Ralph Vacchiano
@RVacchianoSNY
Giants elevate C Matt Skura from the practice squad for tonight’s game — a possible indication that Nick Gates will move to guard with Shane Lemieux out.
in 2020, "In Week 10 against the New England Patriots, Skura's snaps led to three botched quarterback-center exchanges during the 23–17 loss.[14] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 25, 2020,[15] and activated on December 4.[16]"
I am guessing he has a good working relationship with Jones being from Duke. He made it from being an undrafted FA to starter with the Ravens before a knee injury so this guy has his head on straight.
Ralph Vacchiano
✔
@RVacchianoSNY
Actually, Matt Skura may be signing to the 53-man roster (not just a practice squad elevation), which would mean ... maybe G Shane Lemieux to IR? Another move would be coming with it.
RE: RE: RE: that is simply speculation on Ralph's part
The next time the beats provide "breaking" info (via hints) will be the first time in a long time. I don't think they have any idea what's going on with the team.
Agree. Do people think the coaches are going to give the beats their game plan so that they can blab about on their social media pages? The beats don't know much more than the guy sitting on his couch.
Small sample size, but like what I saw from Bredeson
I believe Gates is becoming a Great Center---That's a keystone to a solid line. The QB exchange is a very big deal as well--whether it's shotgun or snap. In any sport, move 1 player instead of 2....move 2 players instead of 3---this is all very basic.
I think people are reading to much into this move. It was written when he was signed to the PS that Skura would not be on the opening day roster because that would guarantee his salary for the full year (or something like that). He apparently agreed to the PS for the 1st game but it seemed like he was going on the 53 roster afterwards
will work their way into keeping the starting C role. You got to love Gates' enthusiasm, but not sure where he's best suited to play on NFL OL yet.
I really hope so. It was just one game but I think Bredeson played very well especially considering that he is new to the offense. I was a big fan of Bredeson in the draft and hopefully he solidifies himself as the starting LG moving forward.
I might be wrong but from reading your posts you often suggest that Gates might be a better fit at guard. It's obvious that Lemieux is headed for IR and if Hernandez continues to play like he did week one the Giants are in big trouble at guard.
The loss of Lemieux complicates things because Bredeson could be a capable answer at one spot but now the Giants might be forced to move Gates to RG while hoping that Price or Skura play well in the middle.
most likely scenario seems to be Lemieux to IR. Skura is a backup C, but Gates stays there absent an injury. As others have said, I don't see them moving Gates to guard given that he's done well at C and Skura has only been here for a few weeks.
I'm not certain but it seems Gates has played best at C, which doesn't necessarily mean he's set as the starter. He's still working through some stuff with live bullets flying, and needs to get stronger. The collective OL project is still under construction, andI think you've got every position up for grabs except LT.
but Gates was moved to C because he wasn't great at RT.
RT could well not be on the roster yet, sorry to Peart fans.
we absolutely should be playing peart at RT over Solder.
yea, Peart isn't there right now and may never be good. but solder has been garbage every year since he's been here and its really obvious he's only here for the money right now. the guy is getting embarrassed.
Could be the Giants are moving Gates to guard, Price to center
has turned into a top ten Center. Based on how long he has played Center. He might move up into top 5 Center. I would like to see him stay at Center. Hopefully Peart has taken snaps at Guard a long with some of the others. Find a Guard replacement from one of the group but leave Gates at Center
Might be what we see....as Hernandez was supposedly a disaster at RG and probably Gates best position. Bredeson held his own.....and Thomas had a great game. Peart did better than Solder but both need improvement. No outside of organization knows what Price or Skura brings to table....
All risky on a short week....but desperate times drives desperate measures.
Think eventually we will see skura and price sharing center
Good in run blocking. He is not a better center than Gates.
Don’t be disillusioned by the trade the Giants made with the Bengals.
I like the euphemism - Price fell out of favor with the Bengals. If he was any good would he have fallen out of favor? It's not like the Bengals offensive line was the second coming of the 1960s Packers...
Good in run blocking. He is not a better center than Gates.
Don’t be disillusioned by the trade the Giants made with the Bengals.
I think that may be the move. This team needs to get the run game going or we are toast. We can't really attack down the field that much considering how bad the RT situation is, so these shots are going to be need off that total sell playaction and live with the risk of a sack. But with Saquon in the backfield and the run game going you have to respect it. Not sure I do this on a short week though.
Maybe moving the deck chairs around on the the Titanic
What if we just go with 4 so that we can have a QB, 4 receivers, a RB and a TE? Then we can have 5 receivers all run curls instead of the usual 3 or 4!
Signs point to the Giants moving Nick Gates to guard tonight. Has felt like this was a back-burner plan all offseason with the Harrison and Looney signings.
But again, if Gates can just be a temporary tourniquet (at RT), at this point, it's a plus.
