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Let’s See How Far We’ve Come: Giants Offensive Line Breakdown
Published: May 5, 2009
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Before the 2004 season commenced, ESPN’s Joe Theismann declared that the Giants offensive line was one of the worst in football.
Since then, they have blocked for some of the league’s best rushing attacks, and have typically given Eli Manning time to progress through his reads in the pocket.
But after a string of four strong seasons in a row, the Giants offensive line may be working against father time.
Kareem McKenzie is close to finishing up a six-year deal he signed in 2005, and is mere weeks away from turning 30. He has proven to be durable throughout his career, but has experienced back issues within the last year.
Generally back issues and offensive linemen at 30 years old do not mix well.
Shaun O’Hara received a lucrative extension after the team’s Super Bowl XLII win, but he will be 32 by the Opening Day. There were some grumblings that the Giants believed his performance has tapered off somewhat, and that they would address the need for a future replacement in the draft.
The Giants never drafted a center, perhaps proving that these were rumors with no merit behind them.
However, they did draft a tackle. With the second of their two second-round picks, they selected William Beatty, a left tackle from Connecticut. It is unlikely that Beatty will have an impact in 2009, barring goal-line situations where the Giants prefer to bring in an extra blocker.
The Giants believe that Beatty projects to be a productive left tackle, according to Marc Ross, the team’s director of scouting. This may be indicative of doubts about current left tackle David Diehl.
Since he was drafted in 2003, Diehl has proven to be the ultimate team player. Never reluctant to switch positions for the good of the team, Diehl has shifted from guard to tackle, back to guard, and in 2007 back to left tackle.
He was rewarded in 2008 to a six-year deal with a salary that would be contingent on his position. Naturally, he will receive bigger sums of money if he plays a successful left tackle, a position regarded to be the most integral on the offensive line.
Despite being an anchor to one of the league’s best rushing attacks, Diehl’s pass-blocking has proven to be erratic. Although he didn’t give up a dastardly total of sacks (6.5 sacks in 16 games, 21st among left tackles), Diehl at times has looked horrid.
His sack total number has been reduced by Eli’s underrated ability to anticipate pressure and throw the ball away. Most noticeably, Diehl has looked overmatched when facing more athletic pass rushers, such as the Cowboys DeMarcus Ware.
Manning has taken some brutal hits off Diehl’s side, and has been lucky not to suffer a major injury. The Giants understand that Diehl is a serviceable left tackle, but his pass-blocking can be improved upon. By 2011, I believe Beatty will be the Giants’ starting left tackle, with Diehl sliding to left guard.
Current left guard Rich Seubert has been an inspiration to many, bouncing back from a horrific leg injury suffered in 2003. He missed the 2004 season and had one start in 2005, but has re-emerged into a solid left guard for the Giants.
The leg injury likely will cut short his career, but it is safe to assume Seubert will remain productive for the next couple of years.
Lastly, the Giants offensive line holds the team’s best pick from the 2004 draft. Okay, maybe that is a stretch, but Chris Snee as the 34th overall selection has proven to be a gem for the Giants.
He was overdue for his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2008, and the head coach’s son-in-law has proven to be a menace when partaking in physical games.
Overall, chemistry has come to define the offensive line’s success over the past few seasons. They do not have many standout players, as reflected by the group’s two Pro Bowl appearances combined since 2006.
But they are a cohesive unit that strives for excellence, and have set a tone of toughness every Sunday that rubs off on the rest of the Giants squad. Things likely will be no different in 2009.
Three Giants Veterans Who Will Have To Emerge in 2009
Published: April 29, 2009
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With a multitude of draft slots, the Giants could have traveled down various paths that would be considered logical to alleviate their biggest needs. The most popular theory was that the Giants would trade at least their first round pick to attain Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
But in what is considered to be the Giants’ way, they came into the draft with 10 selections and left with nine rookies.
While the addition of young talent is a cause for excitement in the Meadowlands, there are certain veteran players who have little time to ponder how a Clint Sintim or William Beatty will contribute to the team. Instead, they will have to pick up their game for the team—and for themselves.
Eli Manning—Last year was a honeymoon season of sorts for Manning. If he struggled, questions may have flared up regarding if he was a one-month wonder in 2007, but he would have generally gotten a pass from the fans and media.
He played well up until December, but was erratic down the stretch, which may have coincided with the suspension of his star receiver. This year, that excuse does not exist for Eli.
Sure, his offensive coordinator is under immense scrutiny. Yes, his wide receiver corps consists of question marks and youth. And yes, it will be windy in December and January. But he still has to produce. This is a championship-quality squad and the Giants have a chance to be special this season.
