Will Hernandez

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Not The Only Young Leader On Offense

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The New York Giants have been surrounded by controversy in the media recently. A lot of the controversy stems from the Giants’ quarterback position. Eli Manning is 38 years old, meaning the Giants need to find their next franchise quarterback sooner than later.

However, Eli’s age is not the only reason that fans and analysts want to see the Giants find a new quarterback. Many have been placing the blame of last season’s 5-11 finish on Eli Manning. Many members of the New York Giants have been coming out and defending their quarterback, like head coach Pat Shurmur and superstar running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley spoke out and defended Eli Manning and was instantly praised as a leader. Being Barkley is heading into his second NFL season, it is great to see him be such a vocal leader this early in his career. However, Saquon Barkley is not the only young leader on the New York Giants’ offense.

Will Hernandez Is Proving To Be A Leader

Saquon Barkley was the Giants’ 1st round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Their 2nd round selection was the powerful left guard Will Hernandez out of Texas El-Paso.

Will Hernandez was a tremendous acquisition for the Giants. Hernandez was arguably the best player on the Giants’ offensive line in his rookie season. In 2018, Hernandez finished with the 2nd highest rookie grade at his position according to Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 65.8.

After Saquon Barkley’s public defense for his quarterback, Will Hernandez decided to do the same via Instagram:

It is clear that the Giants have not given up on Eli Manning just yet, even if the media has. Not the team brass, the coaches, or the players. Eli Manning still has respect from his team and has their full support. It is good to see the young Giants players show respect to a Giants legend like Manning.

Showing public support for a heavily scrutinized teammate is step one to becoming a team leader. Will Hernandez and Saquon Barkley will probably both wear captain’s patches one day. The lasting impact from these players as performers and captains will be a true testament to how good Dave Gettleman’s 2018 NFL Draft truly was.

New York Giants: Why New Guard Kevin Zeitler Is A Tremendous Acquisition

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New York Giants, Kevin Zeitler

As New York Giants fans know, general manager Dave Gettleman loves his “hog mollies.” On Friday, the Giants made a major trade. The Giants traded edge rusher Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for one of the NFL’s top offensive guards.

That hog molly was right guard Kevin Zeitler. The Browns were reportedly shopping Zeitler earlier in the week and even tried to send him to the Giants in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr. However, the Giants laughed at that offer and completed a much better trade on Friday.

What Makes Zeitler Such A Huge Upgrade?

Kevin Zeitler has been impressively durable and consistent. These are two traits the Giants have not seen from their most recent offensive guards for a few years now. Zeitler has started 72 straight games and has not missed a snap since week 13 of the 2015 NFL season.

On top of all this, Zeitler is arguably the best pass-blocking guard in the entire NFL. He finished with the league’s highest pass blocking grade (91.7) out of any guard in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus.

To compare Zeitler’s efficient play to that of the Giants’ 2018 offensive line: Zeitler let up 11 pressures all season while Jamon Brown and Patrick Omameh let up a combined 39. That is 28 plays that the Giants missed out on as Eli Manning was milliseconds from being smothered by a gargantuan defensive lineman.

Things should change now with Kevin Zeitler in the mix. His efficient pass-blocking will give Eli Manning more time to read the field.

Eli will not be the only one benefiting from this trade. Running back Saquon Barkley will benefit from playing behind Kevin Zeitler, too. While pass-blocking is his specialty, Zeitler is not a poor run-blocker.

Overall, Zeitler is an improvement on the Giants’ offensive line in every way possible. He is more durable than any other right guard and much more efficient in pass protection.

Rising star Will Hernandez will be looking to make progress in his second season. Expect the Giants to have one of the NFL’s best guard duos in 2019 with Will Hernandez and Kevin Zeitler.

Check out this highlight of Kevin Zeitler below:

New York Giants Rookie Proving To Be A Promising Building Block For The Future

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With the 34th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected guard Will Hernandez out of Texas-El Paso. Hernandez was projected to be a first round selection. Some analysts even had him going in the top 20. The Giants were extremely lucky to get Hernandez in the second round, and he has been proving this season that he is a first round caliber player.

