Giants have signed third-round OG Joshua Ezeudu

LG.

The camp battle that I am looking forward to the most is Shane Lemieux vs Josh Ezeudu.

In comment 15716682 Jay on the Island said:

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The camp battle that I am looking forward to the most is Shane Lemieux vs Josh Ezeudu.

Yes, with loser becoming first Guard off the bench.

Also what do we have with Garcia...is he in the mix to start at Left Guard?

wonder if he might be our future center.

In comment 15716695 chick310 said:

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In comment 15716682 Jay on the Island said: Quote: The camp battle that I am looking forward to the most is Shane Lemieux vs Josh Ezeudu. Yes, with loser becoming first Guard off the bench. Also what do we have with Garcia...is he in the mix to start at Left Guard?

Got to think he’ll get a fair shot. As a guy who can play G/C he could be a key backup as well.

In comment 15716699 Eric from BBI said:

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wonder if he might be our future center.

That’s an interesting thought. If Lemieux is really a solid starter that would be the next open spot.

I think he's built like a center. Mack Brown thinks he would be a really good center. He said they didn't start him off there because of the stuttering issue, which he no longer thinks is a problem.

he was playing at OTAs was LT.

In comment 15716714 robbieballs2003 said:

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he was playing at OTAs was LT.

That appears to be a bogus report that was contradicted by Duggan.

It doesn't mean he didn't take snaps there, but Duggan said he was at LG.

It's why I went with Duggan's line-up in my OTA write-up on the front page.

In comment 15716695 chick310 said:

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Yes, with loser becoming first Guard off the bench. Also what do we have with Garcia...is he in the mix to start at Left Guard?

He’s in the mix but IMO he is 3rd on he depth chart there. I think Garcia will be the primary backup center until Gates returns which might be later in the season.

It definitely was very curious.

I think if Gates is able to come back healthy at some point this year that the coaching staff is gonna love him.

We were blessed that Seubert miraculously came back from the spiral fracture. So anything is possible, but that was such a serious injury.

I don't think the Giants need to force Ezeudu into the line-up as a rookie. If Lemieux, Garcia, and the other vets falter, and Ezeudu out-plays them as a rookie, great. But I don't think he is as pro-ready as Evan Neal will be (and Neal will have his growing pains).

In comment 15716721 Eric from BBI said:

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We were blessed that Seubert miraculously came back from the spiral fracture. So anything is possible, but that was such a serious injury. I don't think the Giants need to force Ezeudu into the line-up as a rookie. If Lemieux, Garcia, and the other vets falter, and Ezeudu out-plays them as a rookie, great. But I don't think he is as pro-ready as Evan Neal will be (and Neal will have his growing pains).

This might be the first time in forever that some of the guys we cut on the OL get picked up by other teams. I'm very happy with what was done in one year.

As far as Gates goes, I know it will be an amazing comeback story. I was encouraged by the reports that he's walking around with no limp.

Neal will have his growing pains? So I should prepare myself to 'Neal sucks!' posts in the game threads, Haha.

He was looking like a real find & long term answer @ center. Fucking injuries.

hobble around the golf course makes me wonder just how Gates could possibly be back this season. Walking 7 miles is one thing, shoving 300lbers around for 60 minutes is a whole different thing.

It's already happened. Wes Martin got claimed off of waivers.

Is Lemieux wins the starting LG job and Ezeudu becomes the ultimate depth player this year, and eventually takes over a spot in 2023.

In comment 15716719 Jay on the Island said:

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In comment 15716695 chick310 said: Quote: Yes, with loser becoming first Guard off the bench. Also what do we have with Garcia...is he in the mix to start at Left Guard? He’s in the mix but IMO he is 3rd on he depth chart there. I think Garcia will be the primary backup center until Gates returns which might be later in the season.

BBI depth chart aside, I was thinking Bredeson would be backup Center/Guard. Lemieux/Ezeudu/Garcia fighting it out for Left Guard.

And of those 4 names, only 3 making roster.

In comment 15716765 Ben in Tampa said:

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Is Lemieux wins the starting LG job and Ezeudu becomes the ultimate depth player this year, and eventually takes over a spot in 2023.

I agree, Ezeudu could provide excellent depth at multiple positions and possibly be groomed at center with the chance of taking over there in 2023.

In comment 15716719 Jay on the Island said:

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In comment 15716695 chick310 said: Quote: Yes, with loser becoming first Guard off the bench. Also what do we have with Garcia...is he in the mix to start at Left Guard? He’s in the mix but IMO he is 3rd on he depth chart there. I think Garcia will be the primary backup center until Gates returns which might be later in the season.

Damn I so love all of this competition. May the best man win and solidify this damn OL already... lol

I don't miss Will Hernandez that is for sure.