The acquisition of a Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin would have taken some of the load off of Eli’s shoulders, but neither of them will likely be Giants when they kick off the year at home against the Redskins.
Ultimately, Manning will have to thrive with talented, yet equally unproven targets. An upper tier quarterback is supposed to make his receivers look better then they are said to be. Let’s see if Manning does just that this year.
Ahmad Bradshaw—Fans can question many things about Bradshaw. But not his honesty. When asked by former teammate Michael Strahan if he preferred that both Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs return in 2009, Bradshaw simply responded with a “No.”
And who can blame him? He emerged from the depths where a seventh round rookie lurked into virtual stardom with a terrific playoff campaign. Then Derrick Ward came back from his broken leg in 2008 and complemented Brandon Jacobs in arguably the most dominant running game in the league.
Bradshaw was a mere bystander for most of the season, as he predominantly got his yards late in blowouts.
When thrust into the middle of a seesaw Sunday night game in Philadelphia, Bradshaw ran for nearly 40 yards on just five carries. But it could have been more had it not been for a fumble on the tail end of a long run in the third quarter. This fumble provoked Tom Coughlin to keep the ball in the hands of Ward and Jacobs for the rest of the game.
Bradshaw has had a history of fumbles stemming from his collegiate playing days, and while the Giants coaching staff has a history with curing fumbling ills (Tiki Barber anyone?), it is no given Bradshaw will repair his issue.
The Giants have two talented backs right behind Bradshaw on the depth chart. Rookie Andre Brown, who has drawn comparisons to Ward, and Danny Ware, who had a solid preseason in 2008.
Kevin Boss—One thing that can be said about Kevin Boss is that when the ball is thrown his way, good things generally happen. Except the ball wasn’t thrown his way too often. In just 33 catches he passed the first down marker 21 times and had six touchdowns, a very good rate.
But he did not command the amount of attention that a more respected tight end would, and without Plaxico Burress this really hurt the Giants down the stretch. The Giants were reportedly interested in acquiring Tony Gonzales at the deadline during the middle of the 2008 season and as recently as a month ago, but they passed both times.
Although the Giants’ offense hasn’t been predicated much on the tight end catching the ball in the last few years, the Giants do want Boss to emerge into a threat. He has good speed, a solid build, and rarely drops the ball.
But a tight end could be a quarterback’s best friend when the weather gets nasty, and if Boss proves he can’t produce in those situations, then the Giants may be tempted to acquire a tight end that can.
The Giants did draft a tight end in the third round, but Jerry Reese claimed that was to give Manning an option out of the backfield. However, if Beckum proves to be a reliable pass catcher he could see more action at tight end on passing downs, while Boss would be relegated to merely a blocking role.
Braylon Edwards Talks More Alive Than Ever
Published: April 23, 2009
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Just 48 hours before the 2009 draft will be underway, various sources around the league have claimed the Giants’ plans to acquire Braylon Edwards are all but dead. Seemingly unreachable demands from the Browns have allegedly coaxed the Giants to look in other directions, such as potentially trading up to acquire their new wide receiver.
Translation?
The Giants are just as close as they were on April 19th or April 6th or any day in April to acquiring Braylon Edwards.
It was said on 2004’s draft day that a deal including the Chargers and Giants flip—flopping their first and fourth picks, was dead. Then both sides abruptly swung a deal.
The same thing could easily happen on Saturday. It’s blatantly clear that the Giants like Braylon’s ability to draw coverage and/or convert a big play that could lead to points or a more effective running game.
He would give the Giants an immediate impact that no rookie wide receiver could.
The Giants’ brass knows they are built for now. They are aware that if it weren’t for an idiot receiver, their odds of hoisting the Lombardi for the second straight year were very strong.
They also understand their window remains wide open to attain more championships, and the possibility of that objective being met is contingent upon the wide receiver they may bring in.
Right now, it’s a cat and mouse game. Jerry Reese wants to keep his first round pick while George Kokinis wants to salvage as many resources as he can to trade a second playmaker from their offense (the first being Kellen Winslow Jr.).
Both are holding out that they can get what they want.
However, if these two continue to handle the process shrewdly and do not concede to the other’s whims, then a middle ground may have to be reached. Reese may have to relinquish their first round pick, but Kokinis may be more apt to be content with that and a fifth round selection.
It is very tenuous to speculate on merely rumors and hearsay from those that are simply deemed “unnamed” or “anonymous.” However, the Giants interest in Edwards is undeniable.
If they and the Browns are willing to reach a middle ground of sorts, Edwards will be a Giant by the end of Saturday.
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