PFF: John Michael Schmitz a potential breakout candidate

It was a rookie wall with JMS. Evan Neal breaking out would be just as huge.

until the article about Evan Neal being traded for a 6th round draft pick...

but there is no reason to give up hope that he can be a good player. He was a rookie and players obviously progress. Counting on Evan Neal seems silly at this point, he has shown almost nothing.

It's so hard to gauge if people are going to be good or not after their first year. I think you can typically tell what you have in a player after year 2 most of the time. I've seen guys look like super stars during their rookie year and then tail off and then the complete opposite.

I think it's important to give those guys the time off after the season to take a breather and come back and then I think you can really see what you have in someone.

In comment 16521971 Adam G in Big D said:

Quote:

until the article about Evan Neal being traded for a 6th round draft pick...

We will know if Evan Neal improves once the Giant offense/QB can run a 5 or 7 step drop.

but we better hope that some of the other players breakout because a Center is not going to move the needle on the win total.

In comment 16521990 Rudy5757 said:

Quote:

but we better hope that some of the other players breakout because a Center is not going to move the needle on the win total.

Outside of AT, the entire OL was bad last year
JMS (and Neal) elevating to average - with the 2 new FAs doing what is excepted, will a long way to improving this team.

In comment 16521990 Rudy5757 said:

Quote:

but we better hope that some of the other players breakout because a Center is not going to move the needle on the win total.

I am not so sure. Fixing the OL will probably do more for this team than anything.

Didn’t JMS have a significant injury he played through after missing some time?

i have some faith that he will be at least starter level even if he's not the kind of impact player creed humphrey was.

drafted in day 1 or day 2.

Both JMS and Neal would have to improve a hell of a lot to become league average starters in 2024. If the OL coach can pull it off, he should get a 10 year extension.

In comment 16522014 NJBlueTuna said:

Quote:

Didn’t JMS have a significant injury he played through after missing some time?

Yes, as the article points out

"it’s worth noting that eight of his 30 pressures allowed came in Week 18.

Schmitz, a First-Team All-American from Minnesota, was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Giants and was named the starting center in Week 1.

As a rookie, Schmitz sat out three games due to a shoulder injury and another game due to a shin issue."


So - there's reasons, not just blind optimism, that he will improve this season.

This offensive line struggled with stunts last year. No wonder their rookie center struggled, with Mr. Magoo coaching the squad. Anyone else should be an improvement.

Why they didn't fire the line coach midseason is beyond me.

we should remind ourselves how unlikely that is. It's simply not realistic to think that in one off-season our O-line can become better than those of 15-16 other teams.

In comment 16522060 CT Charlie said:

Quote:

we should remind ourselves how unlikely that is. It's simply not realistic to think that in one off-season our O-line can become better than those of 15-16 other teams.

Fair, but OLs are notorious for quick improvement/rebuilds
Adding 2 known entities and hoping for improvement from 2 young and high draft picks is not unrealistic.

on a QB sneak early in the Seahawks game and was injured the rest of the year.

We really never saw him healthy with any game experience. Just another reason last year's results probably aren't a good barometer of what we'll get this year.

I lost interest after that opening.

I'd love to see them succeed, but I've been watching this team since the 70s and don't see better than 5-12 out of this team.

In comment 16522126 MattinKY said:

Quote:

I lost interest after that opening. I'd love to see them succeed, but I've been watching this team since the 70s and don't see better than 5-12 out of this team.

Are you predicting major injuries again to get to 5-12?

If this team stays healthy and goes 5-12, we've got the wrong GM and/or HC.

Being a rookie center on a bad line is tough duty. I think we can expect better this year. Any improvement from Neal would be a bonus.

In comment 16522148 JerseyCityJoe said:

Quote:

Being a rookie center on a bad line is tough duty. I think we can expect better this year. Any improvement from Neal would be a bonus.

Agreed fellow JCian. Center is one of the most demanding positions mentally and it is tough for a rookie even in good circumstances.

They should make a decision on Neal quickly. If it doesn't look like he will make it at tackle then move him to guard.

I think at guard Neal would be at least average.

They made this offseason was at OL. Obviously the QB is the focus, but that's more of a single binary decision of Nabers vs. JJM/Penix. The approach they took at OL this year is not that different from the one Gettleman took 3 years ago. NOw there's more draft capital invested than Gettleman was banking on at the time and the free agent stop gaps have a little more pedigree but it's in the same ballpark. That blew up in our face. If you're asking how this season goes completely sideways to where it's over before Halloween, it's gonna be the OL. We need a couple of these guys to take step forward, doesn't need to be multiple steps, doesn't need to be all of them but a couple need to be reliable pieces of the OL rotation.

(1) He hit the mid-season "rookie wall", he will figure out how to pace himself.

(2) The many guards he was playing between were terrible, he didn't get any help from them and was forced often to make-up for their play

He will get nothing but better.

To the left and right of him. Being flanked by solid guards is going to help a lot. Better coaching will better prepare them for the games defenses play. Also, seasoning at center is very important. There is a lot to process for a rookie

As stated by the GM pre draft, they are not one player away.

Falcons
Wash at home
Panthers overseas
Steal one of the others
Eagirls last game with starters resting


I don't see any more wins there with the abysmal way they've played recently. I'd happily be wrong though.



In comment 16522130 mittenedman said:

Quote:

In comment 16522126 MattinKY said: Quote: I lost interest after that opening. I'd love to see them succeed, but I've been watching this team since the 70s and don't see better than 5-12 out of this team. Are you predicting major injuries again to get to 5-12? If this team stays healthy and goes 5-12, we've got the wrong GM and/or HC.

BBI schedule - ( New Window )

In comment 16521971 Adam G in Big D said:

Quote:

until the article about Evan Neal being traded for a 6th round draft pick...

+1

I think I am done crossing my fingers with him.

He has the experience playing as a rookie. He has an off-season to work on his game. I expect him to be better.

battling across from DEX, he should be ready for Sunday action.....