Kevin Zeitler

New York Giants: How has the offensive line changed?

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New York Giants, Ereck Flowers

Just two years ago the New York Giants had one of the worst offense of lines in the NFL. Composed of Ereck Flowers at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, John Jerry at right guard, and Bobby Hart at right tackle.

Some may say general manager Dave Gettleman hasn’t done a great job piecing together the new-age Giants team that has won just eight games in the last two seasons. However, last year the team took a major step forward, finally building through the NFL draft and not relying on expensive free agents to supplement the deficiencies on the team.

A short one year later after Gettleman was brought on to overhaul the team, the offensive line now has three potential Pro Bowl Players. Nate solder At left tackle, Will Hernandez at left guard, and Kevin Zeitler at right guard. Eli Manning, veteran passer for the Giants going into his 15th season, will benefit from the overhaul Gettleman induced on the team, especially the offensive line.

Manning recorded record numbers, statistically, with Pat Shurmur in the first year of installing his offensive playbook. With an additional year of experience utilizing Shurmur’s scheme, Manning theoretically should have an improved season in 2019. The offense of line coming together with Zeitler, a top-five guard in the NFL, will allow him to operate at an efficient level.

Additionally, Solder, who played alongside Tom Brady before signing a record deal with the Giants, was forced to adapt to a different style of offense and quarterback with Eli last year. Nate was accustomed to a shorter drop back by Brady, and when he joined the Giants he needed to adjust his technique to Manning, who has a deeper drop back.

At the beginning of the season, he was pushing his assignments into Manning because he was familiar with Brady’s drop back and his ability to step up into the pocket. However, he adapted to the new style of play that was required and finished the season on a high note. After having his ankle cleaned up this off-season with a small surgery, he is 100% healthy and ready to take his game to the next level in 2019.

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At the right tackle position, Mike Remmers was signed to solidify a spot that has been weak in recent years. He has familiarity with Shermer’s offense which gives him a leg up over Chad wheeler who started in 2018. With the improvements to the offensive front, the trenches should be solidified and Manning should have more time in the pocket to operate.

Manning has developed bad habits over the past few years due to the lack of time in the pocket, but we should see some of those stresses alleviate with the additions to the line. This unit will likely be far improved and we should see the efficiency of the offense increase exponentially.

New York Giants: Predicting Which Units Will Be The Most Impactful On Offense

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The New York Giants’ offense has been revamped in the 2019 offseason. The Giants rebuilt their offensive line and moved on from superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

But the Giants have plenty of talent across their offense. Despite a potential quarterback controversy, there is plenty to be excited about on New York’s offense. 

Big Blue should see an instant impact from every position group on offense. But which positions will be the most impactful?

1. Running Back

Saquon Barkley is the best running back in the NFL. “Saquads” proved to be an absolutely dominant force in his rookie season.

2018’s AP Offensive Rookie Of The Year displayed his ability to make plays as a runner and a receiver. Saquon broke a rookie running back record with 91 receptions in 2018. In addition, Barkley lead the NFL in scrimmage yards with 2,028.

Saquon’s production should increase in 2019 as the lone leader of the Giants’ offense. The subtraction of Odell Beckham should lead to even more big plays for Saquon Barkley.

2. Offensive Line

The Giants’ offensive line has undergone an expensive reconstruction the past two years. This should make it one of the team’s most impactful positional groups.

Newly acquired right guard Kevin Zeitler will make an instant impact as he was the NFL’s best pass-blocking guard in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus.

Additionally, year two in the Giants’ offense should lead to a big season from the Giants’ left side duo. Nate Solder and Will Hernandez had a solid but inconsistent 2018 season. Expect to see them gain some more consistency this season.

3. Wide Receiver

Despite losing their best player at this position, the Giants still have one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFL. In response to Beckham’s departure, New York brought in veteran receiver Golden Tate.

Tate is an elite playmaker after the catch. He forced 22 missed tackles in 2017 and 23 missed tackles in 2018. Additionally, over the past ten years, Golden Tate has ranked 4th in the NFL in yards after the catch per reception with an average of 7.9 yards.

