Mar 042024
 
Mark Glowinski, New York Giants (December 31, 2023)

Mark Glowinski – © USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants have officially terminated the contract of offensive guard Mark Glowinski, who was set to enter the final year of the 3-year, $18 million contract he signed with the team in March 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Indianapolis Colts. Cutting Glowinski creates $1.5 million in dead money but also saves $5.7 million against the 2024 NFL salary cap.

Glowinski started 16 games at right guard for the Giants in 2022. While it was anticipated he would once again man the right guard position in 2023, the first warning signs came in training camp when other players were splitting first-team practice snaps with him. Glowinski was benched after the opener, started four games in October, and did not start again until the finale in January. In all, Glowinski played in 13 games with six starts at right guard. He did not play or was inactive in four other games.

The 6’4”, 310-pound Glowinski was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts claimed him off of waivers in December 2017. Glowinski has played in 124 regular-season games with 96 starts.

Sep 132023
 
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (September 10, 2023)

Brian Daboll – © USA TODAY Sports

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and TE Darren Waller (hamstring/rest day) did not practice on Wednesday.

“(Thomas) will not practice today,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll. “He’s making progress, I’d put him in day-to-day… Just going to give Waller a vet day. He’s good, but just going to give him a vet day… that’s something we planned all along, even really since we got him with the sports science and the medical staff. Those guys that are over 30 and have had a lot of wear and tear, that have played. We are going to give him a rest day. It’ll probably be once a week… It’s a regular thing… (Sterling Shepard) will have one, probably tomorrow.”

“Right now, I am just taking it day-by-day,” said Thomas. “That’s the process that I have. It’s been feeling better since it first started when I first hurt it. Just giving it time and see how it does.”

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), OT Matt Peart (elbow), OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring), LB Cam Brown (ankle), CB Deonte Banks (calf), CB Cor’Dale Flott (hamstring), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring), and PK Graham Gano (ankle) were limited in practice.

CB Amani Oruwariye, who is on the Practice Squad, suffered a neck injury during practice and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The Giants issued the following statement: “He had movement in all his extremities and was taken to Hackensack Medical Center for further evaluation. The results of the evaluation and testing were negative, and Oruwariye was cleared to return to the team’s facility.”

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The team practices again on Thursday afternoon (12:45-2:45PM). The coordinators and select players will also address the media.

Jun 292023
 
Andrew Thomas, New York Giants (January 2, 2022)

Andrew Thomas – © USA TODAY Sports

With New York Giants training camp beginning in late July, BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) breaks down each of the team’s positional groups until the players report at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL BREAKDOWNS HERE

POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: Offensive Line

2022 YEAR IN REVIEW: The offensive line was not a disaster in 2022, but it did not play as well as expected or hoped for. While Andrew Thomas continued to develop, becoming one of the best left tackles in the game and earning second-team All-Pro Honors, there was a revolving door at left guard due to injuries, and inconsistent play at center, right guard, and right tackle.

Rookie offensive linemen often struggle, but more was expected from the 7th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Evan Neal, at right tackle. He missed a month with a knee injury and was seen favoring his left arm/shoulder in another game. Neal had issues in pass protection and was flagged with six false starts. He was replaced by Tyre Phillips for those four games. Phillips had issues in pass protection as well. Right guard Mark Glowinski was a bit too up-and-down for his 3-year, $18 million contract. The Giants also signed Jon Feliciano to a 1-year deal in March after he was cut by the Bills. They converted him to center, where he started 15 games. But he was also inconsistent.

The initial plan appeared to be to start Shane Lemieux at left guard, but he missed virtually the entire season with a toe injury that landed him on Injured Reserve twice. Ben Bredeson started the first seven games until a knee injury sidelined him for six games. Joshua Ezeudu started two games at left guard until he suffered a neck injury. Nick Gates then stunned everyone by returning to the starting line-up despite a career-threatening leg injury he suffered in 2021 that required seven surgeries. Including the playoffs, Gates started the last nine games at left guard.

Overall, this group did help the Giants become the NFL’s 4th-best rushing team, averaging 148 yards per game, more than the Eagles. On the other hand, the Giants allowed 49 sacks, which tied them for 5th-worst in the NFL. Daniel Jones was pressured on one-fourth of his drop backs, which was 4th worst in the NFL.

ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: The Giants re-signed Wyatt Davis and Jack Anderson as exclusive rights free agents. They also re-signed Practice Squad players Solomon Kindley, Devery Hamilton, and Korey Cunningham. (Kindley was waived in May).

However, both centers, Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates, somewhat surprisingly departed in free agency. Gates received a 3-year, $16.5 million contract from the Commanders and Feliciano a 1-year, $2.3 million contract from the 49ers.

The offseason additions were few, but one was significant, the drafting of center John Michael Schmitz in the 2nd round of the draft. The team also signed center J. C. Hassenauer from the Steelers. The team did not sign any rookie free agents after the draft at the position.

In short, the Giants stood pat at the position except at center where they exchanged Schmitz and Hassenauer for Gates and Feliciano.

TRAINING CAMP STORY LINES:  Most of the attention will be on Evan Neal. Some have lowered their expectations on Neal, saying he just has to play at an average level. Teams don’t draft right tackles with the 7th overall pick in hopes they will just be average. Neal is likely to still experience growing pains, but he needs to drastically cut down both pass blocking mistakes and penalties while becoming a stud in the running game. The better Neal becomes, the easier it will be for this team to run and throw the football.

That all said, the same could be said for each of the starters in the interior of the line. The Giants need Glowinski to become a steadier player at right guard. If he doesn’t, it will be interesting to see if Marcus McKethan or one of the other back-ups presses him for playing time. Assuming that John Michael Schmitz will start at center, he will have his hands full in a division loaded with stud defensive tackles. Expect rookie growing pains. The left guard position still is unsettled. The leading candidates are Ben Bredeson and Joshua Ezeudu. I would not discount Shane Lemieux. The now injury-prone lineman was an ironman in college, and had he not been hurt the past two seasons, he would have been the starter at left guard under two different coaching staffs.