Blocking With Power

In the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Hernandez recorded the highest bench press reps out of all offensive lineman with 37. Hernandez is a strong, powerful guard, and that has shown up this season. Eight weeks into the NFL season, Pro Football Focus released their Mid-Season All-Pro Team. Will Hernandez was featured as an honorable mention at the guard position because of his exceptional run blocking. Hernandez had one of the top run-block grades among all guards through the first eight weeks.

Efficient Pass Protection

In the second half of the season, Hernandez has proved that he is more than just a run blocker. He has been an efficient pass blocker, too. The rookie has allowed just 23 total pressures this season, earning him a 97.3 pass-blocking efficiency grade, third-best among rookie offensive linemen.

The Giants offensive line has struggled this season, but Will Hernandez has been a bright spot in the unit. Throughout this tumultuous season, Hernandez has consistently been an effective and balanced offensive guard for the Giants. Will Hernandez has proven that he will be a key piece for the Giants offensive line of the future.

New York Giants’ Offensive Lineman Proving To Be An Absolute Steal

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Now, there are several New York Giants offensive lineman that we could coin as absolute steals, but the specific one we are going to dive into is second-round pick Will Hernandez.

The former UTEP standout lineman has had a stellar rookie campaign with the Giants, earning high grades throughout the season and improving with every passing game.

Where does Will Hernandez rank among the rookie offensive lineman?

According to Pro Football Focus, Hernandez is the fifth-best rookie offensive lineman this season, which is impressive considering the lack of continuity on the Giants and their current record. He was put in a position to fail, and he’s worked hard to become one of the better guards on the team and even in the NFC East.

The players in front of him are first-round picks Mike McGlinchey (49ers) and Quenton Nelson (Colts), followed by Braden Smith (Colts) and Ravens guard Orlando Brown Jr.

Brown was actually one of the players that slipped in the draft after concerns of his strength came into play after a dismal combine performance. Hernandez seemed to be a sure-thing early in the second, as he slipped just out of the first-round. Thus far, the bullish guard has proven a point – adversity is only a hurdle and clearing it was just a matter of time.

Hernandez and his family endured trying times before he eventually turned pro. They lived in a shack in his uncle’s backyard for some time – a place where Hernandez couldn’t even stand completely upright at 6-foot-3.

“I think I’m improving every single week. I just keep learning and learning from all of these vets, and I think every week I’m just a little bit better. I feel like it’s been a steady progress,” Hernandez said after practice Friday. “I feel like the biggest adjustment, especially at the beginning of the season, was just the speed of the game. A lot of little techniques and moves were kind of the same as in college, but everything was a lot faster, especially how fast you have to think about things in your head.”

Hernandez and $62 million left tackle Nate Solder have solidified their chemistry gradually over the course of the season. The first few weeks saw Solder struggle, but now he’s playing at an elite level – one that the Giants are paying him to reach. His chemistry with Hernandez is essential to the protection of Eli Manning and the continuity of the line.

How has the New York Giants’ offense been performing as of late?

Hernandez has been at the forefront, quietly, of a monster offensive resurgence. In the past four games, the Giants’ offense has averaged 130.5 rushing yards and 29 points. Manning has been sacked 10 points during that time frame, which isn’t ideal, but the run game has picked up speed. It’s also fair to mention Manning’s lack of mobility which often contributes to his sack totals. The scary part is that 10 sacks over the most recent four-game span is actually an improvement.

Moving forward, I would expect Hernandez to continue developing and growing as a legitimate starter in the NFL. The experience from this season has been significant and should propel him to an even better one next year.

New York Giants’ Will Hernandez Tops Guard Rankings

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Going into week 5 with a 1-3 record surely wasn’t how the New York Giants expected their season to start off, but there has been several silver linings.