Opposite of Golden Tate is Sterling Shepard. Shep has been a solid player for the Giants in his first three seasons. Sterling’s yardage totals have increased every year and that trend should continue in 2019 thanks to a more prominent role with Odell’s absence.

Sterling suffered a fractured thumb during the first practice of training camp. Fortunately, Pat Shurmur does not seem too concerned, and it looks like Shepard will be able to play week one.

Tate and Shepard will make an extra impact in the run game. Both receivers are solid, tough blockers who will help Saquon Barkley break off even more big runs on the outside.

4. Tight End

Evan Engram’s position would be higher on this list if he did not have an injury history. Evan Engram is one of the most versatile and explosive tight ends in the league. Unfortunately, injuries have held Engram back from propelling his way to the top of the league.

When Evan Engram is on the field, he is a true playmaker. Especially when Odell Beckham jr is off the field. In 2018, Evan Engram saw a significant statistical boost once Beckham went down with an injury.

Engram averaged only 36.7 yards per game prior to Beckham’s injury. After Odell went down, Evan’s average jumped all the way to 80 yards per game. A full sixteen game season without Odell should serve Evan well.

5. Quarterback

The final position on this list is one shrouded in controversy. Eli Manning is back for his sixteenth season in the NFL, despite a regression in play the last few years. 

The Giants’ offense has shifted towards a run-first attack, which will take a lot of pressure and impact off of the quarterback’s shoulders. Eli Manning should show improvement this season with an upgraded offensive line, but he is at the end of the back nine and it is unclear just how much Manning still has left in the tank.

Eli posted a career-high completion percentage in 2018 with 66%. But the rest of his statistics were not highly impactful. Manning threw for a respectable 4,299 yards, but only 21 touchdown passes. The Giants will need Eli to score a higher volume of touchdowns in order to be a competitive team in 2019.

The Giants’ offense gives fans a lot to be excited about in 2019. If the team can stay healthy and play up to their full potential, the Giants’ offense could surprise a lot of people.

New York Giants: 3 keys to a successful season in 2019

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New York Giants, DeAndre Baker

The New York Giants are headed into the 2019 season with plenty of question marks remaining, especially with the influx of youth from what seems to be a solid NFL Draft.

Building out the secondary with DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine will prove to be extremely beneficial after only having B.W. Webb behind Janoris Jenkins last season. Baker is the assumed starter opposite Jenkins, but expect to see the coaching staff push Sam Beal to create more competition between the rookies (Beal is essentially considered a rookie).

Aside from the secondary, multiple units are in need of assistance while others have been allocated resources.

Here are the 3 keys to a successful season for the New York Giants:

1.) The offensive line

First and foremost is the offensive front, a group that general manager Dave Gettleman bolstered the past two offseasons. In 2018, the left side of the line built chemistry to excel in the season ahead. Nate Solder and Will Hernandez were both featured on a new team with different schemes, and the year they spent together will prove to be influential.

Gettleman recently traded for star right guard Kevin Zeitler, the league’s No. 1 pass protector in 2018. He will be a force on the line where Patrick Omameh and Jamon Brown once stood.

Considering how much better Brown made the team, Zeitler is going to be an excellent addition. Mike Remmers at right tackle should also provide a boost over Chad Wheeler. It ultimately comes down to Eli Manning and his efficiency in the pocket. Giving him ample time to operate will likely see his production increase.

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2.) The secondary

With a plethora of youth in the defensive backfield, it’s unproven whether or not they will perform at a high level in their rookie seasons. Baker has looked fantastic this offseason so far, but playing on an NFL field is far different. Training camp should give us a good idea as to where the youngsters are with their development and if they succeed in the secondary.

It will be interesting to see how Julian Love competes with second-year man Grant Haley at the slot corner position — Love is a talented corner with solid speed and coverage skills. While Haley has a year of experience under his belt, he was undrafted and lacks in certain areas. Love could steal the job right out from under him.

