The prevailing opinion seems to be that the Giants will target a WR early, and this is supported by the team meeting with high-profile WR prospects.
Also, other than Okereke and Waller, none of the new players have big contracts so it's important not to read too much into the other signings.
That said, the Giants have added DL, LB, CB, S, WR, and TE in free agency/trade.
They have protected or re-signed QB, RB, WR, LB, P, LS in free agency.
Note what position is missing?
In addition, they let their only two UFA offensive linemen walk.
There are three ways to read into this:
(1) They didn't like what is out there and are waiting to see who shakes free and/or prices to come down.
(2) They aren't as worried about what they have as others (this makes Giants fans nervous because of Reese/Gettleman).
(3) They are going to target OL again in the draft (they drafted three OLs last year).
I think they have a guy in the draft they really like. I would expect a OC picked by the 4th round latest.
I also think they feel that Bredeson could be the starter. They have a bunch of guys under contract so you know how it works, start your best 5. That leaves 9 reserves.
We have our tackles and our right guard. Bredeson and Ezudu will be left guard and center until otherwise informed.
I think they will look for vets let go after the draft. I do think they like what they have (14 under contract is what Schoen said, IIRC?).
What is a little noteworthy is the center position. What is going on there?
Yup: fourteen under contract.
Thomas
Neal
Glowinski
Ezeudu
Bredeson
McKethan
Phillips
Lemieux
Peart
Hamilton
Cunningham
Anderson
Davis
Kindley
That's about the right proportion of the ninety man roster, once they add one or two in the Draft. Only the first four are true roster locks, assuming they make it to Week 1 without blowing out a knee. The next three seem likely to be on the team, though a better backup tackle that Phillips would be nice. Maybe Peart will step up, a full year removed from surgery. The last seven are mostly JAGs, so we'll probably see a lot of churn there, with particular attention to guys with experience at center.
Invest heavy in the oline to keep him upright, get a nasty TE, and then find your Jags/Value at WR.
Very interesting comment. In 2022, every WR on KC had a cap hit under $5mm and their total positional cap hit was $15mm, less than what Golladay took up just by himself.
What would it hurt to bring him in on a cheap deal with incentives? Otherwise good for him for changing his life
Round 1 or 2 depending on how the draft plays out.
-If they don't draft an OL by the end of day 2 i would be more then mildly surprised (unless some move happens b4 the draft).
-Sometimes we make the problem harder then it is. Drafting a center at 25 is never going to get an A draft grade, but the ROI on that could be a 10 year center piece in front of your most valuable asset.
While I would be happy with any player they draft that improves the team right away, I'd be most happy with a Center. I think if value presents itself you can't turn down, you take it (Joey Porter Jr. won't be there - but if he is) and if that happens plan is draft a tackle who has good feet and is versatile and mold him to play IOL, which was Buffalo's MO.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
I heard Neal would fine fine as the yr progressed in 2022. He got worse.
Tools are there but I see a lot of balance / dealing with counter moves issues. I think he will improve but I can’t assume he will just be fine. Some of his play was too downright bad too.
Going from yr1 to yr2 will really help . Just having an offseason not to deal with combine, pro days, cramming playbook etc. just wind down for some, recalibrate and start working on your weakness. Same with ezuedu
They both have some nice traits. If they clean up better than 50% of what was lacking, oline could be better from in house solutions
I have no issue picking oline anywhere in first 3 rds
The stench from getting killed on LOS in Philly lingers.
Invest heavy in the oline to keep him upright, get a nasty TE, and then find your Jags/Value at WR.
Agree 100%
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
Is balance something you can improve upon? Neal ended up on the ground way to often for my liking.
Feliciano was a G they tried to convert last year along with Bredeson. Gates was never counted on and not a pure C before that. So they didnt prioritize C at all last year. My guess is they will do more of the same and accumulate a lot of lineman who they can mold to what they need.
As far as I know there really aren't great names out there.
Totally agree...all three are true.
They're going PBA in round 1 most likely, and also drafting that way thru the draft. An interior guy will fit that descrption somewhere along the line.
Giants are created some depth and competition thru their FA signings and previous draft/signings.....now it's time to add more and find good football players.
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He's got good pro coaching and plenty of tools to utilize. He's got to get the footwork and mental aspect squared away. Move your feet, big dude! When he was healthy and played well he was very promising.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
I heard Neal would fine fine as the yr progressed in 2022. He got worse.
Tools are there but I see a lot of balance / dealing with counter moves issues. I think he will improve but I can’t assume he will just be fine. Some of his play was too downright bad too.
Going from yr1 to yr2 will really help . Just having an offseason not to deal with combine, pro days, cramming playbook etc. just wind down for some, recalibrate and start working on your weakness. Same with ezuedu
They both have some nice traits. If they clean up better than 50% of what was lacking, oline could be better from in house solutions
I have no issue picking oline anywhere in first 3 rds
The stench from getting killed on LOS in Philly lingers.
