Jackie Slater thinks Chad Wheeler can be really good

article. I'm old enough to remember Slater. He was phenomenal.

Cannot possibly be worse then the guy playing ahead of him. Wheeler may lack some strength right now but has much better footwork and technique then Flowers. he did start EVERY game at left tackle for USC the last three years. If he was at a smaller program I wouldn't be as anxious to try him. I know he was undrafted but that was due to some off the field incidents. He apparently is over that.

If the Giants got what Slater thinks Wheeler can become YESSSSSSSSS!

means that the Giants have to make the fifth year option on him (they better not exercise it) and now only have one offseason to evaluate him to see if he is capable at another position. I would really like to see him at LG.

Wheeler showed great footwork and his kickslide was very impressive. He definitely needs to get stronger but I think we finally nailed an UDFA OL. Would he be the first since Suebert? He can really help alleviate the downside of Flowers continued struggles. But that only fixes one position out of 5 and that is only if he improves. Pugh is a FA. I am pretty sure Richburg is a FA. The right side of the OL is a mess.

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Lets think about what Slater really said....

In comment 13609071 WideRight said:

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Lets think about what Slater really said....

Yes but take it in context. He said that when comparing him to HoF players. He wasn't saying he has a long way to go until he plays. He said he has a long way to go to be in the same conversation with HoF players.

In comment 13609063 robbieballs2003 said:

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means that the Giants have to make the fifth year option on him (they better not exercise it) and now only have one offseason to evaluate him to see if he is capable at another position. I would really like to see him at LG. Wheeler showed great footwork and his kickslide was very impressive. He definitely needs to get stronger but I think we finally nailed an UDFA OL. Would he be the first since Suebert? He can really help alleviate the downside of Flowers continued struggles. But that only fixes one position out of 5 and that is only if he improves. Pugh is a FA. I am pretty sure Richburg is a FA. The right side of the OL is a mess.

This lost is why Reese should be on the hot seat if he's the one who decided to pass on drafting any OL until the 6th.

Seriously. They may have to over pay One of Pugh or Richberg. May as well be Pugh as Richberg like to be a below average guy. But that srilll means Flowers even if he land out at G or RT will be a FA the following year. The give him that 5th year that would be grounds for a firing alone

Whitowrth should have been signed. This OL needs 4 new starters. That's insane

In comment 13609063 robbieballs2003 said:

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means that the Giants have to make the fifth year option on him (they better not exercise it) and now only have one offseason to evaluate him to see if he is capable at another position. I would really like to see him at LG. Wheeler showed great footwork and his kickslide was very impressive. He definitely needs to get stronger but I think we finally nailed an UDFA OL. Would he be the first since Suebert? He can really help alleviate the downside of Flowers continued struggles. But that only fixes one position out of 5 and that is only if he improves. Pugh is a FA. I am pretty sure Richburg is a FA. The right side of the OL is a mess.

The 5th year option for Top 10 picks at OL is $13 MM. The deadline is the end of May so the Giants only have OTAs to evaluate any position change. Yes, it is unfortunate that they won't have a larger sample size to base their decision. But the reality is that unless he is awesome at a new position, the Giants aren't going to exercise the 5th year option. He'll enter his final year in the hope of showing enough improvement to warrant a much lower value contract or he'll be relegated to the role and contract such as Fluker has settled on.

although my post looked like that. I also meant that not trying him at any other position at all at any other point means that they have no idea what they have in him heading into next offseason. The meaning is that we may have to sign more players or spend more draft picks. I think we lost sight of hope for the best but prepare for the worst. If he showed something at G then maybe we can focus our limited resources on quality over quantity. However, if we need to bring in another decent player that may take X amount of money and split that over 2 lesser players.

Wheeler is a natural Left Tackle. Flowers should not be taken out of the line-up he should be given a try RT or RG.

we don't have the luxury of waiting for him to develop....

What is really awesome about this article is the attitude this young man has. Student of the game, feels he has a lot to learn, focused on technique and problem solving.

I think this applies to any job. When I see new college hires who feel they are owed anything just because they are bright, they typically fail. When I see them instead come in to learn, work their rear-ends off, they typically positively impact the team and our business.

I will be rooting for Chad Wheeler!

It's been 19 games with this group and the results have been poor. They need to at least try to shake up the line and see what works. Don't want to change EF's feet by moving him to the right side? Ok, put Wheeler at LT, slide EF to LG, Richberg, Fluker, and Pugh.

They're not only running out of time this year, but they're putting themselves in limbo for the future if they don't try to salvage some of these guys with a different lineup. They need at least some of these guys to pan out.

