Giants Need to Find Right O-line Combination to Hold Up Against Tough Divisional Opponents
The New York Giants enter the 2023 season with optimism and expectations not felt since 2017. After making an improbable playoff appearance and defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round last year, the Giants are expected to compete for the playoffs again.
However, the Giants still have some areas of concern that could thwart their chances of reaching the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2005-2008, none bigger than the interior of their offensive line.
Outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas and the promise of rookie center John Michael Schmitz, the Giants offensive line remains one of the biggest question marks on the team.
Quarterback Daniel Jones has been sacked 149 times in his four-year career (third most in this timespan) and was pressured 212 times in 2022, the third most of any quarterback in the NFL last season.
A big problem for the line last year was its interior. Right guard Mark Glowinski surrendered 37 while Ben Bredeson, in an injury-shortened season, allowed 11. Center John Feliciano started 15 games at center last season, allowing an additional 25 pressures.
Despite the constant harassment, Daniel Jones was able to finally land in an offensive system where he showed signs of being able to flourish if the protection was there.
Last season, when under duress, Jones completed 55.6 percent of his pass attempts, throwing for six touchdowns and one interception. But the Giants ranked last in the league in explosive plays (20+ yards) with 28, a ranking that was a combination of Jones not having enough time to go into a 5- or 7-step drop nor having receivers showing that they could get open deep down the field.
This season, the Giants are facing some very good defenses. In addition to seeing division rivals like Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter of the Eagles; Johnathan Allen and Daron Payne of the Commanders; and Mazi Smith of the Cowboys, the Giants will face the Jets’ Quinnen Williams, the 49ers Javon Hargrove, the Rams’ Aaron Donald, and the Bills’ Ed Oliver.
The competition in the division alone is concerning. If the Giants want to ensure an easier path to the playoffs, they must start by winning their division games, which won’t be easy against defensive fronts that have young and highly regarded interior defenders.
Washington’s Payne and Allen have had strong performances against the Giants in their careers. Payne has played against the Giants 10 times and has amassed four sacks, 45 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits. In their first matchup last year (Week 13), Payne dominated with two sacks, four combined tackles, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.
Allen has put up similar overall numbers against the Giants in 12 games, with five sacks, 41 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits. Allen also had a strong game in Week 13 of the last season when he finished the game with one sack, eight combined tackles, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit.
Cox has played 23 games against the Giants since his rookie year in 2012 and has totaled five sacks, 68 combined tackles, ten tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits against the Giants. In his lone playoff game against the Giants last season (divisional round), Cox put his mark on the game with one sack, four combined tackles, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit despite playing just 54 percent of the defensive snaps.
Smith, a highly touted prospect, is currently listed as the Cowboys backup defensive tackle, but it’s just a matter of time before he starts to see an increased role. Meanwhile, the Giants will see one-time draft pick Jonathan Hankins, a solid contributor for the Giants from 2013-2016 in the mix.
That’s a lot of firepower against an interior offensive line that the Giants coaching staff is still trying to find the best combination along the interior to ride with into the season. And if they can't match up well in the trenches, particularly against their division rivals, it won't matter who the skill position players are if Jones must consistently bail out of the pocket.
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