You and others are judging a guy, a rookie no less, without factoring in that he was hampered for 3/4s of the season by a knee injury. A knee injury is going to hamper lateral movement, which is pretty important for a tackle, right?
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And I feel like the Chiefs are writing the book on how to win with a QB on a second contract.
Invest heavy in the oline to keep him upright, get a nasty TE, and then find your Jags/Value at WR.
Agree 100%
Do have to factor in the Mahomes element. He is so singularly talented that he can take those JAGs and elevate them. Jones’ play is more dependent on the talent at his disposal, so I think we’d need to take more of a Philly approach. Build up the line but also invest heavily in offensive playmakers around QB.
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In comment 16074473 JonC said:
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He's got good pro coaching and plenty of tools to utilize. He's got to get the footwork and mental aspect squared away. Move your feet, big dude! When he was healthy and played well he was very promising.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
I heard Neal would fine fine as the yr progressed in 2022. He got worse.
Tools are there but I see a lot of balance / dealing with counter moves issues. I think he will improve but I can’t assume he will just be fine. Some of his play was too downright bad too.
Going from yr1 to yr2 will really help . Just having an offseason not to deal with combine, pro days, cramming playbook etc. just wind down for some, recalibrate and start working on your weakness. Same with ezuedu
They both have some nice traits. If they clean up better than 50% of what was lacking, oline could be better from in house solutions
I have no issue picking oline anywhere in first 3 rds
The stench from getting killed on LOS in Philly lingers.
You and others are judging a guy, a rookie no less, without factoring in that he was hampered for 3/4s of the season by a knee injury. A knee injury is going to hamper lateral movement, which is pretty important for a tackle, right?
Just going by what I saw. If it was because the knee, great for us.
But if knee was that bad, why was he out there.
1/2 the league plays game not at 100% every week. Damn right I am judging him. He is not getting a hall pass.
Like his attitude and think he will put in the work
But there was more to be desired than I would have expected from the 7th pick
I expected more of a destroyer, even at times. Didn’t see much of that.
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In comment 16074473 JonC said:
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He's got good pro coaching and plenty of tools to utilize. He's got to get the footwork and mental aspect squared away. Move your feet, big dude! When he was healthy and played well he was very promising.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
I heard Neal would fine fine as the yr progressed in 2022. He got worse.
Tools are there but I see a lot of balance / dealing with counter moves issues. I think he will improve but I can’t assume he will just be fine. Some of his play was too downright bad too.
Going from yr1 to yr2 will really help . Just having an offseason not to deal with combine, pro days, cramming playbook etc. just wind down for some, recalibrate and start working on your weakness. Same with ezuedu
They both have some nice traits. If they clean up better than 50% of what was lacking, oline could be better from in house solutions
I have no issue picking oline anywhere in first 3 rds
The stench from getting killed on LOS in Philly lingers.
You and others are judging a guy, a rookie no less, without factoring in that he was hampered for 3/4s of the season by a knee injury. A knee injury is going to hamper lateral movement, which is pretty important for a tackle, right?
Agreed, the guy was only 21 years old and he was also dealing with an injury down the stretch. I am optimistically expecting improvement here.
they have plenty of bodies now, what I'm sure Schoen wants is a couple of guys with high upsides. Center and Guard. He will see how the draft falls and then also look at the FA market AFTER the draft. This unit will NOT be a glaring weakness by camp.
I wouldn't worry about Neal, he was starting to get it when he hurt his knee. When he came back, it was NOT strong, plus he then had shoulder and I think elbow issues to deal with. His technique (which he was struggling to get), really went into the toilet after he came back.
I will be SHOCKED if he isn't markedly improved. agree with JonC on that.
That said, we all rightly expect a C, and I expect another versatile G ( including RT)to be added to the rebuild mix of much cost controlled youth with some vets to fill gaps and be on/ off field teachers.
2) They like the young guys they have--they obviously expect Neal to develop given where they drafted him, and probably think Ezeudu and some of the other guys we think of as depth have potential to start, and they certainly have enough of them to raise the odds.
3) I'd be surprised if they didn't draft a couple more OL.
There are two OL with the same name. Buffalo signed the Cowboys' Connor McGovern. The Jets' edition is probably a better option at center.
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Last week, didn't he?
There are two OL with the same name. Buffalo signed the Cowboys' Connor McGovern. The Jets' edition is probably a better option at center.
Ahh gotcha thanks for the clarification.
Precisely why drafting what you project as an elite level center round 1 may not be exciting but a huge penicillin boost to this offense. Or round 2. I loved the Richburg pick, still bummed that one did not work out for us.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
To add, I think he has the mental makeup. Flowers in hindsight did not.
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He's got good pro coaching and plenty of tools to utilize. He's got to get the footwork and mental aspect squared away. Move your feet, big dude! When he was healthy and played well he was very promising.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
Is balance something you can improve upon? Neal ended up on the ground way to often for my liking.