It seems as if nearly every draft pick from 2018 has paid off dividends – Saquon Barkley has been an absolute stud, defensive lineman B.J. Hill has been the Giants’ best pass-rusher, quarterback Kyle Lauletta has shown poise in limited action, but the most impressive has been offensive lineman Will Hernandez.

The UTEP product has steadily improved every week thus far in the season, earning the best grades out of any guard with at least 25 snaps in week 4.

There are 32 teams that have 64 starting guards in the NFL…Hernandez was ranked the top one in just four games (for the week). Despite the Giants’ struggles on the field, the new regime surely started off with a bang in their very first draft.

“Giants rookie guard Will Hernandez had himself another strong game yesterday despite the loss,” Ruggiero of PFF wrote. “Hernandez finished with a 79.2 overall grade which was the highest on the Giants offense and the highest overall among guards with a minimum of 25 snaps in week 4. On top of this, Hernandez finished with the 2nd best pass blocking grade among guards in week 4 with a 88.8. On top of this, he finished with a 100% pass blocking efficiency which was tied for 1st along with allowing 0 QB pressures in 45 pass blocking snaps.”

New York Giants OL Will Hernandez Earns Fantastic Grades

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With the New York Giants featuring Justin Pugh as their left guard in 2017, things seemed to be solidified at the position for the most part. Going into a rebuilding year with a new front office, the narrative shifted after Pugh was allowed to sign with the Arizona Cardinals last offseason.

General manager Dave Gettleman elected to address the offensive line with his own breed…hog mollies. Former UTEP standout, Will Hernandez, was taken in the second-round of the draft, and through three weeks, the rookie guard is the highest graded offensive lineman.

A look at how well Giants’ Will Hernandez has performed:

According to PFF, Hernandez is ranked above supposed franchise quality guard Quenton Nelson, and his partner at Notre Dame, Mike McGlinchey.

Head coach Pat Shurmur commented on the influence of the rookie so far:

“Will is going to give us strength in the middle, he’s good in the run game, as well as the pass game,” Shurmur said. “I think it’s very important to anchor the inside of the pocket and the passing game, which he can certainly do. He can do all the things that you need to see from a guard and he’s been very productive.”

Hernandez entered the league with very high marks, especially in regard to his strength and ability to anchor his assignment in place. Despite his tangible abilities, he played on a team that went 0-16 last year, which would attest to him being the 8th lineman picked in the draft.

The Giants managed a steal in the second round, and come to think of it, they hit on nearly all of their 2018 draft picks.

What New York Giants’ Will Hernandez Brings To The Offensive Line

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With the New York Giants‘ first pre-season game scheduled for Thursday, the offensive line will finally have the opportunity to gel in a live-action game. We will get a first hand look at new left tackle Nate Solder, rookie Will Hernandez, newly acquired guard Patrick Omameh, and the experiment at right tackle in Ereck Flowers.

In this article, we will focus on Hernandez, who has seemed to be transparent during training camp. With offensive lineman, the less you hear about them the the better they are generally performing. For example, Flowers has been a frequent flyer on the concern list, while Hernandez has been seldom spoke of the past few weeks.

Hernandez is a bullish player capable of stopping a defensive tackle or blitzing linebacker in their tracks. His power and upper-body strength will ultimately be his lifeblood in his rookie season, as the speed of the NFL will take time to adapt to.

What should we expect to see from Will Hernandez in the New York Giants’ first pre-season game?

Herenandez will see his first NFL action on Thursday, and we shouldn’t expect it to go swimmingly. The Cleveland Browns have a solid defensive line and will give the Giants’ newly constructed line a run for its money. He will likely need several games to adjust, but we can expect to see him thrive in the run game. His strength will allow him to move interior defenders and flush the pocket for running back Saquon Barkley.

According to Giants.com, Hernandez has not looked out of place as a rookie. He appears experienced and willing to learn at every moment. Being positioned next to  Solder will provide him with help and experience on an NFL offensive line.

Additionally, it’s said that Hernandez is a bit cranky on the field. Finally…some passion in the trenches.