Jenkins will play a role as a mentor this season, hopefully playing at a high enough level to give the offense some support.

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3.) The defensive line

One thing the Giants have been lacking in recent years is an effective pass rush. Trading Olivier Vernon certainly didn’t help that situation, but his constant injuries were a deterrent at this point in the rebuild.

The Giants also managed to secure Zeitler in the trade that sent Vernon to Cleveland. Bringing in free agent Markus Golden, a player who hasn’t had a successful season in three years, and a rookie in Oshane Ximines can’t be the cure to a defense lacking a true pass-rush, but Gettleman simply didn’t have enough resources to allocate.

I anticipate the position will see more growth next free agency period and draft. However, the Giants are relying on Ximines and Golden to make an impact this season as they are lacking proven talent at the position. Drafting Dexter Lawrence, though, should provide a boost given his pass-rushing skills live up to the expectations provided for him.

A lack of a pass-rush not only affects the efficiency of the defense as a whole, but it also puts the offense at a disadvantage — lower turnover numbers, less time of possession on offense, less pressure on opposing quarterbacks…the list goes on.

The New York Giants’ Offensive Line Should Be One Of The NFL’s Most Improved Units In 2019

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The New York Giants have dealt with continuous problems along their offensive line. These problems, unfortunately, have lasted years. The Giants’ offensive line made a couple of upgrades in 2018.

New York signed left tackle Nate Solder to a record-breaking contract. The Giants followed that move by drafting a promising offensive guard prospect, Will Hernandez, in the 2nd-round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

These acquisitions were strong steps in the right direction. Unfortunately, the offensive line was still far from completion in 2018. In 2019, however, things have changed.

The Giants completed their offensive line rebuild in the 2019 NFL offseason. A couple of key acquisitions will help make the Giants’ offensive line one of the most improved units in the NFL in 2019 due to improvements in pass-blocking.

Improved Pass Protection

The New York Giants’ offensive line put Eli Manning through the wringer in 2018. Manning was sacked a career-high 47 times last season. Fortunately for Mr. Manning, Dave Gettleman made a trade that will bring that sack total down significantly in 2019.

The Giants traded for Kevin Zeitler this offseason, a guard who will greatly improve the team’s pass-blocking. Kevin Zeitler allowed only 11 total pressures in the entire 2018 NFL season. That is an incredibly impressive number. To put it in perspective,  Patrick Omameh and Jamon Brown combined to allow 39 pressures in only 14 games last year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Zeitler allowed just three sacks, one hit and seven hurries from 642 pass-blocking snaps in 2018, and his 91.7 pass-blocking grade not only led the league’s guards last season, but it was also tied for the ninth-best single-season grade ever recorded by an offensive guard.

Kevin Zeitler and Will Hernandez will form one of the best guard duos in the NFL next season. Zeitler is an established pass-blocking extraordinaire, but Hernandez is also an underrated guard who flashed tons of potential in his 2018 rookie season.

Will Hernandez allowed just 29 pressures from 664 pass-blocking snaps on the year. On top of that, Will Hernandez committed all of two penalties on 1,027  offensive snaps last year, which is especially impressive for a rookie (PFF).

An underrated player along Big Blue’s offensive line is Jon Halapio. PFF had this to say about Halapio: he began last year as the Giants’ starter before going down with an injury, but in his 116 snaps, he didn’t allow a single pressure, despite playing almost 50 pass-blocking snaps against the Jaguars and their array of pass-rushing weapons in Week 1.

If Jon Halapio can come back healthy in 2019, he could help bring great improvement to New York’s pass-blocking. Gettleman’s rebuild of the offensive line has been a quick and impressive one.

Solder and Hernandez entering their second season with New York will lead to even better results on the left side of the line. Kevin Zeitler’s excellent pass-blocking will lead to overall improved pass protection. The Giants’ improved pass protection will make their offensive line one of the most improved units in the NFL in 2019.