To be clear, not down on Neal. Just enough holes last yr to think this may not be an AT 2nd yr improvement. It doesn’t have to be AT level, but hopefully close. I hope it was injuries more than other issues. Obviously rooting for him it would help our oline a great deal if him and ezuedu took a step forward.
MNaybe not as much of a steal, but I am still high on Ezeudu and McKethan from last year.
What is being suggested is the front office felt they could get similar play from Bredeson/Lemieux at C as they could Feliciano/Gates. Without having to spend a dime.
The delta in play just wasn't there, to warrant spending.
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He's got good pro coaching and plenty of tools to utilize. He's got to get the footwork and mental aspect squared away. Move your feet, big dude! When he was healthy and played well he was very promising.
Bookends are set, and I'd wager Ezeudu will develop at one OG spot. Find another OG and C in the mid to later draft rounds.
I heard Neal would fine fine as the yr progressed in 2022. He got worse.
Tools are there but I see a lot of balance / dealing with counter moves issues. I think he will improve but I can’t assume he will just be fine. Some of his play was too downright bad too.
Going from yr1 to yr2 will really help . Just having an offseason not to deal with combine, pro days, cramming playbook etc. just wind down for some, recalibrate and start working on your weakness. Same with ezuedu
They both have some nice traits. If they clean up better than 50% of what was lacking, oline could be better from in house solutions
I have no issue picking oline anywhere in first 3 rds
The stench from getting killed on LOS in Philly lingers.
Neal was impacted by the knee injury, and being impacted took some of his confidence and focus on time wore on.
The balance issue has to do with his footwork, and breaking some old habits. He was doing fine at certain points before the injury. Dealing with speed rushers who bring some of his issues to the surface has to be improved upon as well. But, he's too talented and athletic and intelligent to not succeed at RT. They'll figure it out, and so will he. I say this as one who is always skeptical of words, I trust this kid will deliver.
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I found the answer Link - ( New Window )
You know you’re big when you slim down to 320!
What would it hurt to bring him in on a cheap deal with incentives? Otherwise good for him for changing his life
Yeah, it would have been nice to see more encouraging signs his rookie year. A few things though: A)Yes played guard, RT and then LT at Alabama..but he was coming off a 15 game season as a left tackle and he was switching to the right side.
B)Bobby Johnson changed his pass set technique. I honestly think this was the thing he was struggling with. I know it sounds like an excuse..but that is not something you show someone once and they just know it. It's muscle memory, that takes reps for it to be second nature. I'd expect that to be an adjustment for him. How he was coached to get into his pass set at Alabama was completely different from how the Giants were coaching him. I believe Andrew Thomas went through something similar early on his career. C)The injury would affect his ability to gain continuity in getting those reps to make this adjustment second nature.
I think once his technique is ingrained(and he gets to have some live reps against a healthy Azeez/KT) you will see his natural ability show through. Offensive line play can be very similar to wrestling..there is a lot of technique involved and that takes repetition to ingrain.
In comment 16074731 PaulN said:
CFB churns out a ton of WR's and CBs every year now.
Dancing elephants are a much rarer and harder to find resource.
Its also likely, that they view Brederson as a player to be in the mix at LG and Center, and that if he "had" to start a Center, he would be an upgrade over what they had last year.
I'm sure Schoen knows he needs more front end talent on the IOL. He's not blind.
He can help the Cap with having a cost effective OL and this leads me to building it through the draft for the most part.
I think a lot of the Giants issues on offense were from poor OL play. When the better fronts were too much for them it then exposed the WR issues. In most of the Giants losses you see they struggled running the ball compared to wins exposing the OL PB and WR's and poor down/distance did not help which stemmed from their ability to run successfully.
I'm probably alone here, but I wonder what Peart could do at guard. Despite his athletic ability, I think he has been a better run blocker than pass blocker.
Also, McKethan reminded me of Fluker both in strengths and weaknesses. I mean that as a good thing, I liked Fluker more than most here.
GMs normally put a lot of pride in their drafts especially their high draft investments which are the top 3 rounds.
Ezeudu is expected to be a starter. Neal is too. They aren't going to spend big $$$$ on someone until they figure out what they have in Neal and Ezeudu. The only position they dont have a top 3 round pick or a guy on a fairly sized contract is OC. However they might like Bredeson a lot there as they let both Gates and Feliciano go with little resistance. If not the draft is deep at OC and teams often find a potential or eventual starter in round 3 or round 4. Could be wrong but I definitely don't see what is not considered a premium position being taken in round 1 and doubtful in round 2.
Ezeudu has great feet and probably is plan B at RT if Neal continues his rookie struggled.
Neal/Ezeudu /Phillips
Ezeudu/Neal
Bredeson/Lemieux /Rd 3 or later pick
Glowinski
Thomas