Shurmur: “It is kind of a good thing in our sport. A lot of parts in our culture that is not admired. Certainly in our sport it is something that we value. Cranky is good.”

The New York Giants Are Getting An Anchor Player With Will Hernandez

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You need locker room leaders to win in the NFL. They aren’t always easy to come by, and time and time again we’ve seen teams that are talented on paper fail due to lack of leadership. The New York Giants, however, recently acquired a player that can make an impact both on the field and in the locker room. That player is Will Hernandez, the Giants’ second round draft pick and their probable starter at left guard.

It’s easy to be a positive figure for the team when games are being won, but harder to remain a leader once the losses start. The Giants experienced that last season, when losses started building up quickly and hope was seemingly lost early in the season. For most of the players on the Giants team, the 3-13 season was the worst of their career in terms of team record.

A man of pride, respect, and grit:

Hernandez has been through a season that was worse than the Giants’ 2017. His UTEP team went winless during his last college season, and despite that, he didn’t give up on them and quit putting in effort. “Even though it was the worst feeling ever, I could never live with myself knowing that I just gave up. If you’re gonna do that, you might as well not even be there,” he said during the NFL Combine.

That’s the kind of attitude that the Giants could use during the team’s rebuilding process, especially if the wins don’t come early. Will Hernandez can be an anchor for the team, and not just because of his athleticism and power in blocking. Whether the Giants are a winning or a losing team, the staff and the fans can expect the same level of effort from their new guard.

That’s not to say that Hernandez is just a hustle player and that it’s his only trait. During OTAs, he was rated highly enough by Dave Gettleman to earn a comparison to two-time Super Bowl champion guard Chris Snee. “Will is a natural 320-pound guy. What made Chris unique is he had great quickness and he was strong as an ox and he was a very good athlete. Comparing Will to him, he is just a bigger guy but, again, strong as an ox and a really good athlete.”

We don’t know where Hernandez will play yet, but we can expect him to start at either left guard or right guard. When the season does begin, though, his impact will go deeper than just his play on the field. And with changes happening across the board and with high fan expectations after an awful season, that’s just what the Giants need right now.

Just How Angry Is New York Giants OL Will Hernandez?

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Anger is the essential tool for any offensive lineman trying to make a splash in the NFL. New York Giants‘ second-round pick, Will Hernandez, has harnessed the ability of anger – it shows the second he steps onto a football field.

From now on, Will Herenandez is referred to as, “The Hulk.”

The moment his helmet fits snug on his head, every struggle and obstacle in his life comes baring down on the man in-front of him. For a quarterback, having a ferocious offensive line only means one thing – time. Time to work through your progressions and and break down the defense, time to throw the ball, and time to notice how great your body guards are performing. Eli Manning will have the opportunity to witness Hernandez in full-action, and he’s already impressed with what he’s seen so far in OTAs.

“Will Hernandez has already been in five fights,” Manning said. “I love it.

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The Giants have only enjoyed 10 practices thus far in the season, which means Hernandez has fought in half of them. While it’s encouraging to see emotion spill onto the field in the form of passion and tenacity, it can often times go to far. Fighting in practice is a common occurrence, but five times in the span of three weeks is quite excessive. For an lineman, it’s exactly what you want to see. For a quarterback, it’s a dream come true.

“If you’re a football player, you should be referred to a nasty, on-the-edge player,” the UTEP product told reporters last month. “I think that’s how everyone should play. I think that’s the reason why this sport is so popular, and yeah, I definitely consider myself that and I think that everybody should be exactly that.”

Hernandez has worked primarily with the second-stringers in OTAs, while John Greco and Patrick Omameh take firs-string reps. Head coach Pat Shurmur is ensuring that every player must ‘earn’ their spot on the starting team, and the UTEP product is no different. Despite that fact, his mindset and ferocity will give him a nice edge when pre-season rolls around.

