Going into the 2016 season, there was a huge leadership gap on the Giants defense. Coming off that horrible 2015, we weren't sure who was going to step up, and it turned out that a bunch of guys did. JPP, Vernon, Collins, etc. But the guy who stood out to me was the big guy in the middle, Snacks.
I've been a proponent that this offseason, the key for the Giants to take the next logical step as Super Bowl contender is to fix the offensive line. I am of the opinion that the conservative playcalling from McAdoo and Sullivan was less about creativity, and more that they just didn't trust this OL to get the job done for any extended period of time, so they tried to limit the damage (field position and turnovers). McAdoo has a dinner menu and he basically picked from 4 plays like he was playing tecmo bowl. When McAdoo realized he had a defense that could close games, he played close to the vest and let them win games, and they went 11-5.
Going into the offseason, I felt that the Giants should target Ron Leary from Dallas. He's a luxury 6th OL on their line, he doesn't have a spot next year with Collins coming back, and he's a free agent on a Cowboy team that is strangled by the cap and their defense is not that good (and was exposed) and they have age creeping up at their skill positions despite Dak and Zeke (Bryant is 29, Witten 35, Williams turns 28, Beasley turns 28). Bottom line, they can't keep Leary and odds are he won't stay so he can start.
Enter the Giants, who could use him on this line and take him away from Dallas. Last night, Snacks tweeted the following:
Damon Harrison & #8207;@BigDame900 14h14 hours ago
Not celebrating a loss for guys who lay it all out there for their teams. Proud of my bro @RonLeary75 I got nothing but respect for him. |
Of all the guys for Snacks to show love to, it's the Cowboys free agent OL, in an area the Giants need. Sounds like Snacks is starting his recruiting. I love this guy and the Giants signing him more and more every day.
Leary makes sense. Curious what our OL gurus think about him. Is he good or part of a great line?
signed,
JR
Him leaving weakens them because Collins really has not been good when he has played
He will probably get somewhere around 8-10M per.
We didn't trade for Stone. He was an UFA.
I would have no problems giving a 28 year old OL a 5 year deal with at least 50% guaranteed. Not sure what the market value will be this year.
This would give us 2 interior blasters in the run game and Pugh can hold up fine at T in the quick passing game IMO.
This would give us 2 interior blasters in the run game and Pugh can hold up fine at T in the quick passing game IMO.
I would tend to agree that Pugh to LT is a possibility. I would guess that Flowers moves to RT and if Leary was signed he would move to RG. Road Grader. Draft a guard and let Jones, Gettis, Hart and a rookie fight it out in camp for the LG position.
Leary's never played anywhere but LG (in the pros at least). Though they could re-sign him, cut Free and then move Collins out to RT. But my guess is they simply let Leary leave and slide Collins back into the LG spot. Remember, Collins was the starter at LG entering 2017 before he got injured. Granted he was abused in the opener by Snacks.
I'm not sure why we are so eager to move Pugh out of a position he is playing well. Pugh was moved inside for a reason.
IMV you leave the strongest OL alone and build around him.
I'm not sure why we are so eager to move Pugh out of a position he is playing well. Pugh was moved inside for a reason.
IMV you leave the strongest OL alone and build around him.
If we are looking to replace Flowers at LT we have 4 choices: sign a free agent, draft a LT, trade or the person is on our roster already. How likely is it that next years left tackle comes from the draft? Not likely IMO. The next source is free agency. Whitworth and Rieff are the only viable options so it is possible that Reese explores these 2 guys. Joe Thomas is the popular option through a trade but what are you willing to give up? This years 1st rounder?
Justin Pugh has played LT and happens to have played there in college as well. It is an option.
A couple of things here. I don't think Dallas has the means to keep him. Like I noted above, they are in cap hell. And despite the talking heads claiming this is the new dynasty like the 90s, they are nothing like the 90s. Yes, a big name trio at QB, RB, and WR. But the 1990s Cowboys had a dominant defense. This defense scares no one. They need to get help on defense or they will be one and done again. Additionally, they have age starting to show up at TE and WR. Simply put, they can't devote the money needed to keep Leary. That's why they signed Cooper, to fill that spot next year.
Leary has no motivation to stay. Let's say his knee causes teams to balk, so what they'll do is put incentives in his contract. If he plays the games, he will get paid. Dallas can't devote the playing time to him. Nor the money.
And Doug Free just restructured his deal and would be a $2.5 million dead cap hit in 2017...and their cap is already screwed. So he's not going anywhere.
Leary makes sense. Curious what our OL gurus think about him. Is he good or part of a great line?
If it's not that or a family tie, Snacks has said a lot. Assume no ties to Leary: Harrison is saying between the lines that unlike the Giants Dline, the Oline has issues and needs an upgrade.
He's also saying we have an incompetent starter at the RG position that we need to upgrade. He recognizes Leary is a good player the Giants need and should listen carefully to the Giants offers in March.
The other side of Snack's Tweet is they know each other from Weight Watchers.
I agree 100% on this.
Sign his teammate Whitworth to play LT for one or two years and move Flowers to RT. Maybe Whitworth can take him under his wing and teach him a thing or two about LT.
LT - Whitworth
LG - Pugh
C - Richburg
RG - Zeitler
RT - Flowers