New York Giants: Why Eli Manning Will Surprise In 2019

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New York Giants, Eli Manning

The New York Giants‘ offense has struggled over the past few seasons. Many critics have pointed criticism towards veteran quarterback Eli Manning. He has had his highs and lows recently, but there are reasons to believe he will be better in 2019.

The Giants’ offense improved in the second half of the 2018 season, but there is still room for improvement. The improvement needs to come from Eli Manning. Here is why it will:

The Giants’ Improved Offensive Line

New York made it a major point of emphasis over the last two seasons to improve the offensive line. The Giants finally moved on from the failed Ereck Flowers experiment. Gettleman and co. then made key acquisitions in the 2019 offseason, such as Kevin Zeitler and Mike Remmers.

This will all benefit Eli Manning greatly. Kevin Zeitler was the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL in 2018. Kevin Zeitler allowed only 11 total pressures in the entire 2018 NFL season. That is an incredibly impressive number. To put it in perspective,  Patrick Omameh and Jamon Brown combined to allow 39 pressures in only 14 games last year.

Eli Manning was sacked a career-high 47 times in 2018. At 38 years old, Manning is not an athletic quarterback who can escape pressure by getting out of the pocket. The 16-year veteran needs extra time in the pocket to operate, and it looks like he is finally getting it.

Eli Manning’s Improved Play During The Second Half Of The 2018 Season

Eli Manning only scored 8 touchdowns during the first 8 weeks of the 2018 NFL season. The second 8 weeks of the season, Manning improved to 14 touchdowns, making his 2018 total 22 touchdowns.

Despite being under constant pressure in 2018, Manning was still highly accurate. 75.8% of Manning’s passes were catchable in 2018, ranking 5th in the NFL. He also had an adjusted completion rate of 74.9%.

Eli was also especially efficient on third down, according to Pro Football Focus. His adjusted completion percentage on third down was 76.2%, ranked 4th in the NFL.

Eli proved he is still capable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL during the 2018 season. The Giants’ improved offensive line and new receiving weapons will help Eli Manning rebound in 2019.

New York Giants News, 7/2 – The offensive line finally has a leader

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New York Giants, Kevin Zeitler

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

Being plagued with inadequacy at one of the more important units on any given NFL team is certainly one way to guarantee failure. The Giants and former GM Jerry Reese were keen on giving veteran quarterback Eli Manning little to no time in the pocket, and they seemed content with that fact as long as Odell Beckham Jr. was happy and producing or Reese’s pride wasn’t taking a beating.

Fast forward several years and GM Dave Gettleman has made the appropriate moves to compensate for years of lackluster drafting and offensive line allocations. Bringing in Nat Solder and Will Hernandez last year was just the beginning of a team-wide overhaul.

So far in 2019, he’s managed to secure Kevin Zeitler and Mike Remmers, but the former gives us optimism. Already making an influence as a leader on the team is Zeitler, teaching the young Hernandez and becoming the mentor he needs to excel at the NFL level.

Having Solder to learn from in his rookie year was beneficial, but having a player at a similar position, the top pass-protector in the NFL at that certainly will help him develop even further in the season ahead. Zeitler will be much more than just a force at right guard, he will help elevate the play of every player on the line, something the Giants have been missing from quite some time.

Nonetheless–

Your Giants top news of the day!

Dan Schneier (247 Sports) – Eli Manning envisions a better New York Giants offense in 2019

John Schmeelk, Dan Salomone, Lance Medow (Giants.com) – Cover 3: Which road trip should Giants fans make this season?

John Fennelly (GMEN HQ) – Kevin Zeitler has become a mentor on the Giants’ offensive line

John Schmeelk (Giants.com) – Rookie CB Baker adds physicality to secondary

Pat Leonard (NY Daily News) – Lorenzo Carter will inherit Olivier Vernon’s former workload

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New York Giants: Will Hernandez can quickly become star on offensive line

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New York Giants, Will Hernandez, Nate Solder

The New York Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman have put an emphasis on rebuilding the offensive line as foundational support for veteran quarterback Eli Manning and his eventual successor Daniel Jones.