Even though Wheeler may not be ready,is he still better then Flowers today? IMO,besides the lack of fundamentals for Flowers is that you can be sure he has little confidence. He's been crap on the field and the media has been all over it for years now. I don't see anyway that Flowers will ever be a good left tackle and I don't think he will ever be a good lineman at any position. It would be nice to be wrong.

is he ready, prolly not... but Flowers needs to get moved to guard, he cant play in space
I'f put Pugh at LT until Wheeler is ready

I don't see how it's even a question at this point. Whatever Wheeler's limitations are I don't see how he could be any worse than Flowers or Hart.

is probably still better than our current tackles

In comment 13609123 WillVAB said:

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It's been 19 games with this group and the results have been poor. They need to at least try to shake up the line and see what works. Don't want to change EF's feet by moving him to the right side? Ok, put Wheeler at LT, slide EF to LG, Richberg, Fluker, and Pugh. They're not only running out of time this year, but they're putting themselves in limbo for the future if they don't try to salvage some of these guys with a different lineup. They need at least some of these guys to pan out.

That lineup is our best shot to have a decent o line with this group. I'd probably put Jerry in for Fluker though.

I like yer style dude

But it is not going to happen, this year at least. McAdoo said with the Hart injury he was going to start the best 5. Next man up was Jones, which means McAdoo doesn't see him in the top 6 Oline on this roster, and they were willing to disrupt multiple positions in order to get Jones in there in favor of inserting Wheeler.

That tells you all you need to know.

He is saying Wheeler has qualities shared by the greats. That's a necessary condition, but not sufficient. He's speaking to potential.

really stood out on tape during the preseason

but he was not up to speed yet on an NFL level during preseason

What is the difference, and what do we have to lose? Is it mathematically possible for Wheeler to give up more sacks than Flowers? At least Wheeler has potential to improve. We've given Flowers 3 years, how many more does he get?

In comment 13609187 gidiefor said:

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really stood out on tape during the preseason but he was not up to speed yet on an NFL level during preseason

Flowers has been starting 3 years and still isn't up to speed.

In comment 13609267 PatersonPlank said:

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What is the difference, and what do we have to lose? Is it mathematically possible for Wheeler to give up more sacks than Flowers? At least Wheeler has potential to improve. We've given Flowers 3 years, how many more does he get?

See Osi vs Justice

Wheeler was abused at left tackle -- much more regularly than Flowers in the preseason

Anything is good news. This is GREAT to hear. Big deal to get a Slater endorsement.

Wheeler is very natural at LT, a huge, fluid athlete whose pass pro looked pretty good. He needs weight room time and practice reps, wouldn't expect him to be better on the field than EF right now.

Saying the same thing. 2 of the best OL to ever play the game. But this inexperienced HC is too stubborn to listen

In comment 13609295 giants#1 said:

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In comment 13609267 PatersonPlank said: Quote: What is the difference, and what do we have to lose? Is it mathematically possible for Wheeler to give up more sacks than Flowers? At least Wheeler has potential to improve. We've given Flowers 3 years, how many more does he get? See Osi vs Justice

I expect Flowers to play the role of Justice on Sunday. At least with Wheeler we are trying something different. Trotting Flowers out there at LT is the definition of insanity, the world knows it doesn't work.

Is going to advocate any guy from USC but you still have to value his opinion

It's desperation time. How much worse can we get then the worst?

then you don't put him in the lineup. While everyone loves his potential, let's remember no team used a draft pick on him. He is not a plug and play NFL LT, and he did not exactly shine in the preseason.

Playing before he is ready could possibly speed up his development by learning on the job. But I think it is more likely that he gets his confidence shot by competing at a level he isn't at, and he is more likely to develop bad habits. Let the guy work on his strength and technique and get better before you just throw him in the lineup. Flowers is a sunk cost. The only way to make it worse is to ruin Wheeler because we have Flowers.

Practice is one thing, games are another. Lots of players look better in practice.

In comment 13609549 Mike from Ohio said:

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then you don't put him in the lineup. While everyone loves his potential, let's remember no team used a draft pick on him. He is not a plug and play NFL LT, and he did not exactly shine in the preseason. Playing before he is ready could possibly speed up his development by learning on the job. But I think it is more likely that he gets his confidence shot by competing at a level he isn't at, and he is more likely to develop bad habits. Let the guy work on his strength and technique and get better before you just throw him in the lineup. Flowers is a sunk cost. The only way to make it worse is to ruin Wheeler because we have Flowers.

+1

Football coaches rarely go insert a player into a game unless they're demonstrating grasp in practice. There has to be a confidence level in the player and a belief they're an upgrade at the moment.

In comment 13609058 AcidTest said:

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article. I'm old enough to remember Slater. He was phenomenal.

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He gave LT more problems than any tackle in football, great player in his time. Now about Chad...