One of the unexpected developments this offseason is how much the team stood pat at the position. No new tackles or guards were added to the roster. This at least partially suggests the team was not down on many of the lesser known back-ups. Tyre Phillips (former 3rd round pick), Wyatt Davis (3rd round), Jack Anderson (7th round), Matt Peart (3rd round), Devery Hamilton (undrafted), and Korey Cunningham (7th round) also factor into the competition and someone could surprise.

ON THE BUBBLE: There are currently 15 offensive linemen on the 90-man roster. The Giants will likely keep nine on the 53-man roster. The locks are Andrew Thomas, Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, John Michael Schmitz, Mark Glowinski, and Evan Neal. That leaves nine players fighting for three spots. The leading candidate for the swing tackle is probably Tyre Phillips. Bredeson’s flexibility to play both guard and center helps the team if they feel another guard is better than Hassenauer at center. Marcus McKethan was impressing before he got hurt last summer.

FROM TEAM GENERAL MANAGER/COACHES/PLAYERS: General Manager Joe Schoen on the center position before the draft: “We knew Jon (Feliciano) was on a 1-year contract last year at this time. We didn’t know if Nick Gates was even going to be able to play football again. Heck, we didn’t know that until midway through the season. We had contingency plans in place. We claimed Jack Anderson. He was with us in Buffalo. He’s been working at center. Ben Bredeson is a guy who we are very comfortable with playing center. Shane Lemieux was playing it as well before the injury… We’ll be patient. We’ll continue to look. But we have confidence in Ben Bredeson, Jack Anderson, and Shane.”

Offensive Line Coach Bobby Johnson on why the Giants offensive line has struggled to form an identity in recent years: “You look at our line, before I got here and even now, it’s different. I’m like the sixth or seventh coach in the last five years. There have been just a line of (players) who have come through here. What we need to do is develop our identity… you need to continue to develop guys… the fans don’t know everything in house. Some of the guys we have on the roster they’ve never seen play. And so they assume they are not good enough, that’s why they haven’t played. Well that’s not necessarily the case… We only have three players that are older than 26 out of the 15. It’s a young room. There’s a lot of potential, a lot of room for growth. I see these guys getting better every day.”

Offensive Line Coach Bobby Johnson on Evan Neal: “Evan’s a worker. So I have no reason to believe (he won’t improve) with the work ethic put in, the attention to detail, and pushing to be a really good player. We’ll see better results… Now it’s not new to him.”

Offensive Line Coach Bobby Johnson on Josh Ezeudu: “He’s rehabbed very well from the injury, he’s another year in the system, he’s got confidence in what we’re doing. Some things we decided to work on from a technique standpoint he’s really worked hard at. I’m seeing good results. I expect to see even more when we get to training camp.”

Offensive Line Coach Bobby Johnson on John Michael Schmitz: “He’s progressing quite well. He’s got all of the intangibles you look for. He’s got all of the physical traits you look for. We’ll find out more when we get to training camp… He’s progressing the right way… It will be an eye-opener for him when he has to block (Dexter Lawrence in training camp).”

Evan Neal on what he did this offseason to improve: “Really just everything. I want to get better across the board. I tweaked my stance. I got a lot healthier. I got a lot more flexible. I worked a lot on flexibility. Just being able to move throughout my lower body and my hips. Making sure that I am in a stance that I am comfortable in, that I can load up my front leg and press out of it and be explosive and also be balanced and under control at the same time… I’ve been doing a whole bunch of yoga.”

Marcus McKethan on his status: “Just trying to get healthy. That’s the main thing of my offseason so far. I’m pretty close, just getting over that final hump and I feel like that I’ll be there. My timeline right now is training camp… I (am still working at) guard and tackle.”

Offensive Line Coach Bobby Johnson on what Giants fans can realistically expect this year: “You’re going to see an improved offensive line in a number of areas. We are going to start to show an identity and some consistency… I think for the first time in a long time the fans are going to be proud of their lineman… I think we’re going to put a product out there on the field that the fans will have pride in. Because I know the players that are going to put those jerseys on will have pride in that jersey.”

PREDICTIONS/CLOSING THOUGHTS: If you told Giants fans in January that the team would not add any tackles or guards to the roster this offseason, they probably would have freaked out. But the confidence in this front office and coaching staff right now is so high that given that now-known outcome, fans are not now panicking in June. Not adding a tackle or guard in free agency, the draft, or the rookie free agent signing period is pretty telling. It seems to suggest the team wants to develop players already on the roster.

Giants fans are all thinking the same thing… we’re set at left tackle with Andrew Thomas. Now we need Evan Neal to rapidly improve at right tackle and for John Michael Schmitz to show signs he will be a long-term answer at center. There is also hope that the two second-year, North Carolina guards will eventually press for starting roles.

Assuming Schmitz starts at center, the only training camp battle for a starting spot is at left guard. In the spring, Ben Bredeson and Josh Ezeudu were splitting snaps with the first team with Bredeson also receiving first-team snaps at center. Glowinski is probably entrenched as a starter at right guard for at least one more season, unless he falters and someone like Marcus McKethan presses him. I’m in the minority on this, but I still would not count out Shane Lemieux. He started his rookie season. He was set to start in 2021 and 2022 before training camp injuries ruined both seasons. In four years in college as a starter, Lemieux never missed a game. The last two seasons seems like flukes.

Andrew Thomas has not reached his ceiling yet. Keep in mind this is the first offseason he did not have surgery and this is the first time he will have the same offensive line coach for two years in a row.