Ensuring the two passers have ample protection in a league suffering an offensive lineman draught will give them an advantage. Signing left tackle Nate Solder to a four-year, $62 million deal might have been excessive at the time, but considering Ereck Flowers is still a starting player in the NFL, you can imagine how much value Solder really brings.

However, the one lineman I’m most excited about is left guard, Will Hernandez. The former UTEP standout made a name for himself during the second half of 2018. Manning was sacked 47 times last season but only went down 16 times after the midway point.

That’s a clear indication of improvement and efficiency. If the line can lower the total number to 32 next season they will be in a very good spot — better than most.

The New York Giants are expecting big things from their young guard:

Being a rookie from a small school certainly has its obstacles, but Herandez is finally in a place of comfort.

“It definitely doesn’t even feel like the same time of year that I had last year,” Hernandez said via Giants.com. “It feels like a completely different time of year to me. I feel like I’m a lot more comfortable here and I feel like I can breathe. I’m not struggling to learn the whole playbook, cram everything down, learn everything, make sure I don’t mess up. I’m actually able to enjoy it, but at the same time, work hard and get to know these guys even better.”

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Bringing in Kevin Zeitler from the Browns might be the most underrated move of the offseason for Gettleman, and he’s been nothing but fantastic for the younger players like Hernandez trying to elevate their game.

“He’s been phenomenal, not only as a player but as a teacher, too,” Hernandez said. “He’s taught a lot of young guys, including myself, a lot of technique. He was one of the top pass protectors in the league last year, so he definitely has a lot to offer and he’s passing it on to the young guys, myself also, and we’re really glad to have him.”

Ranked as the top pass-protector in the NFL last season and top 6 guard in the league, Zeitler is certainly a quality mentor, and anything Hernandez can learn from the hog mollie should be well received. Moving towards the 2019 season, the general consensus is that Hernandez will take a major leap forward and emerge as a rock on the line.

Daniel Jones should be very excited.

New York Giants: Every Position On Offense Ranked From Best To Worst

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The New York Giants‘ offense had a rocky 2018 season. They struggled to score points outside of garbage time in the first half of the season. Fortunately, the offense came alive during the second half of the season, giving New York some hope and momentum for the future.

Today I will be taking a look at every position on the Giants’ offense and ranking them from best to worst. The best positions are those that need no upgrades or minimal upgrades. The worst positions are those that need imminent upgrades.

1. Running Back

The New York Giants’ backfield is undoubtedly the best position group on the roster. The Giants’ backfield features the 2018 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Saquon Barkley. Barkley is arguably the best running back in the NFL after only one season.

Saquon broke numerous records as a rookie as he totaled 2,028 scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns. Barkley is an elite player for the Giants and is set to have a monstrous 2019 season.

However, the Giants have solid depth behind Saquon Barkley, too. Wayne Gallman proved himself to be a solid running back that could be capable of starting if the Giants did not have Saquon.

Gallman flashed his potential in 2017. He ran the ball 111 times, gaining 476 yards on the ground with 4.3 yards per carry. Gallman also provided quality snaps as a receiver in 2017. He caught 34 passes on 48 targets for 193 yards, 5.7 yards per reception, and 1 touchdown.

2. Right Guard

The Giants offensive line has gone through a major overhaul over the last two seasons. In the 2019 offseason, New York made a huge upgrade at the right guard position.

The Giants acquired right guard Kevin Zeitler in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Zeitler should step in and be the Giants’ best offensive lineman from day one.

Kevin Zeitler is arguably the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL. Kevin Zeitler allowed only 11 total pressures in the entire 2018 NFL season. That is an incredibly impressive number. To put it in perspective,  Patrick Omameh and Jamon Brown combined to allow 39 pressures in only 14 games last year.

3. Left Guard

The Giants struck gold in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. After drafting Saquon Barkley with the 2nd overall pick of the draft, Dave Gettleman drafted another stud in round 2.

Will Hernandez was projected to be a 1st-round pick in mock drafts leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft. Luckily for Big Blue, Big Will slid into the 2nd-round and fell right into the New York’s lap.

