and is a road grader cool with me, but he is not a good LT 21 games is not a small sample and if you think he's improving, I think it's because the bar from his rookie year was so low.
Appreciate the feedback PJ  
Jimmy Googs : 10/11/2016 5:50 pm : link
I also don't care if Flowers plays any position on the line if he is one of the 5 best lineman.

And I absolutely believe he looked lost in Green Bay, but not in the couple of games this year before that so I don't know why the latest game is the only measuring stick...at least for this year.
Does anyone else recall  
SethFromAstoria : 10/11/2016 5:52 pm : link
that time long ago when draft picks actually learned to play before immediately being great?
RE: Does anyone else recall  
pjcas18 : 10/11/2016 6:01 pm : link
In comment 13169818 SethFromAstoria said:
Quote:
that time long ago when draft picks actually learned to play before immediately being great?


Great or competent?

In either case you don't really have that luxury in the current CBA. 11 more games and Flowers is halfway through his rookie deal. When you pick a guy in the first round, especially at 9 the assumption has to be he can step in and at least hold his own (not be great) immediately or you don't take him at 9.

IMO.
I would guess that was the assumption as well PJ.  
Jimmy Googs : 10/11/2016 6:06 pm : link
But it hasn't worked out (meaning "holding his own") at least as of now. He is going to have to learn and correct his mistakes while he plays somewhere on that line.

IMO
If the rumors are true about the Browns shopping and  
USAF NYG Fan : 10/11/2016 6:07 pm : link
even though he's 31, Joe Thomas could be the best LT in the game still. Even if he starts to decline he'd still be better than most OT's for a couple more years. I say go get him if the trade is reasonable and look for the future LT or maybe Flowers will be ready in a couple years.

Thomas->Pugh->Richburg->Jerry->Flowers looks like a brand new OL to me. A very good run and pass blocking line at that.
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