Here it is, 2017.....even though we won a SB in 2011, that OL was old and in trouble.....6 years later, it still hasn't been rebuilt.....what we have is a patchwork line with hopefuls.....hoping that miraculously Flowers learns to block....hoping that Pugh can stay healthy....hoping that it was an injury and not ability, that was Richburg's problem last year.....and the right side of the line is still a mess....
Yes, there wasn't much out there in free agency.....they were either old, or had medical baggage and still managed to get paid, too high, which shows how desperate the NFL is for linemen....
So once again Eli has to make due with an OL that is a huge question mark.....if we go into the season with this group( I seriously doubt we can draft an OLman that can step in like a vet, without growing pains)....the only thing that can save this OL, is a blocking TE AND a blocking FB, and another offensive weapon.....
This offense has to score.....Cruz did not pan out and Reese did not have a viable backup plan for that situation....If Marshall can stay healthy, and still have something left in the tank, he will help the passing game and the running game......
Shepard, had some huge drops last season, but he was a rookie......he has to take that next step, and make those catches that he dropped.....
OBj, is still somewhat of a head case......he has to show more concentration out there.....as good as he was last season, he could have been better.....it's a matter of maturity.....I think he looks back at the GB game, and hopefully uses that as a stepping stone for the upcoming season.....
We also need Perkins to be the #1 back, but he is not built for that...yes Vereen can come in, but we need another back, either with blazing speed, or a pile mover.....
Can only hope Ellison is that Blocking TE, that can put up numbers in the receiving department......
Would be nice if we could draft a blocking FB at the end of the draft.......
I don't know who will be that weapon after OBJ, SS, or Marshall.....Vereen just does not seem to be in sync with Eli, like he was with Brady....part of that is Eli's fault....hitting guys in stride with short passes is not his forte.....drafting a stud at TE or RB or even WR, can make this offense scary, even with this OL....we need playmakers on offense....
But Eli has to have the option to run this year, with a FB and blocking TE.....this will give us our play action plays back again.....if we can convert third and short, consistently, play action will be added again, to Eli's options......
So, we deal with the OL that we are dealt....weapons can offset the deficiency in the OL, if the defense has to worry about more than just OBj.....
People need to stop thinking that one SB was what Vereen was on a week to week basis.
Blathering
Interactive
Coming off an 11-5 season with a OL that has an average age of 25 years old. It's not the Dallas line of last season. It does not need to be. It just needs to be better than last season and to avoid injuries.
How about positives
Defensive line check
Secondary check
Wide receivers check
QB check
This is not a OL in decline... It is an OL with the potential to be good. If last year's D was for real... That is all needs to be.
People need to stop thinking that one SB was what Vereen was on a week to week basis.
I don't think anyone views him as a bad player. It just seems like he isn't the right fit for our team, which is what I believe Doomster was referring to. And remember, our D was awful in 2015 so we were constantly playing from behind, which led to a lot of check downs to Vereen. My main issue is how much we are giving him per year in this dime a dozen RB situation in the league aside from a few guys like Bell and the clown from the Cowboys. He is making 3.1 million plus the 500k roster bonus he just got. Seems like we could draft a guy with more upside to play that role and save that cash for next year when we have a ton of guys to resign.
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most TDs (receiving) in his career in 2015. Guess who was and wasn't his QB then?
People need to stop thinking that one SB was what Vereen was on a week to week basis.
I don't think anyone views him as a bad player. It just seems like he isn't the right fit for our team, which is what I believe Doomster was referring to. And remember, our D was awful in 2015 so we were constantly playing from behind, which led to a lot of check downs to Vereen. My main issue is how much we are giving him per year in this dime a dozen RB situation in the league aside from a few guys like Bell and the clown from the Cowboys. He is making 3.1 million plus the 500k roster bonus he just got. Seems like we could draft a guy with more upside to play that role and save that cash for next year when we have a ton of guys to resign.
Except Vereen absolutely was a necessary part of the offense in 2015 -- we flat out saw it in 2016 how badly they missed having that option and threat on the field. This offense, more than most, needs a third down back like him to get by. Also, the Giants didn't play catch-up, frequently down by a lot, in 2015 either; how do think they blew so many leads late and painfully in games? Games were generally close for them.
My only point was that he's not what some people selectively remember him as being in NE and that any claim that he's never connected with Eli or is held back by Eli is hot garbage.
Idiots like you that disagree with a post and just use name calling as your defense, is sad....
Disagree with my post? Then take it apart, piece by piece....stop being childish with the name calling.....as for me knowing nothing about football, apparently you have a reading problem.....may I suggest starting with "Dick and Jane"?
I know I do (not them)
You are right, the plan for the Giants is to HOPE Flowers can block this year. I wouldnt count on it, not at L or R tackle, I think he could be a mauling guard, but man, what he showed last season was horrible. Fluker will be in the mix for both tackle spots, as will Pugh. Hopefully Jerry is a backup.
isn't the post just an extension of the poster.
The #1 issue with the OL each of the last few seasons has been injuries - Pugh ('16), Beatty ('15) and Schwartz ('14 & '15) - and any team that loses their better offensive lineman is going to have struggles. The Beatty injury in the 2015 offseason was especially devastating because he was coming off a solid year in 2014 where he started every game and forced Flowers into starting at LT from day 1, which is a tough task for any rookie let alone a 20 year old with raw technique.
The offseason isn't over yet and they're likely to continue trying to find upgrades. Fluker was a good signing, Jerry is fine as a depth player and they'll likely continue adding where they see value fits (draft, low cost FA, maybe even trades). Hindsight is 20/20 and the results from those 4 years could have been a lot better, but finding great players of any sort is always easier said than done. It's not like they passed up drafting Tyron Smith, Trent Williams, Taylor Lewan, Jack Conklin, Brandon Scherff, Ronnie Stanley etc. Hopefully this is the year they have some good luck in the draft and keeping the starters healthy.
The #1 issue with the OL each of the last few seasons has been injuries - Pugh ('16), Beatty ('15) and Schwartz ('14 & '15) - and any team that loses their better offensive lineman is going to have struggles. The Beatty injury in the 2015 offseason was especially devastating because he was coming off a solid year in 2014 where he started every game and forced Flowers into starting at LT from day 1, which is a tough task for any rookie let alone a 20 year old with raw technique.
The offseason isn't over yet and they're likely to continue trying to find upgrades. Fluker was a good signing, Jerry is fine as a depth player and they'll likely continue adding where they see value fits (draft, low cost FA, maybe even trades). Hindsight is 20/20 and the results from those 4 years could have been a lot better, but finding great players of any sort is always easier said than done. It's not like they passed up drafting Tyron Smith, Trent Williams, Taylor Lewan, Jack Conklin, Brandon Scherff, Ronnie Stanley etc. Hopefully this is the year they have some good luck in the draft and keeping the starters healthy.
Great post. Sums up the OL situation very nicely. Well done.
The same could be said of you. At least, you have given up your profanities.
Jerry going for those small, injury-prone playmakers in the first...
Typical Jerry. If only we had Zack Martin, Shad would have put of Zeke numbers and Eli would have had plenty of time to hit Rueben Randle down the sideline...
I imagine if we happen to work on not dropping touchdown passes that would have more of an impact on our O than preparing to draft Forrest Lamp in the 1st.