This brings us to Evan Neal. We all know Neal struggled as a rookie. But too many fans seem to be focused on him and not the interior line spots that were also an issue last year. Neal needs to improve but the team needs better center and guard play just as much. Especially in this division. My prediction is Neal will improve as the year progresses, but he will be nitpicked to death by fans in September and October. That’s OK. I’m old enough to remember Giants fans being sure that Brad Benson, Jumbo Elliott, David Diehl, and Andrew Thomas were crappy players. Neal will be better but I think the real dividends will come in year three and beyond.

FINAL DEPTH CHART: Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips, Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson, Josh Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan, Shane Lemieux, John Michael Schmitz

Dec 282022
 
Jarrad Davis, New York Jets (December 19, 2021)

Jarrad Davis – © USA TODAY Sports

DECEMBER 28, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
DL Dexter Lawrence (rest day) did not practice on Wednesday.

DL Leonard Williams (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), and CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee)  were limited in practice.

GIANTS SIGN JARRAD DAVIS, PLACE SHANE LEMIEUX ON INJURED RESERVE…
The Giants have signed inside linebacker Jarrad Davis to the 53-man roster. Davis was on the Practice Squad of the Detroit Lions. The 28-year old, 6’1”, 242-pound Davis was originally drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Lions. He has spent time with the Lions (2017-2020, 2022) and New York Jets (2021). Davis has played in 67 regular-season games with 50 starts, accumulating 333 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 10.5 sacks, 10 pass defenses, one interception, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

To make room for Davis, the Giants placed offensive guard Shane Lemieux (toe) on Injured Reserve. Lemieux originally suffered the injury in training camp and was placed on Injured Reserve in late August. The Giants activated him off of Injured Reserve in mid-November. He started in Week 11 against the Lions but could not finish the game and has not practiced or played since.

The Giants drafted Lemieux in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He surprisingly ended up playing in 12 games with nine starts starts at left guard, stealing Will Hernandez’s position. In 2021, Lemieux injured his knee in training camp. He tried to play with the injury in the opener, but could not finish the game and spent the rest of the year on Injured Reserve. In all, Lemieux has only played in two games the past two years, not being able to finish either contest.

Pittsburgh Steelers signed inside linebacker Tae Crowder off of the Giants’ Practice Squad on Tuesday. The Giants had cut Crowder from their 53-man roster and re-signed him to the Practice Squad last week. The Giants selected Crowder in the 7th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In his three seasons with the Giants, Crowder played in 40 regular-season games with 31 starts, being credited with 232 tackles, two sacks, eight pass defenses, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants practice on Thursday afternoon (12:45-2:45PM). The coordinators and select players will also address the media.

Jun 022022
 
Brian Daboll, New York Giants (May 13, 2022)

Brian Daboll – © USA TODAY Sports

JUNE 2, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS OTA PRACTICE REPORT…
The Giants held their ninth voluntary organized team activity (OTA) practice on Thursday, and third one open to the media. No live contact is permitted during OTAs, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed. The last remaining OTA practice will be held on Friday. A mandatory mini-camp will also be held June 7-9.

Just rolling right along here,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll before practice. “Practice nine. We have another one tomorrow, then we’ll have our mini camp next week. Roll into the summer break. Get ready for training camp in terms of logistics and all those things. So there’s been a lot of meetings relative to that. We’ll have more and try to be set here once next week hits. So go out there and try to have another good practice today.”

INJURY REPORT AND ABSENTEES…
Players wearing red jerseys because of injury issues included WR Kadarius Toney, WR Sterling Shepard, WR Collin Johnson, LT Andrew Thomas, OC Nick Gates, OT Matt Peart, ILB Blake Martinez, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, ILB Cam Brown, ILB T.J. Brunson, CB Aaron Robinson, CB Rodarius Williams, and CB Darren Evans

“The guys are still in red jerseys,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll. “They’re rehabbing. When they’re ready to go, they’ll be ready to go… (Thomas is) doing a good job. Everything we’ve asked him to do rehab-wise, really all the guys, they’re doing what they can do. When they’re ready to go, they’ll be ready to go… I think they’re all at different spots, the guys in red jerseys. Knock on wood, hopefully he’ll be good to go (by training camp).”

WR Kenny Golladay, CB Darnay Holmes, and S Jarren Williams were not spotted at practice.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • There was a heavier emphasis on 11-on-11 team drills in this practice.
  • First-team offensive line in team drills was LT Joshua Ezeudu, LG Shane Lemieux, OC Jon Feliciano, RG Mark Glowinski, and RT Evan Neal. Ezeudu appeared to have issues at left tackle giving up pressure off of the edge.
  • Daniel Bellinger appeared to receive most of the first-team reps at tight end.
  • The second-team offensive line was LT Korey Cunningham, LG Jamil Douglas, OC Ben Bredeson, RG Marcus McKethan, and RT Matt Gono.
  • The first-team defense usually featured DL Leonard Williams, DL Dexter Lawrence, OLB Azeez Ojulari, ILB Tae Crowder, CB Adoree’ Jackson, S Julian Love, S Xavier McKinney, and S Dane Belton.
  • Rotating in on the first-team defense were DL David Moa, DL Justin Ellis, OLB Elerson Smith, OLB Jihad Ward, ILB Justin Hilliard, ILB Micah McFadden, CB Cor’Dale Flott (slot), CB Michael Jacquet. Flott and Belton in particular saw a lot of first-team snaps.
  • By one account, QB Daniel Jones finished team drills 18-of-24. One of his passes should have been a pick-6 but CB Adoree’ Jackson dropped it. Jones also probably would have been “sacked” three times, including once by DL Leonard Williams.
  • QB Daniel Jones threw three touchdown passes, including to  TE Daniel Bellinger, WR Richie James (corner of end zone during 2-minute drill on 4th down), and WR David Sills on 4th down (who may have stepped out-of-bounds)
  • WR Wan’Dale Robinson dropped what should have been a touchdown pass from QB Daniel Jones.
  • QB Daniel Jones’ most frequent target was RB Saquon Barkley, who picked up a sizable gain on a play out of the slot.
  • OLB Niko Lalos picked off QB Davis Webb in the end zone for a defensive touchdown.
  • OLB Elerson Smith had at least two “sacks” and applied consistent pressure.
  • WR Darius Slayton dropped two passes, including a nice deep pass from QB Tyrod Taylor for what should have been a touchdown. Taylor avoided blitzing LB Carter Coughlin on the play.
  • OLB Quincy Roche broke up a pass that he almost intercepted.
  • CB Zyon Gilbert flashed in coverage twice and CB Maurice Canady also broke up one pass.
  • WR Alex Bachman was active catching the ball from QB Davis Webb.

