Giants offensive line remains a work in progress – Big Blue View

The New York Giants offensive line remains a work in progress with a number of young players in key roles. Against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the line allowed five sacks as the Giants lost, 27-13.

It wasnt good enough its not good enough as a group, its not good enough individually, its not good enough in terms of how I got them ready to go, said offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo during a Tuesday videonconference.

What was a real problem and I addressed this with the players at game time and Ive said it to them since is when things get tight we need to put more emphasis on fundamentals, not less. Thats something that weve gotta keep working on as we go forward.

DeGuglielmo took over the line in Week 12 after Marc Colombo was fired.

We need to sustain our run blocks longer, we need to be better on our double teams and we need to continue to develop an impenetrable pocket. Right now thats not happening not because of talent and not because its not being instructed its not being put into play like it is in practice sometimes, DeGuglielemo said.

Theres a lot invested in a quarterback. We need to keep him safe. Thats the No. 1 thing that needs to improve.

Here are a few other things DeGuglielmo touched on.

Why Will Hernandez has consistently played less than Shane Lemieux ...

The Giants are rotating seven offensive linemen. Hernandez and Lemieux are sharing the left guard spot, but Hernandez, the 2018 second-round pick, is clearly the backup. Since returning from the Reserve/COVID-19 list in Week 10, the most snaps Hernandez has played is 26. He played only 10 Sunday against the Ravens. Lemieux has played no fewer than 34 snaps in any of the last eight games.

DeGuglielmo was purposely vague on this one.

If we had a perfect knew how many plays or how many reps a drive would be we could work that out better but sometimes when your numbers called its a three-play drive and then when your numbers not called its a 12-play drive. The numbers, the disparity, that just kinda happens. Thats just the way it goes, DeGuglielmo said.

I dont think theres any reason for one guy or another. Were just trying to get reps to all the players that are good enough to play.

On rookie right tackle Matt Peart ...

Peart had a difficult game against Baltimore. He played 17 snaps, which is still the most he has played in a game since DeGuglielmo took over the offensive line from Colombo.

Matt does some really good things. Hes a good athlete, hes a very, very large human being. Hes a smart kid. But theres a combination of things, DeGuglielmo said.

Sometimes you need to play him and then not play him in order to maintain a balance of getting enough taste of what the game is and then not putting him in a position where he could slide down the slippery slope of confidence.

DeGuglielmo referred to the third-round picks tremendous upside.

I like the kid. I think he has a tremendous upside but as you saw [vs. Baltimore] there were a few times out there where he didnt look like he was in tune with what was going on in terms of his fundamentals and his pass sets. It looked a little big, he said.

Its not about being down on Matt Peart. Its about maintaining that balance between getting experience and not losing your confidence in yourself.

On rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas ...

The education of the Giants fourth overall pick has continued throughout the season.

Hes a tremendously aware guy. He sees things that most rookies dont see, DeGuglielmo said.

Hes got talent .... I see the competitiveness that its going to take for him to have a solid career.

The well-traveled offensive line coach, though, revealed his true feelings about rookies.

Hes a rookie. Rookies and kickers, they all go in the same bucket with me, theyre all over there, DeGuglielmo said. Rookies and kickers, theyre their own little grouping of individuals. You need them, theyre necessary, theyre very important to your program but it always takes time for a rookie any rookie to elevate his game to what the others would be. Hell get there. I promise you this guy will get there.

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Giants offensive line remains a work in progress - Big Blue View