No Manny it's NOT. Pressure up the gut in the QBs face is issue #1 for an OL. You move Gates, you open that ...gate. Moving him, IMO, is a terrible idea. We want the best 5 sure, but Gates at OC is our top OL, anywhere else he's not as good and that top gets shakier. Thomas is not moving, Bredeson should slide in to Lemiuex's spot, and if Hernandez keeps stinking, I think Price or Skura gets next shot. Gates was not good at RT, he was ok, he's very good at OC, which is the most important role right now, especially with an ISO style running game. If we ran exclusively zone it changes, but we don't.
be re-signed by the Ravens. They lost an IOL, Tyre Phillips, on Monday. He was IR'ed on Tuesday but it looks like they already made corresponding transactions to take the open roster spot.
This may have been done to p;rotect hm from being snatched up by another team like BAL.
Alternatively, since he wasn't on the active roster Week 1, now they can do this without having to guarantee his entire salary for 2021.
What if we just go with 4 so that we can have a QB, 4 receivers, a RB and a TE? Then we can have 5 receivers all run curls instead of the usual 3 or 4!
... wasn't an option. He looked the part to me during preseason. Knows the offense, so kick Gates out to Guard with Lemieux likely going to IR.
I guess they really like the upside (and younger ages) of Skura, Price, and Bredeson.
I would have to believe at this point Lemieux goes to IR, Gates stays at Center and Bredeson plays LG. But it is shocking to me that Skura is called up, except if they feel he knows the offense better and generates more consistency if they put him at center and kick Gates out to guard?
Seems like a weird call up, unless they are not liking Price as much as they thought?
but Gates was moved to C because he wasn't great at RT.
RT could well not be on the roster yet, sorry to Peart fans.
we absolutely should be playing peart at RT over Solder.
yea, Peart isn't there right now and may never be good. but solder has been garbage every year since he's been here and its really obvious he's only here for the money right now. the guy is getting embarrassed.
Solder over Peart tells us the coaches trust the former enough, but not the latter.
be on a short week anyway. I could eventually see Gates move over to RG and Hernandez back to LG or to the bench. I think Bredeson moves to LG and Peart to RT. And so I see a line of Thomas - Hernandez/Bredeson - Skura - Gates - Peart / Solder at some point. Personally. I wouldn't move Gates unless the Giants see him as a significant upgrade at Guard.
also at this point there seems to be a lot unknown other than Thomas.
Is Hernandez set at RG or does he shift back to LG if Lemiuex goes on IR? Bredeson played LG in college but was playing RG for Baltimore I believe.
If Gates has to shift, does he have to go to RG or RT? He played both well 2 years ago in spot duty and you would think going to RG would be a simpler transition from C than RT.
Which of Hernandez/Solder/Peart is best? Are any of the 3 playable on the right side?
Overall the OL was ok against a good defense last week. So for now I'm not sure there's enough actionable info to make a big change ahead of tonight's game. But maybe after tonight's game there will be.
tells you Peart's not getting it done, that he's not in there when Solder's struggling reinforces it.
Looks like one of those high picks is certainly going to need to be a tackle. With two really no excuse to not be able to maneuver the draft to get one however it shakes out. Peart may end up being a good swing tackle to have, but if he can't beat out Solder woof.
I'm not certain but it seems Gates has played best at C, which doesn't necessarily mean he's set as the starter. He's still working through some stuff with live bullets flying, and needs to get stronger. The collective OL project is still under construction, andI think you've got every position up for grabs except LT.
I think Gates is at his best at Center also. I thought he was the most pleasant surprise on offense last season.
I was/am high on Gates at center. Last season I was hoping that he would show steady improvement as the season progressed and that is exactly what happened. His progress was quite noticeable and while I doubt that he will ever be an all-pro I believe that he will be a good center for the Giants for the next 5+ years.
I am guessing he has a good working relationship with Jones being from Duke. He made it from being an undrafted FA to starter with the Ravens before a knee injury so this guy has his head on straight.
Supposedly they weren’t at Duke together…
✔
@RVacchianoSNY
Actually, Matt Skura may be signing to the 53-man roster (not just a practice squad elevation), which would mean ... maybe G Shane Lemieux to IR? Another move would be coming with it.
Agree. Do people think the coaches are going to give the beats their game plan so that they can blab about on their social media pages? The beats don't know much more than the guy sitting on his couch.
Gates is serviceable at C, but when your OL is not remotely set in stone you've got to find the best combo of five to move forward.
Is coming from the direction of Right Tackle.
Desperate times call for desperate measures; would not be surprised to see Gates go over there to contain the bleeding.
the key is to not downgrade one position to slightly improve another.
i really hope we got the guys we need to run garretts SHIT OFFENSE
I really hope so. It was just one game but I think Bredeson played very well especially considering that he is new to the offense. I was a big fan of Bredeson in the draft and hopefully he solidifies himself as the starting LG moving forward.