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The  transcript and video of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Thursday are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

Mar 142022
 
Mark Glowinski, Indianapolis Colts (December 5, 2021)

Mark Glowinski – © USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK GIANTS SIGN MARK GLOWINSKI AND JON FELICIANO…
The New York Giants have signed unrestricted free agent offensive guard Mark Glowinski (Indianapolis Colts). The deal is reportedly a 3-year, $20 million contract that included $11.4 million in guaranteed money.

The team also signed guard/center Jon Feliciano, who was cut by the Buffalo Bills last week. The deal is reportedly a 1-year contract.

The 29-year old, 6’4”, 310-pound Glowinski was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts claimed him off of waivers in December 2017. Glowinski has played in 95 regular-season games with 74 starts. In the last three years with the Colts, he has started 46-of-48 games at right guard. He is a solid, physical, and dependable player who performs better as a run blocker.

The 30-year old, 6’4”, 325-pound Feliciano was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He signed as a free agent with the Bills in March 2019. Feliciano has played in 82 regular-season games with 39 starts, including 31 with the Bills in the last three seasons, mostly at guard. He is a versatile player who can play both guard positions and center. Feliciano did miss 15 regular-season games with shoulder, pectoral, calf, and COVID-19 issues the past two seasons.

AUSTIN JOHNSON AND KEION CROSSEN DEPART IN FREE AGENCY…
Unrestricted free agents nose tackle Austin Johnson and and cornerback Keion Crossen have signed contracts with other teams. Johnson signed a 2-year, $14 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Crossen signed a 3-year, $10.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.

With the departure of Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, Johnson became the team’s full-time nose tackle in 2021. Johnson started all 17 games (57 percent of all defensive snaps) and finished the season with 66 tackles, six tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, one pass defense, and one fumble recovery. In his sixth NFL season, this was a career year for Johnson who started off very strong and faded a bit down the stretch. Johnson was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. The Giants signed him  as an unrestricted free agent from the Titans in March 2020.

The Giants acquired Crossen by trade from the Houston Texans in August 2021 in exchange for a 6th-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Crossen played only 23 snaps on defense, but was a standout on special teams, where he led the team with 11 special teams tackles. He played in 16 games, missing one game due to COVID. The 5’10”, 185-pound Crossen was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He was traded to the Texans in August 2019. In four NFL seasons, Crossen has played in 59 regular-season games with four starts in 2020 for the Texans.

Apr 102015
 
Cameron Erving, Florida State Seminoles (August 30, 2014)

Cameron Erving – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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New York Giants 2015 NFL Draft Preview: Guards and Centers

by BigBlueInteractive.com Contributor Sy’56

*Below are my published, abbreviated reports via Ourlads Scouting Services, LLC

**A note about Pro Upside Comparisons: These are comparisons that are based on the player reaching his ceiling. It does not necessarily mean I believe the player will “be as good as”.

CURRENT OG/C on NYG ROSTER

Geoff Schwartz – 29 Years old – Signed through 2017

John Jerry – 29 Years old – Signed through 2016

Weston Richburg – 24 Years old – Signed through 2017

Brandon Mosley – 27 Years old – Signed through 2015

Eric Herman – 26 Years old – Signed through 2015

Adam Gettis – 27 Years old – Signed through 2015

Dallas Reynolds – 31 Years old – Signed through 2015

Brett Jones – 24 Years old – Signed through 2017

WHERE THEY STAND

One can easily make the argument that the combination of starters and backups here are among the worst in the league. I can look at 20 depth charts from the NFL and rightfully say I would rather take their interior guys over what NYG has to offer at the moment. They lack true presence and won’t get a push off the point of attack when faced off against the more physical defensive lines. It created massive problems throughout the 2014 season when NYG tried to run the ball. Chris Snee was never replaced and there is a gaping hole at LG right now. Geoff Schwartz had a year to forget in 2014, missing the majority of the season with injuries. There is the hope he returns to 100% and can offer NYG a reliable presence at RG. However even when he was healthy, he looked very lethargic and over-matched. Jerry was a favorite of mine coming out of Ole Miss a few years back, but I have to admit his career performance to this point has been sub-par. If he is on the team as a primary backup, fine. But he can’t be a starter. I didn’t like the Richburg selection last year but he out-performed expectations in year one, a season that I would assume NYG wanted to be a redshirt year for him to add strength, but was forced in to action at an unnatural position. I think he can be the guy at C but he will need to prove he can get more push. The rest of the names up there lack long term potential. They are training camp body-types. I am intrigued to see what Canadian Brett Jones can bring to the table, however. He has some decent tape from the CFL that will remind NYG fans of a young Rich Seubert. This is a poor group that doesn’t have the nastiness nor do they have star power.

TOP 15 GRADES AND ANALYSIS

1 – Cameron Erving – Florida State – 6’5/313 – 82

Upside Pro Comparison: Jahri Evans/NO

Strong Points: Versatile offensive lineman that could likely play any position along the front at a high level. Good use of leverage, plays with a low base and high hands. Strong use of his upper body. Can lock on to a defender and drive him out of a play. Quick feet and hips that can get himself between his man and the running lane. Hustles downfield and looks to throw the extra block. Long arms and thick legs with room to grow. Flawlessly made the move to center from left tackle halfway through the 2014 season. Patient blocker that allows the action to come to him. Can pounce on the inside defender quickly and lock him up.