Hernandez was impressive during his rookie season. Hernandez allowed just 23 total pressures this season, earning him a 97.3 pass-blocking efficiency grade, third-best among rookie offensive linemen. An impressive stat that PFF notes is that Hernandez only committed two penalties on 1,027 snaps. That is incredibly clean and efficient play from the young “Hog Molly.”

4. Wide Receiver

The Giants’ wide receiver position suffered a huge loss in the 2019 offseason. New York traded away arguably the team’s best player in Odell Beckham Jr.

However, this position is still one of the team’s best on offense. The Giants signed young, up-and-coming slot receiver Sterling Shepard to a contract extension. Shepard has seen his yardage totals increase each of his three seasons in the league and is prepared to break out in 2019.

Alongside Shep is another proven talent in Golden Tate. The Giants signed Tate this offseason after trading away Odell. Tate has had three seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl in 2014 with the Detroit Lions. Since 2014, Golden Tate has lead the league in forced missed tackles with an insane 118 missed tackles forced.

5. Left Tackle

Left tackle might be the Giants’ most underrated position on offense. Nate Solder gets plenty of criticism, but not all of it is deserved. Solder struggled early on in the 2018 season but delivered during the second half of the season.

Nate Solder allowed six sacks and 20 total pressures through the first eight games. However, he rebounded in a big way over the second half of the year, allowing only one sack and 13 total pressures.

6. Tight End

2019 might be the year that Evan Engram finally breaks out and reaches his full potential. Evan has flashed his potential throughout his first two seasons but he has hit roadblocks along the way.

In his rookie 2017 campaign, Engram was a poor blocker and had a slight case of the drops. He was still a spectacular playmaker, totaling 722 yards and 6 touchdowns. Unfortunately, during his second season in 2018, Evan Engram suffered from injury causing him to miss 5 games.

When Engram was on the field he played great. When he was on the field and Odell Beckham was off the field, Evan played exceptionally well. Engram averaged only 36.7 yards per game prior to Beckham’s injury. After Odell went down, Evan’s average jumped all the way to 80 yards per game.

8. Quarterback

Eli Manning is a franchise legend. The 16-year veteran has won two incredible Super Bowls with the Giants and is top-ten all-time in just about every major quarterback statistic, such as passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Eli Manning’s time in New York will come to an end sooner than later now that they have drafted their next franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones.

Manning has been declining the past two seasons, which is why his position is so low on this list. According to Pro Football Focus, Manning has failed to grade above 70.0 in each of the last four seasons, and his 94 turnover-worthy plays over the previous four years are eight more than the next closest quarterback in that span.

Daniel Jones is a completely unproven rookie that has faced lots of controversies whether or not he was deserving of the 6th overall pick so he cannot push the quarterback position higher on this list.

I hope as much as anyone that Eli Manning proves us all wrong and rebounds in 2019. I hope as much as anyone that Daniel Jones shocks the world and becomes one of the greatest players in franchise history. But until we see them play at a high level, the quarterback position will be one of the worst on the offense.

9. Center

The center position is definitely one of the Giants’ weakest. The Giants have two players who will compete for the starting job in Spencer Pulley and Jon Halapio. Both players are capable of being starters, but they are not extraordinary.

Jon Halapio was injured in week 2 of the 2018 season. He was

Spencer Pulley was one of the lowest graded players on the Giants in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus.  Pulley played in 13 games for the Giants last year and started 9 of those games. Spencer Pulley certainly is one thing: durable. But he is not an elite talent and the Giants should not hope to see him starting in 2018.

10. Right Tackle

The Giants basically put a band-aid on a broken bone here in the 2019 offseason. Right tackle was the worst position on the Giants’ offense in 2018 and it still is in 2019.

The Giants began the season with all-time draft bust Ereck Flowers starting at right tackle. After 5 games the Giants wised up and cut Flowers. Chad Wheeler then took over the starting position and stayed there for the remainder of the season.