I might be wrong but from reading your posts you often suggest that Gates might be a better fit at guard. It's obvious that Lemieux is headed for IR and if Hernandez continues to play like he did week one the Giants are in big trouble at guard.
The loss of Lemieux complicates things because Bredeson could be a capable answer at one spot but now the Giants might be forced to move Gates to RG while hoping that Price or Skura play well in the middle.
I think the starting OL will be:
Thomas.
Bredeson.
Gates.
Hernandez.
Solder.
I'd much rather see Peart as the starter.
W.H. weak link in a rusty chain.
RT could well not be on the roster yet, sorry to Peart fans.
Skura wasn't drafted. He went undrafted and signed as a free agent.
RT could well not be on the roster yet, sorry to Peart fans.
we absolutely should be playing peart at RT over Solder.
yea, Peart isn't there right now and may never be good. but solder has been garbage every year since he's been here and its really obvious he's only here for the money right now. the guy is getting embarrassed.
I keep referencing that line but remember the major shifts made in season that year.
LT- Roberts and Elliott
LG was Ard and C was oates all year
RG- D. Johnson and Eric Moore
RT- K. Nelson, J. Elliott and D. Riesenberg
I think we will move people as needed until the right combo is found.
Don’t be disillusioned by the trade the Giants made with the Bengals.
Might be what we see....as Hernandez was supposedly a disaster at RG and probably Gates best position. Bredeson held his own.....and Thomas had a great game. Peart did better than Solder but both need improvement. No outside of organization knows what Price or Skura brings to table....
All risky on a short week....but desperate times drives desperate measures.
May wind up being best combo.
Will H may be riding the pine if he doesn’t show more, soon
Don’t be disillusioned by the trade the Giants made with the Bengals.
I like the euphemism - Price fell out of favor with the Bengals. If he was any good would he have fallen out of favor? It's not like the Bengals offensive line was the second coming of the 1960s Packers...
Don’t be disillusioned by the trade the Giants made with the Bengals.
I think that may be the move. This team needs to get the run game going or we are toast. We can't really attack down the field that much considering how bad the RT situation is, so these shots are going to be need off that total sell playaction and live with the risk of a sack. But with Saquon in the backfield and the run game going you have to respect it. Not sure I do this on a short week though.
You never know until you try...
link - ( New Window )
This may have been done to p;rotect hm from being snatched up by another team like BAL.
Alternatively, since he wasn't on the active roster Week 1, now they can do this without having to guarantee his entire salary for 2021.
This is a gem.
I guess they really like the upside (and younger ages) of Skura, Price, and Bredeson.
I would have to believe at this point Lemieux goes to IR, Gates stays at Center and Bredeson plays LG. But it is shocking to me that Skura is called up, except if they feel he knows the offense better and generates more consistency if they put him at center and kick Gates out to guard?
Seems like a weird call up, unless they are not liking Price as much as they thought?
Quote:
but Gates was moved to C because he wasn't great at RT.
RT could well not be on the roster yet, sorry to Peart fans.
we absolutely should be playing peart at RT over Solder.
yea, Peart isn't there right now and may never be good. but solder has been garbage every year since he's been here and its really obvious he's only here for the money right now. the guy is getting embarrassed.
Solder over Peart tells us the coaches trust the former enough, but not the latter.
Is coming from the direction of Right Tackle.
Desperate times call for desperate measures; would not be surprised to see Gates go over there to contain the bleeding.
I'm not sure what's worse.
The fact you're even suggesting this, or the fact that you're probably right.
Is Hernandez set at RG or does he shift back to LG if Lemiuex goes on IR? Bredeson played LG in college but was playing RG for Baltimore I believe.
If Gates has to shift, does he have to go to RG or RT? He played both well 2 years ago in spot duty and you would think going to RG would be a simpler transition from C than RT.
Which of Hernandez/Solder/Peart is best? Are any of the 3 playable on the right side?
Overall the OL was ok against a good defense last week. So for now I'm not sure there's enough actionable info to make a big change ahead of tonight's game. But maybe after tonight's game there will be.
Have to earn it and keep it.
Looks like one of those high picks is certainly going to need to be a tackle. With two really no excuse to not be able to maneuver the draft to get one however it shakes out. Peart may end up being a good swing tackle to have, but if he can't beat out Solder woof.
Agreed. And Solder is terrible.
I think Gates is at his best at Center also. I thought he was the most pleasant surprise on offense last season.
I was/am high on Gates at center. Last season I was hoping that he would show steady improvement as the season progressed and that is exactly what happened. His progress was quite noticeable and while I doubt that he will ever be an all-pro I believe that he will be a good center for the Giants for the next 5+ years.