Weak Points: Loses his power presence as an outside pass blocker. Feet get stuck in the mud against the faster, quicker, more agile pass rushers. Gives up too much pressure off the edge. Doesn’t roll his hips in to the defender enough, losing out on power output. Does not show the kind of control of engagement you want out of a pass blocker. Still raw around the edges.

Summary: Erving redshirted his first season at FSU because of a back injury. In 2012 he was one of the team’s primary run stuffing defensive tackles until he made the move to left tackle prior to the 2012 season. He’s been locked in as a starter ever since and has made several All-American teams. His performance as a pass blocker held him back from the elite grade. He struggled against some of his toughest competition, allowing too much pressure to the outside speed rush and double moves inside. His pad level and road-grading style was always best suited inside. He showed his versatility in 2014, moving to center and playing at a very high level. Best suited at center or guard where his weakness as a lateral mover in pass protection can be hidden. His raw strength and power is NFL ready and versatile linemen like this are always in high demand.

*Erving has moved all over the field. He was a solid run stuffing DT. The he made a move to LT where many viewed him as a potential top 10 pick. He really struggled there and I said back in the fall he’d be lucky to be a 3rd round pick. I was hoping to see him get moved inside because I thought his skill set was best suited there. Well my wish was granted and Erving really delivered. This guy can be a dominant interior player. He plays with great pad level and heavy hands. He can adjust well in short space and his ability to reach the second level is up there with the best in the class. I think Erving has the highest upside of all the interior blockers. He would present outstanding round 2 value with his ability to back up several spots and even start from day one at one of the three interior positions. I think someone will take him in the top 25 overall.

2 – A.J. Cann – South Carolina – 6’3/313 – 79

Upside Pro Comparison: Ben Grubbs/KC

Strong Points: Ideal frame for the position. Thick but athletic and powerful with long arms. Can plant his feet and anchor his position against the biggest of defenders. Shows the initial pop out of his stance to stifle his defender and drive him out of a play. Can lock on with his hands inside and keep his feet moving forward. Creates elite power with his combination of speed and strength. Good knee bend with a low base and upright torso in pass protection. Gets the initial punch and can control pass rushers with his hands.

Weak Points: Shows a lack of mobility in space and has a hard time reacting to late movement. Struggles to adjust his weight on the move. Not as effective as a pulling lead blocker. Will be slow to reach his spot in space. Relies too heavily on his upper body strength, needs to show more consistent footwork.

Summary: Cann is an All-American guard that has started the second most games in South Carolina history. He is a two year team captain with rave reviews from the coaching staff when it comes to his work ethic and leadership ability. He wins a lot of one on one battles with initial movement and power, consistently firing out of his stance and getting his hands on the defender. He is at his best as a straight ahead, power run blocker. He may struggle with speed and quickness in space. The further away he gets from the line of scrimmage, the more his footwork and lack of reaction speed are exposed. He shows dominant traits but will need to become a better athlete if he wants to stay at left guard. He could be an early starter at right guard in the NFL.

*Cann could easily be the top interior guy in this class. He is a much better athlete than you think. He got better as the year went on and while I won’t say his blocking on the move is a strong point, he showed that he can get the job done well enough to play in a moving role here and there. He’s at his best in a straight-ahead role, as he can produce the necessary power out of his stance and can jolt a defender with his punch. The amount of experience and the fact that he is a top notch worker off the field will be attractive to NYG. He is the only one of these top guys that has played LG as well, something you shouldn’t overlook when projecting who NYG will like. If I had to pick a guard that I think will both be available in round 2 and liked by NYG, Cann is it.

3 – Laken Tomlinson – Duke – 6’3/323 – 77

Upside Pro Comparison: Larry Warford/DET

Strong Points: Experienced and productive interior blocker with plenty of power and strength. Ideal frame for the position. Wide frame with thick legs, long arms. Easy bender at the knees with light, but powerful feet. Excels as a run blocker, getting a strong pop out of his stance and can win the initial battle after the snap. Good body control and balance when he keeps his chest upright. Can anchor his position against the strongest of bull rushers. Uses his weight well.

Weak Points: Gets top heavy at times and will dip his head. Won’t lock on to defenders, leaving him very susceptible to double moves. Doesn’t find to maintain an inside hand position. Late to pickup blitzes and stunts to his outside shoulder. Doesn’t recover well after being initially beat. Technique needs a lot of work.

Summary: Over 50 career starts after beginning his football career in high school. Grew up in Jamaica and moved to Chicago, getting a later than usual start to his football career. Has the physical makeup and talent to be a dominant player but is still raw around the edges. Tomlinson will look like a top tier prospect on some plays but then show a lack of skills on others. He needs to be coached up at the next level but everything about him off the field leads me to believe the work ethic will be there. High upside prospect here.

*Traditional guard prospect here. Has that wide, square frame and he consistently makes it tough for guys to get around him. Really wide wingspan. I don’t get a lot of “inside” information regarding NYG and when I do, I’m not always confident it’s legit. NYG is pretty tight lipped. With that in mind I have been told they like Tomlinson a lot but they may view him as a RG-only player. If Schwartz is going to be there, maybe the view Tomlinson as a guy that will sit a year? With all the OL talent in this draft it’s hard to imagine them bringing in a guy they know will be a backup. Tomlinson doesn’t have any wow-factor to his game but he can hold up against the elite power players day one in the NFL. He doesn’t block as well on the move though and I think it’s enough to knock him down more than people think. He would be a solid round 2 value but I think there will be several guys available with a higher grade.

