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Thoughts on Evan Neal's Run Blocking?

Jerry in_DC : 9/27/2022 11:13 am
Neal was obviously a monumental disaster in pass protection last night. I'm not going to claim to grade OL or watch "film", but i try to focus on Neal for a fair number of snaps and to me he looks to have real talent in run blocking.

I've seen the innate raw power that top OL have where defenders either bounce backwards off him or collapse under him. Even bigger defenders.

If this is true - and it may or may not be - we would really benefit from pairing him with a powerful RG next year. We probably won't have a good passing game next year, but if we can have right side that buries the defense, at least we'll have a foundation for a competent offense.
I think in general 2023  
widmerseyebrow : 9/27/2022 11:16 am : link
is going to be a year where we have a complete unit or two and just play to our strengths. We still have too many holes to fill in one offseason while maintaining long term cap discipline. What you propose sounds like one of a few solid ways to stabilize things.
Jerry in_DC  
M.S. : 9/27/2022 11:23 am : link
You make a good point, but there's one significant caveat. The run game and pass game are synergistic, and the severe absence of the latter can curtail the former. Teams are now just focusing on Saquon Barkley knowing we have the WORST WR unit in the NFL. Having a strong run blocking guard next to Evan Neal would not IMO really change the Giants run dynamic that much. Ultimately, we need a huge WR upgrade coupled with a stout interior O-Line that won't bend backwards on passing downs.
Fans  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/27/2022 11:25 am : link
need to start paying more attention to the position coach interviews.

As I mentioned weeks ago, Bobby Johnson said Evan Neal is learning a brand new method of pass protection, something he didn't learn in college. He said it's going to take time for him to adjust.

Combine this with the regular learning curve of an OL (see almost all of the 1st round OLs the last few years, including Andrew Thomas) and you guys need to realize this is going to be painful.

This is not me saying this after the fact... I've been saying this since the spring.

You know what? Any rookie we draft on the OL in 2023 is going to go through the same growing pains.
AT went through a similar rough stretch  
Dnew15 : 9/27/2022 11:31 am : link
to start his career and he has turned into a very good LT in the NFL.

Evan Neal is going to be alright. I'm not worried about him.
seattle  
giants62 : 9/27/2022 11:32 am : link
How would you explain the success of Seattle's two rookie tackles? Seems it is possible to come into the league and be a quality NFL starter right away.
seattle  
giants62 : 9/27/2022 11:33 am : link
How would you explain the success of Seattle's two rookie tackles? Seems it is possible to come into the league and be a quality NFL starter right away.
RE: seattle  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/27/2022 11:35 am : link
In comment 15834761 giants62 said:
Quote:
How would you explain the success of Seattle's two rookie tackles? Seems it is possible to come into the league and be a quality NFL starter right away.


In 2021, fans on this site were saying, "Explain to me why Andrew Thomas sucks and other offensive linemen just drafted don't?!"

Neal's run blocking shows plenty of promise  
JonC : 9/27/2022 11:35 am : link
NYG needs to find the right RG to pair with him and set the right side, and they need to also set LG and C and get the unit ramped up. It's going to take some time to build cohesion, technique, and build up in the weight room so they're able to combat older, stronger men.

Neal's pass pro will take some time, he's got to react quicker to his man and move his feet in order to stay square and use his hands. Speed of the NFL game is what he needs to adjust to and speed up his game.
sorry  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 9/27/2022 11:35 am : link
2020
RE: Fans  
Doubledeuce22 : 9/27/2022 11:35 am : link
In comment 15834742 Eric from BBI said:
Quote:
need to start paying more attention to the position coach interviews.

As I mentioned weeks ago, Bobby Johnson said Evan Neal is learning a brand new method of pass protection, something he didn't learn in college. He said it's going to take time for him to adjust.

Combine this with the regular learning curve of an OL (see almost all of the 1st round OLs the last few years, including Andrew Thomas) and you guys need to realize this is going to be painful.