Unfortunately, Chad Wheeler was not too much of an upgrade. According to Pro Football Focus Chad Wheeler was the second-lowest-graded starting offensive tackle in the NFL last season. Wheeler also allowed an insane 45 total pressures in the 2018 season.

The Giants knew they needed to upgrade the right tackle position in the 2019 offseason, but it was slim pickings. Towards the end of free agency, the Giants finally found their guy. Former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Mike Remmers signed with the Giants.

Remmers is an upgrade, but he still is not on the level the Giants need their right tackle to be. Remmers allowed 42 total pressures in 2018 and is coming off of back surgery. Mike Remmers was playing out of position at guard in 2018, so he should be a bit better at right tackle in 2019. However, the Giants should still be looking to upgrade this position again soon.

New York Giants News, 6/23 – Kevin Zeitler leads the way in rebuild

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New York Giants, Kevin Zeitler

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

When Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman elected to trade oft-injured pass-rusher Olivier Vernon, the initial shock was confusing. After seeing the return on the trade, I began to understand the premise behind the deal.

Gettleman traded away a player that was impacted when on the field, but the issue was just that. He spent enough time on the sidelines to justify a trade, allowing the Giants to upgrade the offensive line, specifically the right guard spot with Zeitler.

Vernon has missed 10 games in the last two seasons. Last year, he managed seven sacks, but Gettleman traded his defensive production for the No. 1 pass-blocking guard in the NFL.

The bottom line, the Giants now have an offensive line capable of protecting Eli Manning and opening up running lanes for Saquon Barkley. In addition to Zeitler, Mike Remmers was also brought in to replace Chad Wheeler at right tackle. It will be interesting to see how Manning operates with more time — if his efficiency increases and overall production sees a spike.

He’s been prone to consistent pressure over the past few years forcing him to check down to his running back, but giving him more time to work through his progressions should present the offense with more opportunity.

Your Giants top news of the day!

Jordan Raanan (ESPN) – Selfless neighbor provides liver, hope from mom of New York Giants’ Grant Haley

Serena Burks (Giants Wire) – C.J. Conrad’s comeback story is one worth cheering

Dan Schneier (247sports) – Giants depth chart: Position by position breakdown (offense)

Ed Valentine (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: Kareem Martin could see diminished role in 2019

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants most underrated offseason acquisition

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Check out the best news from yesterday!

New York Giants News, 6/22 – Odell Beckham Jr. just can’t let go

 

New York Giants most underrated offseason acquisition

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New York Giants, Kevin Zeitler

Often times skill-position players grab the headlines and attention from the media while other positions go under the radar. For the New York Giants, most will identify the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon but hit on the acquisition of Golden Tate and Oshane Ximines/Markus Golden.

However, the most influential add of the offseason was undoubtedly right guard, Kevin Zeitler. Brought over in the Cleveland Browns trade that sent Vernon packing, Zeitler will be impactful in all facets of the offense.

The New York Giants brought in the perfect player at right tackle:

A top 6 guard in 2018, according to PFF, the “hog molly” brings exactly what GM Dave Gettleman intended to the Giants. His physicality and ability to move defensive lineman at the line of scrimmage will not only benefit Eli Manning in pass-protection, but it will open up the gates of heaven for Saquon Barkley.

Barkley, who racked up over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his rookie campaign behind a lackluster offensive line, will reap the benefits of a rebuilt offensive front, especially on the right side with Zieler and Mike Remmers.

Coined the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL last year, Manning now has a quality of protection he hasn’t enjoyed in years. The days of Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart are over and a new era has just begun.

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In addition to the former Brown, the Giants added Nate Solder at left tackle and Will Hernandez at left guard, two players capable of a Pro Bowl quality seasons. The biggest factor on the line, though, is health. They have to maintain their bodies to ensure they can compete at a high level for the entire season, giving Manning the ability to work with his entire offense and not plug-and-play lineman.

I anticipate Zeitler will have a very apparent influence on the season ahead, considering the impact of Jamon Brown in 2018. Considering Brown ranked as the 62nd overall guard (PFF), we can only imagine the benefits Zeitler will bring to the team.