In comment 15716800 Jay on the Island said:

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In comment 15716765 Ben in Tampa said: Quote: Is Lemieux wins the starting LG job and Ezeudu becomes the ultimate depth player this year, and eventually takes over a spot in 2023. I agree, Ezeudu could provide excellent depth at multiple positions and possibly be groomed at center with the chance of taking over there in 2023.

agreed i think this is what they are envisioning. he's basically the nyg version of ryan bates.

In comment 15716709 Eric from BBI said:

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I think he's built like a center. Mack Brown thinks he would be a really good center. He said they didn't start him off there because of the stuttering issue, which he no longer thinks is a problem.

I had read that also, although it did seem like JE still had a little bit of a stutter/delay when speaking with the media after the draft. That could very easily just be nerves and it's not an issue when he's comfortable on the field.

But based on the little we could even go off of, I don't know if it's worth projecting JE to OC until we see reps there. Mack Brown can say whatever he wants, but he also didn't play JE at OC ever.

also gives us depth at tackle.

Brown wasn't asked if he could play center, he volunteered to Schmeelk that he could in fact play the position. We have no idea if he played it in practice or not.

Brown said the stutter is what prevented him from doing it, but he seemed to be saying he regretted making that assumption.


(Yes, Ezeudu still stutters.)

Hes on the last year of his deal and we can save close to $2 mil. If we have to Pup him its probably going to be an injury settlement so he can catch on somewhere else when/if he gets healthy.

I hate to see it but the guy may never play again. I hope he comes back and is able to if he wants to but it may not be this year.

I also hope Ezeudo wins a starting spot but I want him to win it and not get handed it. Lemieux is going into his 3rd season and wasnt very good his rookie year, missed his 2nd year so its not like he is a proven guy. Garcia is also a guy that is not a proven commodity and was signed to a vet minimum deal. I'll be disappointed if he wins the job. We have watched bad football for 10 years and the only way to get better is for young guys to push the guys that were starters on that bad team to a backup role.

In comment 15716721 Eric from BBI said:

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I don't think the Giants need to force Ezeudu into the line-up as a rookie.

Bobby Skinner put it really well, I thought, that in year 1 a player like this needs to be focused on his technique, the schemes and the speed of the pro game rather than the next opponent.

I would add that even a player with the talent of Andrew Thomas was put in a mental pretzel as he sold out trying to protect the outside. That over-setting phase had to be based in some part on coaching and scouting the weekly opposing edge rushers, I'd say.

In comment 15716725 robbieballs2003 said:

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This might be the first time in forever that some of the guys we cut on the OL get picked up by other teams.

I'm optometrist by nature, but if everyone has a healthy training camp they might actually be able to get something in return for one of their interior OL. Maybe a 7th round pick for Garcia (or Bredeson) if the additions of Ezeudu and McKethan make them superfluous. And if Lemieux looks good and healthy in camp, but loses his battle with Ezeudu for the starting job, he could command a 4th or 5th round pick from a desperate team that suffered a season-ending injury to their starter.

Assuming Gates goes to PUP and Ezeudu, Glowinski, and Feliciano are locks, it leaves Lemieux, Bredeson, Garcia, Douglas, and McKethan competing for the remaining interior OL rosters pots (and they will keep no more than six IOL, so that means two of those five will be playing elsewhere in September...unless McKethan makes it to the practice squad).

Eric from BBI said:

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It's already happened. Wes Martin got claimed off of waivers.

Adam Bisnowaty was claimed off waivers too, twice. To say nothing of Bobby Hart’s distinguished career with the Bengals. 😜

I thought he went a minimum of one round too early to us, that we essentially reached cause of need. However, the reports on this kid are solid and he appears to be versatile. If his best position is center this year could be about learning OG to challenge to start and getting reps at OC too.

He had a stuttering issue which he has worked through so perhaps he can make the line calls at OC? If Neal and this kid really pan out and Thomas develops into a stud we have the backbone of a solid OL for the future. Especially if Glotkowski can play another top 2 or 3 years to maintain the balance.

review of him, I was struck on how quick he is and how naturally he gets his hips aligned almost perfectly to make the block required. A little bit of hand work is needed, but that lower body is so smooth, I think he could be the starter this year at LG.

In comment 15717851 section125 said:

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review of him, I was struck on how quick he is and how naturally he gets his hips aligned almost perfectly to make the block required. A little bit of hand work is needed, but that lower body is so smooth, I think he could be the starter this year at LG.

Exactly, he appears polished; has a lot of college experience at multiple positions which makes him versatile; however, he does need some coaching up (of course) as well as a year in the weight room building up his frame.

I think he starts over Lemiuex IF he shows superior pass protect to the point where you know a few games in he'll begin to get it and become the better player right out of the gates. Lemiuex hasn't really had a full, regular camp yet due to covid and injury.

Thomas, Glotowski, Neal are locks to start.