4 – Tre Jackson – Florida State – 6’4/330 – 77

Upside Pro Comparison: Chance Warmack/TEN

Strong Points: Powerful, squatty type blocker that gets off the ball quickly and delivers a violent punch to the defender. Thick and strong frame that appears to be maxed out. Easy bender at the knees, can produce a lot of power from his legs. Quick in a phone booth, works hard to get across the face of a defender when he needs to. Can shift his feet to stay in front a pass rusher. Shows the balance and body control as a pass blocker when the action is in front of him. Can anchor his position and hold ground against the bigger, more powerful defenders. Smart player that can mentally anticipate the stunts and blitzes that defenses throw at him.

Weak Points: Lack of athleticism shows up in space. He isn’t nearly as effective as pulling blocker to the outside or at the second level when he needs to deal with linebackers. Too often the defender will get off his blocks with lateral movement, needs to show more control of the engagement with his hands. The quick-twitch reaction isn’t always there. Has the tendency to get top heavy, forgetting to move his feet and leaving him in a prone position to get beat.

Summary: Three year starter at Right Guard that has never missed a game since earning that spot. Received a 3rd round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board in the winter of 2014. Jackson may be the top RG in the nation after displaying his ability to produce equally as a run and pass blocker. He can handle the power game of the NFL right away, but may struggle with the speed/quickness/complexity of blitzing and stunting fronts. Jackson is not a fit for every scheme because he appears uncomfortable in space and on the move. In a power scheme however, Jackson can be a day one starter at the next level.

*I like Jackson every time I watch the FSU game tapes. He is a guy that rarely gets beat. He doesn’t make it look pretty always but watch him play after play and the defender he is assigned to rarely gets in on the action. He can lock defenders up and play the power game, but also moves his feet quickly with balance in pass protection. I question his explosion and short area quickness when moving with linebackers in space. He had some trouble reacting at times and there are several guards that are better when it comes to pulling out of his stance and lead blocking. If NYG can use a straight ahead power blocker rather than a lateral mover, Jackson is worth a day 2 look.

5 – Andy Gallik – Boston College – 6’2/306 – 77

Upside Pro Comparison: Joe Hawley/ATL

Strong Points: Squatty and quick off the snap. Very good body control and balance from start to finish. Easy bender at the knees. Hands are constantly fighting to get inside with a violent punch or stab. Sets up in pass protection quickly. Plays with a low center of gravity and can deliver a lot of power from his lower half and hands. Stays square to the pass rusher. Functionally strong. Quick to pull out of his position and reach the outside as a lead blocker. Effective in space against the faster defenders. Quick twitch reaction. Forecasts the action well, showing the anticipation and instincts teams want from a center.

Weak Points: Struggles to adjust to the quicker, more advanced pass rushers. Won’t lock on to a defender and finish his blocks. Doesn’t change direction well in space. Lacks the physically dominant traits.

Summary: Fifth year senior and four year starter. Second team All ACC. Gallik is a consistent presence inside that shows a lot of effort throughout a game. He can do a lot of different things from the inside. He shows quick hands and feet after the snap, consistently getting his hands on the defender first and sticking to his man. Very good athlete that can pull to the outside and lead block. Experienced and smart, Gallik has a lot of starting-caliber traits to his game. His strong, athletic, squatty frame could start early on at the next level.

*If NYG was in dyer need of a center, I would be calling for Gallik on day 2. I love his game and his consistency. He rarely gets beat at the point of attack and he is always in position at the second level to seal off backside defenders. Would NYG possibly view him as an OG? Probably not. He doesn’t have the width that your typical OG has and his frame is likely close to being maxed out. He needs to play C in the NFL. Would NYG draft Gallik and keep Richburg at LG? Another probably not. If this guys keeps falling in to day three however, there may be a point where you just need to pull the trigger on bringing him in because he is going to be a quality player.

6 – Jamil Douglas – Arizona State – 6’4/304 – 77

Upside Pro Comparison: TJ Lang/GB

Strong Points: Gifted tool set with top tier strength numbers. Has a long, lean frame. Able to bend at the knees and sustain good balance and body control. Plays a violent game with his upper body. Goes after the defender, consistently initiating contact and delivering a strong punch. Can keep his feet moving to mirror defenders. Able to stick to his man up and down the pocket. Can crash down and reach the inside gaps in a blink. Shows good quickness while maintaining his balance. Hustles downfield and will look to make the extra block. Easy mover in space, very good speed and change of direction. Can pull out of his stance and accelerate to lead block. Powerful presence on the move. Works hard to sustain and finish his blocks.

Weak Points: Will get sloppy with technique the further from the line he gets. Spends too much time with his chest facing the ground. Needs to be more consistent with posture and body positioning. Late to react to blitzes and stunts, needs to be more aware. Will often rely too much on his upper body, leaving him prone to the double move and penalties.

Summary: Fifth year senior. Spent two years playing guard, but moved to left tackle in 2014. Most likely a guard in the NFL. Douglas is one of the more impressive linemen in the nation when it comes to workouts and tools. He has great length but is a monster in the weight room and has elite level speed for the position. He has shown steady improvement from a skill set perspective and is beginning to prove that he has everything a coach could want out of a guard in the NFL. If he can clean up specific technique issues, he can be a long term starter.

*Douglas is a better athlete than what he showed at the combine. I actually think he is one of the top athletes among all OL prospects. I love the position versatility he presents. He has both the skills and tools to be a guy that backs up guards and tackles early in his career but I think his talent will eventually shine bright enough to get him a starting nod somewhere. Quality player that plays hard and has the aggression NYG needs in there.

7 – Reese Dismukes – Auburn – 6’3/296 – 76

Upside Pro Comparison: Ben Jones/HOU

*A lot of what I said about Gallik can be applied to Dismukes here. He is widely considered the top C of the class outside of Erving, thus I think he can be a 2nd rounder. I would consider him in round 3 but I think Gallik will be available longer than Dismukes. Dismukes is a better mover but lacks the power against power defenders. When it comes to overall upside they are comparable but Dismukes fits in to the zone schemes more while Gallik is more of a power guy. Depending on your scheme they are both good values in round 3 or 4.

