The Giants’ offensive line has been improving week by week, and you saw glimpses of that on Big Blue’s opening drive against Philadelphia on Sunday.
Earlier (much earlier) in the day, former Giants Pro Bowl lineman David Diehl joined Danielle McCartan on McCartan After Midnight to discuss the improvement of the line, and pointed to one thing that has helped: head coach Joe Judge and offensive line coach Marc Colombo’s rotation of tackles.
“I think it’s actually a great thing what they’re doing. I know a lot of people think it’s an excuse, but when you don’t have an offseason or preseason to work on things, it definitely affects your regular season,” Diehl said. “I love that they’re getting Matt Peart reps. With Nate Solder opting out, Andrew Thomas has gotten his experience at left tackle, and with Will Hernandez testing positive for COVID, that gave Shane Lemieux opportunities.
I love that we have two young tackles that can be bookends for a long time. Our offensive line, we all got old at the same time, and there was no next group there to take our spot, so I love this.”
The rotation, Diehl notes, has given everyone in-game reps that not only can’t be duplicated anywhere else, but also are much needed given this past summer’s COVID-induced offseason changes.
“I think back to when Rich Seubert and I played five straight seasons together – we had thousands of reps together to get comfortable with each other, and know the techniques together,” Diehl said. “They’re getting young guys opportunities to play in a condensed season. But we know this team is built for 2021, and this is their team to truly evaluate their roster to build it for 2021. I was a rookie in 2003 and Coach Coughlin came in in 2004, and by the team we hit 2005, there were only 17 of us left from that 2003 roster; you know turnover is coming, so you want to show why you should stick around.”
Diehl played four of the five offensive line positions in his career – all but center – and if there’s one thing he wants Giants fans to understand, it’s that swapping sides isn’t as easy as it seems.
“If you’re a right hand-dominant player playing on the right side, you have to flip around all of your technique on the left side, as well as the play call and the type of players you’re playing, so it is tremendously difficult,” he said. “You’d think it’d be easy to just flip, but it doesn’t work that way; on the offensive line, there are no ties – you either win or lose your battles, and it comes down to technique and fundamentals.”
There is value in having to move around and rotate, though, mostly for the future.
“I did it, and if you can do it early and adapt and adjust, it shows your value that you’re not just a one-plug player,” Diehl said. “And, there’s also trial by fire. I was a 21-year-old starting right guard in the NFL, and on my very first snap I gave up a sack on a play I had never talked about. The thing that happened with that is that when we saw it again two weeks later, I knew the call to make, and we picked it up and made a huge third down conversion. You can’t learn sitting on the sidelines, and the more experience you get, even in tough times, it will only bode well for you.”
It’s not easy no matter what when you have to start three rookies on an offensive line at any point in a season – something the Giants did this year for the first time since Diehl’s rookie year of ’03, when they did it against Dallas on Monday Night Football – but the most scrutinized of that bunch has been No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas, who is getting that trial by fire at left tackle and is improving after a rough start in Diehl’s eyes.
“He’s playing with a lot more confidence, and an understanding and a grasp of what they’re trying to accomplish, and he’s honing in on his individual techniques and fundamentals,” Diehl said. “He’s bending more at the knees and ankles than at the waist, he’s maintaining inside leverage, and being more confident throwing hands. You have to be a boxer, not a gunslinger, and you have to have more than one punch set up against these pass rushers. You can’t do in the NFL what you did in college.”
With the Giants’ bye coming up after Sunday’s game against the Eagles, the team will get a key week to evaluate what has happened over the first 10 weeks, and prepare for the final six – which is when the real evaluations can take place.
“This will be the big tell-tale sign for this team moving forward – how do they play post-bye?” Diehl noted. “You will get a sheet from the coaches on what you individually need to hone in on, so that’s where we’re truly going to see this team blossom and make a big push.”
And, with a win Sunday, the Giants would be tied for the NFC East high in wins (they’d still be a game and a half behind Philly technically), and all they need is that chance to make something happen.
“That’s what you’re looking for: an opportunity to get in the dance,” Diehl said. “We’ve seen teams finish below .500 and shock the world by winning home playoff games. There’s no telling what can happen on any given Sunday.”
Listen to Diehl’s entire segment with Danielle McCartan below!
Follow Danielle McCartan on Twitter: @CoachMcCartan
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