I don't follow college closely, but I am pretty sure several SB winning teams have had OLs with one or fewer 1st round picks, including our Giants. Ironically, one of the 1st round OL picks who has won SBs recently is Solder. And conversely, some teams with multiple 1st rd OL haven't come close to the SB (eg., Dal).
Seems to me, while OL is extremely important, coaching is a big part of success and you don't necessarily need to use high 1st rd picks. (I know a lot of people want to trade down and I'm ok with that).
IMHO, a difference maker on D will be harder to find later in the draft than an OL who is good enough (e.g., David Diehl (5th), Jumbo Elliot (2nd), Snee (2nd), Kareem McKenzie though signed as FA, was a 3rd rd pick, etc). The highest pick on the Pats OL 2 yrs ago was a 3rd rd.
My Q is are there good O tackles that might be avail when we pick in the 2nd and centers in the 3rd?
As far as Centers, I think there are names there at the end of Round 3, but not sure those with the most upside are Day 1 starters (Harris, Hennessy). Biadasz really didn't develop as expected this year and has some injury concerns so people have started to question longterm potential.
The question is are there good O tackles that might be avail when we pick in the 2nd and centers in the 3rd that can start this year. Otherwise, we begin the year with Solder, Fleming and Pully in the starting OL.
76 N. Solder
73 N. Wozniak
Guard
71 W. Hernandez
62 C. Slade
Center
75 J. Halapio
77 S. Pulley
63 T. Volson
Guard
70 K. Zeitler
65 N. Gates
Right Tackle
?? C. Fleming
79 E. Smith
Now maybe we could get one of the "4 computer guys" to model for us what happens when Solder breaks down at some point this season, or when he gets cut next season.
Please let me know how you would reconfigure this group and expect to win any games over the next several seasons if Giants didn't go early and often with OL picks.
The question is are there good O tackles that might be avail when we pick in the 2nd and centers in the 3rd that can start this year. Otherwise, we begin the year with Solder, Fleming and Pully in the starting OL.
IF you're worried bout this year dont be, they could draft 2 elite tackles (getting lucky) and they'd still be a horrible team this year. They should be drafting for 2021 and on not about 2020
I took this from the Depth Chart drop-down on the BBI site.
Whether Halapio is on it or not seems to be a "push" :-)
Quote:
"are there good O tackles that might be avail when we pick in the 2nd and centers in the 3rd?"
The question is are there good O tackles that might be avail when we pick in the 2nd and centers in the 3rd that can start this year. Otherwise, we begin the year with Solder, Fleming and Pully in the starting OL.
IF you're worried bout this year dont be, they could draft 2 elite tackles (getting lucky) and they'd still be a horrible team this year. They should be drafting for 2021 and on not about 2020
Really. So, I shouldn't be worried that the OL will be as bad or maybe worse than last year. I shouldn't be worried our new franchise QB will be brutalized behind a line that can't pass block. I shouldn't be worried our all world RB will waste another season behind a line that can't run block. I shouldn't be worried about going 4-12 again. I and anyone who is really a Giants' fan should be worried about all that.
I do like Harris, but he is undersized for just about any scheme. While we may be used to Weston Richburg getting overpowered, it is a concern.
That said, fuck it. I still want that blue chip guy
Everybody else can be coached up. We drafted Pugh (who went to RT then to guard); then Flowers (LT to guard). Both are on other teams and doing fine.
Point is, when you find a REAL LT with excellent feet & balance (they don't come around that often), you don't hesitate.
He is a Left Tackle. Pretty physical and has good feet.
There is another OT from TCU, Louis Naigg ( spell? ) that has hip issues his last year and I think had surgery and couldn't do drills at the combine. I understand he is very good but might be a reach with the injury.
One of Austin Jackson or Josh Jones could possibly fall to our second round pick.