8 – John Miller – Louisville – 6’2/304 – 75

Upside Pro Comparison: Andy Levitre/TEN

Strong Points: Powerful presence inside with a lot of experience on both sides of the line. Gets out of his stance quickly and will get his hands inside. Can create a lot of power from his lower body. Quickly turns his hips in to the hole and will push his man out of a running lane. Reliable and forceful run blocker. Smart and savvy. Reads the defensive front post-snap and is rarely caught off balance. Plays with a low center of gravity and can bend his knees with ease. Effective on the move. Can pull out of his stance to trap blocks. Adjusts on the run, processes information quickly while maintaining his power presence. Recovers well from being initially beat.

Weak Points: Feet get stagnant as a pass blocker. Will rely on strength and power too much, neglecting constant foot movement and placement. Lacks the lateral range to effectively pull to the outside and lead block. Body control isn’t always there when he’s in space.

Summary: Four year starter that has dealt with a few minor injuries over his career but for the most part has been a mainstay on that offensive line. Miller plays in a scheme that puts him on both the left and right sides, respectively. His game is based on power and awareness. Typical squatty build for the position. Has good enough foot quickness and strength to start in the NFL. He will need to learn how to equally rely on athleticism and overall strength. He has the tools to be a quality player but will need to shore up his footwork and mechanical issues first.

*There wasn’t a more impressive OL at the East/West Shrine Game than Miller. He was a favorite of mine heading in to the 2014 season. He can be a dominant run blocker with his power and length. He took a step back as a pass blocker though once I started to track his plays. He needs technique work more than anything, thus I don’t see him as a long term project or anything. He’ll get a starting job somewhere in the league within a couple years. Not as great as I initially projected but you can do much worse than him with your 3rd rounder.

9 – Mark Glowinski – West Virginia – 6’4/307 – 75

Upside Pro Comparison: Kevin Zeitler/CIN

Strong Points: Quick start, gets set up out of his stance in a blink. Consistently puts himself in to good position, ready to engage. Knee bend is there with light feet and high hands. Works hard to stay inside the shoulders of his man. Can swing his hips in to the hole, athletic ability is there. Aggressive but patient pass blocker. Can wait to see what is going on prior to attacking hard with his hands. Has the speed and quickness to pull out of his stance and get in front. Good second level blocker, can adjust to the speed of linebackers. Can pivot and turn his bodyweight quickly.

Weak Points: Struggles to recover after being initially beat. Doesn’t always roll his hips in to the defender, will get too upper body dependent. Will over-commit his bodyweight and leaves himself prone to double moves. Mental reaction to stunts and blitzes are delayed. Inconsistent footwork.

Summary: Fifth year senior. Spent his first two seasons Lackawanna Junior College. Redshirt in 2012 and a two year starter at right guard for the Mountaineers. Glowinski is a former tackle that made the move to guard prior to the 2014 season. He has the quick feet, set up, and knee bend to handle the speed and quickness of the NFL. He is a gritty blocker that loves to use upper body strength and power to dominate defenders. There are a lot of tools combined with an admirable style of play that coaches will want to work with. He needs to improve a couple of vital mechanical flaws before he can be depended on. If he can do that, there is starter potential here.

*I have a decent amount of OG/C graded in the 74-75-76 range. I think the best value in terms of where you can draft these guys is going to be Glowinski. Most see him as a 6th or 7th rounder and I would sign for him in round 5 right now and consider it one of the steals of the draft no matter what. Glowinski is quick out of his stance, quick to get his hands on, and quick to swing his hips. He is a former left tackle that can still move like one. He needs to become more lower body dependent if he is going to anchor against NFL-caliber DTs, but this is simply a guy that knows how to play and I would bet a good amount of money on him being a starter down the road and is one of those guys you never hear from because he is always getting the job done.

10 – Hroniss Grasu – Oregon – 6’3/297 – 75

Upside Pro Comparison: Evan Dietrich-Smith/TB

Strong Points: Right away, sudden type quickness to his game right after the snap. Can set his feet and get his hands up fast while maintaining all of his balance and body control. Easy mover with agile hips and light feet. Shows proper footwork consistently. Stays square to his, able to mirror. Good knee bender. Can shift his weight laterally without a problem. Comfortable in space, can stick with linebackers. Can pull out of his stance and work his way through the line and in to the second level fast. Smart and savvy, responsible for making line calls and adjustments. Quick reaction both mentally and physically.

Weak Points: Not overly stout at the point of attack. Gets pushed back by the bigger, more powerful defensive tackles. Doesn’t stifle a defender with a strong punch. Won’t always finish his blocks. Needs to add a more physical, more aggressive approach. Will need to add strength and bulk to his frame.

Summary: Fifth year senior and four year starter. All-American center that has been the leader of the Oregon offensive line for a few years now. Grasu plays with exceptional agility and quickness, moving out of his stance as fast as any interior linemen in this class. He is comfortable at the point of attack as well as in space. He will need to spend some time adding a power element to his game, however. His ability to anchor against the bull rush will be challenged in the NFL and he needs to be able to move guys out of running lanes. He can get by in certain schemes right now, most notably zone, but he may not be as NFL-ready as some other players with these accolades.

*This is a four-center draft and Grasu brings up the rear of the group, but by no means does that mean I don’t like him. As you can see, he finished with the same grade as Dismukes and not far below Gallik. Grasu is on the undersized side but the Oregon scheme called for him to play under 300 pounds so he could maintain a fast pace of play. He can likely add some bulk at the next level. Grasu is one of the more natural athletes of this entire group and he may be the smartest center I’ve seen since Alex Mack. He had a ton of responsibility at Oregon. Talent wise I think he needs a year before he can handle NFL power but some schemes can really hide a guy like this. If you want a smarter, athlete-type in the middle, Grasu may be your guy.

