The Giants’ offensive line went seven straight games with a different starting left guard from Weeks 3 through 8 last season. They started 10 separate line combinations in 17 games, including nine unique groups in their first 10.
Stability was missing from Brian Daboll’s offensive interior in 2023 due to a combination of poor personnel decisions, aggressive training camp rotations, unsatisfactory performance and injuries.
So while new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo values versatility, it has been a welcome sight to see veteran free agent signings Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan Jr. lined up at left and right guard, respectively, bookending center John Michael Schmitz at every open Giants OTA practice so far.
“The coaches, coach Carm, Daboll, they’ll make the decision who will start and who’s going to be in that [guard] position. At an early stage, you like to solidify who’s there,” Schmitz, the second-year center, said after practice recently. “There’s always going to be competition, though. But at the end of the day, you need more reps together just so you know how to play with one another.”
The advantage of building early chemistry is obvious, but it’s critical this year specifically because GM Joe Schoen, Daboll and the Giants do not have the luxury of a regular season runway to test out their best starting five.
They can’t pull a 2021 Dave Gettleman, trading for guard Ben Bredeson and center Billy Price at the end of camp to metaphorically put a Band-Aid on a broken leg.
They can’t repeat Schoen’s and Daboll’s 2023 mistakes of rotating guards every snap at camp, relying on unprepared young draft picks to plug holes and playing Josh Ezeudu out of position.
A Week 6 reinforcement like Justin Pugh’s “straight off the couch” arrival will be too late to bail out the season if it’s needed again in that kind of desperate pinch.
So it was refreshing to hear Bricillo indicate last week that he understands the urgency of locking down an unquestioned top unit, once he exposes his linemen to some cross-training.
“I dont fret this time of year,” Bricillo said in his first meeting with the New York media. “I jumble the starting groups, the vet group. Guys are gonna play on either side, and we’re gonna challenge them in that regard, because it’s the nature of the position. They’re gonna have to develop some continuity with everyone.
“But I’d say for me,” Bricillo added, “as we get later into training camp, if we’re not really set, you might see me a little worried. But ’til then, I’m not fretting at all.”
There will be backup plans to the primary plan, of course. There have to be.
But even Bricillo’s confirmation that the Giants are “going to concentrate on right tackle and go from there” with Evan Neal reinforced their intentions to give a defined starting five a chance to mold before pivoting to Plan B.
Neal, Schoen’s former first-round pick, has continued to rehab his surgically repaired left ankle and hasn’t participated in 11-on-11 drills yet during open practices. But there is a clear vacancy waiting for him opposite left tackle Andrew Thomas when he’s ready.
Eluemunor, a trusted former Bricillo Raiders and Patriots pupil, provides insurance and the ability to kick outside to right tackle if Neal ultimately fails to lock that side down.
“Offensive line’s a developmental position to begin with,” Bricillo said when asked about Neal. “So your maturation between year one and year two [with] JMS, year two to year three, we should see that development. There’s myriad things we’re trying to work on as a group.
“Then as individuals look and say hey, maybe change how we set with our hands, maybe be a little more square,” he added. “I was talking to [Thomas] about doing some different things. Individual[ly] there will be some stuff within the framework of perhaps how we’re changing a technique or scheme-related. We’re always looking. [Daboll] had us analyzing this or trying to do that. But you look at some individual techniques and try to change it.”
Daboll’s involvement as head coach and expected play-caller in the line’s evolution is noteworthy. He appears to have a lot invested in making the starting five work, especially. Because the Giants line’s depth profiles at the moment as a Giant question mark.
Ezeudu surprisingly continues to work at tackle. Free agent tackle signing Matt Nelson has been on the side. Veteran guard Aaron Stinnie could be a valuable interior addition. The next man up after him, it appears, would be undrafted North Dakota State rookie Jake Kubas.
Assistant GM Brandon Brown’s answer wasn’t exactly satisfactory, either, when he was asked why the Giants didn’t use a draft pick on the O-line this April.
It appeared to reflect a heavy reliance on the two veteran guards and deflect a full analysis of the offensive line room’s needs.
“When you talk about forecasting and projecting, we do that across the board, whether it’s in February going into free agency, going into the draft, you know what the landscape looks like,” Brown said. “We knew there were going to be opportunities in free agency to bolster the O-line. You look at adding Runyan and [Jermaine] Eluemunor, guys that have been healthy, available. There’s some familiarity there, obviously Carm Bricillo being here, coming over from Vegas, having time with Jermaine.
“Where we were in the draft, the positions we took, we felt great about those guys being contributors for us this year,” Brown continued. “Knowing we addressed certain things via the draft, the way things lined up just from resource allocation, we’re really excited with what we came away with.”
The Giants aren’t just coming off a rough season for their line, though. They ranked dead last in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking metrics, and finished 30th out of 32 lines in run blocking.
Daboll’s offense gave up 85 sacks, the second most all-time by any NFL team, a number ballooned by undrafted quarterback Tommy DeVito’s presence for a late-season stretch.
This year’s plan has to work, and it has to work from day one against the Minnesota Vikings. So it’s good to see consistency early: for Schmitz, the line, quarterbacks, offense and team.
PRACTICE NUGGETS
Schmitz, 25, said his points of emphasis this offseason were his footwork, maintaining blocks at the second level and taking “control of the leadership role.” He’s only a second-year pro, but he was a second-round pick and a six-year college player, so the Giants need more out of him …
New running backs coach Joel Thomas told the News he has been showing his players highlights of former Saints and Cardinals RB Tim Hightower because of how well he timed his runs on outside zone carries. He cited that as just one example of how he’s trying to impart concepts to his players. Thomas said he is being patient while evaluating and teaching his players, though, to let them demonstrate their talents in all facets. He acknowledged his experience coaching Saints stud running back Alvin Kamara could benefit a dual-threat back like rookie draft pick Tyrone Tracy, as well …
Brown, the Giants’ assistant GM, mentioned how complicated Daboll’s offense is twice during his press conference. He said QB Drew Lock was getting adjusted to the scheme, adding “obviously our offense is not simple.” And he praised Nabers for a “seamless” adjustment to playing various positions even though “our offense is not easy to grasp.” …
New tight ends coach Tim Kelly said of fourth-round pick Theo Johnson: “Even the rookie’s kind of acting like a pro.” …
Brown gave a good breakdown of why the Giants signed former CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke, who hit undrafted rookie WR Ayir Asante for a TD pass with the third-stringers during a strong Rourke practice last Thursday: “The CFL experience obviously speaks for itself,” Brown said. “I think for a guy, tracking him in Jacksonville last year and knowing that he can operate a team on a 90-man roster, whether it’s as a backup, third string, fourth string, whatever he’s called to do in the preseason, he had experience doing it. I just think his book of business speaks for itself. Hard worker. First day he was here, he’s running extra gassers and sprints by himself. [I was] watching him through the office door. So I’m happy Nathan’s here.”