Will Hernandez went from living in a shed to being drafted into the NFL

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The New York Giants needed to revamp the offensive line more than any other department coming into the 2018 NFL Draft.  That was one of Dave Gettleman’s first missions as new General Manager this season — to display a better o-line.

In the second round the Giants got one of their ‘Hog Mollies’ who can be plugged into the starting lineup immediately.  That man is UTEP’s Will Hernandez.

However, it wasn’t all rainbows and smiles leading up to the NFL draft for the 2-time AP All-American Hernandez and his family.  His journey to the NFL was anything but traditional. It was a struggle to say the least.

Hernandez’ family moved from Mexico to Las Vegas before Will was born.  His father, Robert Hernandez, played professional soccer in Mexico and you can say that the athletic gene was already instilled in Will at a young age.  Will grew up playing soccer, like his father, however, it wasn’t until 8th grade when he found the game of football.  Then, during his Sophomore year at Chaparral High School, Will’s dream of playing in the NFL began to take shape.  

Just as his dream started to take form, Will’s family, his sister and parents, were hit with a devastating financial crisis, forcing them to move out of their home and into a tiny storage unit. This consisted of one bedroom, with two beds, one living room and a kitchen for 4 people.  The ceilings in this storage unit weren’t very high, approximately 5’9”, and Will would have to contort his neck just to fit inside the de-facto apartment. There was an opening in the ceiling where Will was able to stick his head to stand up straight and stretch, when needed.

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The very thought of this struggle is overwhelming and brutal.  I give him and his family all the credit in the world for dealing with this for two-years.  But, like they all say, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” and that couldn’t hit home more for the Hernandez family.

Just when it couldn’t get any worse for Will and his family, Will’s grades fell and he decided to dropout of high school. He subsequently gave up football to go to work for his father’s construction company.  

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However, Will’s family weren’t the only ones that believed in him. Two of his high school football coaches were determined and dedicated to bringing him back to school. Those two coaches explained to Will about the gift he had and how he could potentially earn a scholarship to play football if he was determined to fulfill his dream.  

Will did just that.  Hernandez went back to school, chasing his NFL dream. Will was a dominant force on the field, but when it came to the classroom not even his large frame could pick him up. With perseverance and determination, Will eventually became a straight ‘A’ student, making him eligible to go to college and he attended UTEP.

After those two long and difficult years, the Hernandez family moved back into their original home and out of the tiny shed.  This was the biggest victory of all for the Hernandez family. The adversity and hardships the family dealt with made them all stronger, more positive and ultimately brought the family closer together.

While at UTEP, after red-shirting his freshman year, Will went on to start all 49 games in his 4-year college career at left guard.  As a freshman in 2014, Hernandez earned All-Conference in Conference USA. In 2016, he was first team All-Conference in Conference USA as well as second team AP All-American.

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Hernandez then dazzled NFL scouts at the combine and was projected to be a first or second round pick.  Scouts had him graded as a first-round draft choice and the No. 2 ranked guard in the draft. It was a surprise to all that he managed to fall all the way to the Giants at No. 34 int he second-round. At that moment, Herenandez’ life changed forever. 

Will, surrounded by his family and friends, watched on at their home in Las Vegas as Justin Tuck read his name.  The combined efforts of Will and his family had finally paid off. From watching his reaction to hearing his named called, it was more of a sign of relief from all the hard work and struggles that he and his family endured.  

Hernandez himself stated, “I’m going to give 100% to whichever team selects me.” That is exactly what the Giants are going to get with this man.  Will should be immediately plugged into the starting offensive line.  However, nothing is set in stone, but his ability, toughness, blocking and strength can guarantee that he will have a long, successful NFL career.

 Now that he is a New York Giant, there is plenty of more work to do. Hernandez will be looked upon to help rebuild the offensive line, built of ‘Hog Mollies’.  Big shoes to fill as a rookie, however, from all the adversity and experiences Hernandez has already faced, he will be ready for anything that is placed in front of him.  The journey for Will and his family is not over, it’s only beginning.