11 – Ali Marpet – Hobart & William Smith – 6’4/307 – 75

*He’s been a fun story to watch and follow. Rarely do you see a D-III player finish with this high of a grade, no matter the position. His strong week at the Senior Bowl really helped. We are still talking about a guy that likely won’t contribute until 2016. Hard not to think of Rich Seubert when I watch him.

12 – Jeremiah Poutasi – Utah – 6’5/335 – 74

*. Has experience at right and left tackle, but is a candidate to move inside in the NFL. Poutasi has all the power a team could ask for. He is hard to push back and can control the defender right in front of him with leg drive and heavy hands. His weaknesses arrive when he is asked to slide to the left or right. His athletic ability is very limited in space as a pass blocker. He can carry a lot of weight comfortably and has shown the ability to dominate when moving straight ahead with minimal lateral duties. His future will most likely reside as a guard in the NFL where he could someday be a quality starter.

13 – Adam Shead – Oklahoma – 6’4/338 – 74

*Five year senior with over 40 career starts. Shead has the potential the top run blocking guard in this class. His frame and initial pop out of his stance along with good technique allows him to play a physical, power-based game. He needs to work on pass blocking footwork and movement, but the tools are there. He can be a backup with a long term future as a starter.

14 – Max Garcia – Florida – 6’4/309 – 73

*Coaches favorite and team captain. Has a good amount of experience at guard and center. An underrated athlete with really good weight room strength. Garcia started to break out a little and I know a few guys that think he is better than any of the centers I discussed above. He might be a guy you look for day 3 and becomes a starter in year 1.

15 – Jarvis Harrison – Texas A& M – 72

*Three year starter. Had high hopes for the 2014 season but was slow returning to his former self after a shoulder surgery during the offseason. Showed poor conditioning throughout the season. Was bounced back and forth between LG and LT as a result of injuries along the Texas A& M front. Considered to be the most athletic lineman on the team but didn’t display that kind of ability in 2014. His power and strength are best suited inside at guard where he could be a starting caliber player if he can stay healthy and improve his conditioning.

16 – Arie Kouandjio – Alabama – 6’5/310 – 72

*All American and All SEC performer. Fifth year senior that has overcome a couple of major knee injuries to finish his career as a two-year starter. He is a high upside lineman with enough physical ability to play right away in the NFL. He is a wide shouldered, long limbed, athletic blocker that has improved his skill set by a wide margin since last year. He can be an equally effective run and pass blocker that can match up against any kind of defensive lineman. His medicals will have a big impact on where he gets drafted but talent wise, Kouandjio can be one of the best interior linemen in this class.

17 – Jake Cotton – Nebraska – 6’7/300 – 72

*I’ve always had a thing for Cotton and I am surprised he didn’t get more attention leading up to the draft. He is an easy mover and maintains his power/strength on the move. Really good fit for teams that use a zone blocking scheme.  Cotton maintains his power on the move and can reach guys in space that most guards cannot. He is behind schedule when it comes to strength and power levels, but he’ll eventually develop in to a quality backup and possible starter in the right scheme.

18 – Josue Matias – Florida State – 6’5/309 – 70

*I had a much higher grade on Matias earlier in the pre-draft process and thought he could have been a 2nd rounder. But the deeper I look in to his game, the more I noticed his significant mechanical issues and inconsistent use of his tools. He isn’t the athlete I initially thought he was, either. Matias can be a player down the road but hr won’t offer much as a backup because he appears to be a RG-only type guy.

19 – Greg Mancz – Toledo – 6’4/301 – 69

*Fifth year senior that has started every game of his playing career. Has starts at tackle, guard, and center. Mancz is making a big jump in competition and will need a year of NFL weight training before being thrown in to the mix. With that said, he does all the little things right and is ahead of the curve compared to other prospects when it comes to his technique and mechanics. He certainly moves like an NFL caliber blocker after the snap whether he is in traffic or in space. There is a lot to like about his approach and performance. He has starter potential if he can physically develop in to a stronger, more powerful athlete.

20 – Shaquille Masion – Georgia Tech – 6’0/300 – 69

*Always have to be weary of OL coming out of this program because it’s so run-heavy and they lack NFL technique. Mason was a dominant straight ahead blocker and surprised many with his ability to drop back at the Senior Bowl. There is a size issue here but he can be hidden at C, the spot most are projecting him to move to in the pros.

NYG APPROACH

This group from a depth perspective is a more impressive one that what we had to work with a year ago. There are several guys that could come here and backup both guard spots, but also compete for the starting LG spot. I really like the centers at the top of the group as well and even though NYG thinks they have their long term starter in Richburg, bringing in one of them if the value is there wouldn’t be a bad idea. NYG has the flexibility to use Pugh at LG if they draft a quality OT, but I can’t say I would want him in that spot over one of the top guys on this list.

The good value of G/C in any draft is usually found from round 3 on. It is no secret that NYG needs to bring someone new in to the mix. The question is, do they gamble by waiting and hoping a value falls, which usually happens at this position, or do they “panic” and grab one of these guys in round 2. It’s tough to argue against either side but I have always believed that a good OL makes everyone else better than they really are. It’s not a group you should want to get cute with. NYG is in a tough spot with who is on the current roster at the position. Waiting almost appears to be not an option. NYG needs a guard, and it ideally they can get one before their 4th round pick. A few of those names will be available when they are on the clock in round 3 and the value will warrant that selection being used on one of them. It would almost seem foolish to pass on unless of course they use their first pick on one of the top OTs. Don’t forget that some of the quality OT prospects have the tools and skill to shift inside and play guard, a trend that is very popular around the league these days.