This is not me saying this after the fact... I've been saying this since the spring.

You know what? Any rookie we draft on the OL in 2023 is going to go through the same growing pains.


Agreed. Evan Neal needs this year to get acclimated with new techniques. He's going to have a lot of downs this year and people need to accept that. This was never supposed to be a competitive year for the Giants. If they compete for a playoff spot that's playing with house money in my opinion.
With the caveat that  
mittenedman : 9/27/2022 11:43 am : link
he's still young and may go on an Andrew Thomas-like trajectory - it was demoralizing watching the DAL rookie LT shut down Thibodeaux on the other side.

The good news is, part of what made Neal a great pick is he projected as a kick ass G if he didn't cut it at T. It isn't the end of the world if he has to move inside, as long as he's a + G.
players  
giants62 : 9/27/2022 11:44 am : link
can be good right away. There's nothing written in stone that says that there has to be a learning curve. On the flip side, some players never improve. See Erik Flowers. It's great that Thomas improved. It's uncomfortable having to hope that Neal does the same.
62  
five5 : 9/27/2022 11:50 am : link
well said. Kudos to Andrew Thomas for becoming one of the best LTs in the league. There is absolutely no guarantee that will happen with Neal. You are just hoping to see some flashes with him in pass protection but up until this point it hasn’t happened.
RE: Fans  
MotownGIANTS : 9/27/2022 11:53 am : link
In comment 15834742 Eric from BBI said:
Quote:
need to start paying more attention to the position coach interviews.

As I mentioned weeks ago, Bobby Johnson said Evan Neal is learning a brand new method of pass protection, something he didn't learn in college. He said it's going to take time for him to adjust.

Combine this with the regular learning curve of an OL (see almost all of the 1st round OLs the last few years, including Andrew Thomas) and you guys need to realize this is going to be painful.

This is not me saying this after the fact... I've been saying this since the spring.

You know what? Any rookie we draft on the OL in 2023 is going to go through the same growing pains.


Missed this detail ... "Bobby Johnson said Evan Neal is learning a brand new method of pass protection, something he didn't learn in college. He said it's going to take time for him to adjust."


Thx
RE: With the caveat that  
JonC : 9/27/2022 11:53 am : link
In comment 15834799 mittenedman said:
Quote:
he's still young and may go on an Andrew Thomas-like trajectory - it was demoralizing watching the DAL rookie LT shut down Thibodeaux on the other side.

The good news is, part of what made Neal a great pick is he projected as a kick ass G if he didn't cut it at T. It isn't the end of the world if he has to move inside, as long as he's a + G.


Do you still believe NYG could be a #1 seed in the NFC? grin.
Neal is gonna be a great Tackle  
Rjanyg : 9/27/2022 12:04 pm : link
He has shown the ability to play well and his run blocking will be his strength while he learns his pass blocking on the job. This is going to pay dividends in the future.
RE: Neal is gonna be a great Tackle  
Carson53 : 9/27/2022 12:20 pm : link
In comment 15834884 Rjanyg said:
Quote:
He has shown the ability to play well and his run blocking will be his strength while he learns his pass blocking on the job. This is going to pay dividends in the future.
.

He definitely will be a work in progress, as Bill Raftery likes to say in basketball, 'needs to move those puppies'.
He needs some bend too. He is a huge human being...
what I'm asking  
giants62 : 9/27/2022 1:08 pm : link
is this...And I'm asking because I don't have the answer or even an opinion. Both the Panthers and the Giants picked Offensive Tackles at 5/7. Theirs was slotted to be the LT, ours the RT. Both fall into the learning curve category. Seattle picked theirs at 9 and right away he's proven to be and NFL ready LT. Seattle picked another in the third round and he appears to be an NFL ready RT. Did Seattle see something that the Panthers and Giants did not? Or is it simply a case of potential upside, meaning if, and this is a big if, both Ekwonu and Neal, reach their potential they will both be better than the two Seattle tackles.
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