Giants O-Line, D-Line Preseason Week 2 Grades: Depth on Display Against Dolphins

If, at the start of the preseason, we had told you that the New York Giants' offensive line depth was as deep as it has been in years, would you have believed us?

Neither would we, and yet that was the case for the Giants' offensive line backups, which were no match for the Dolphins' backups. Overall, the offensive linemen gave up just four of the team’s five quarterback pressures and got good movement against Miami’s backups.

“I thought they did well,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the game. “The protection was good. We ran the ball well. All that was good.”

The defensive line? Mixed results, including some carryover from last week that is becoming more of a concern. With that said, let’s get into the grades.

Offensive Line

Marcus Mbow

Getting the start at right tackle, Mbow played the entire first half and really shined with his pass-blocking.

There were a handful of running game misses that he’d like to have back, but it’s obvious Mbow is a lock for the swing tackle spot.

Joshua Ezeudu

Though he didn’t get the start at right guard—the role went to Aaron Stinnie—Ezeudu eventually stepped right in at the position on the game’s second possession and, to be frank, he looked most comfortable there.

There were some easy power run-blocking snaps inside out of Ezeudu, who moved very well as a guard.

He also got some snaps at right tackle in the second half and looked solid enough, though there was another mental mix-up in the protection Ezeudu was involved in that led to a sack.

Also, late in the game, Ezeudu had to leave with a lower-body injury, which seems like a weekly occurrence with this snake-bit athlete.

Based on talent and skill alone, Ezeudu should make the final 53, but there has to be a trust issue with this player when it comes to his availability.

J.C. Davis

Getting the start at left tackle and going the distance, Davis played it very well throughout.

We didn’t spot a single pass-blocking loss in Davis’ game. His run blocking had enough plus plays to earn him a passing grade there, too.

Davis has a good feel for angles and dealing with the unexpected. It’s called football instinct, and we think Davis has plenty of it.

He’s also got the size, arm length, and balance you would want at the position, as well as the mental game—not a single flinch or tug in two games so far.

For years, this organization has struggled to find quality offensive tackles. Still, suddenly, the Giants have five legit offensive tackles on their roster, plus a longshot UDFA (Ryan Schernecke) who should end up on the practice squad as a developmental guy.

Davis, a sixth-round draft pick with legit starting potential, has obviously made this team.

Of course, there’s the matter of stepping up in class somewhere down the road that must be addressed, but against second- and third-teamers, he has been dominant.

If there’s a choice to be made at the cutdown date between Davis and Ezeudu, the choice is clear in our eyes: it’s got to be Davis.

Ryan Schernecke

Schernecke got some third-quarter snaps and all the fourth-quarter snaps at right tackle. Suffice it to say that he is far from ready, but that’s to be expected given he comes from the small school program at Kutztown.

We still like how quick Schernecke is off the ball, his feistiness, his size, and his mental game, but we haven’t yet seen the mobility, balance, or athleticism required to compete at this level.

Some of his movement snaps have been hard to watch. This kid lacks experience and strength, and there is a lot to work on here. That said, technique has gotten many a blue-collar blocker a place in this league.

Through two games, Schernecke has not allowed a sack or committed a penalty, though there have been times when he’s been living on the edge. The practice squad beckons.

Jon Runyan

One of two starting offensive linemen to get a start this week—John Michael Schmitz was the other—Runyan, in one series, lost his first run-blocking assignment but bounced back with a bunch of smooth pass-blocking snaps, the strength of his game as always.

Where Runyan continues to struggle is in run blocking, with his 52.3 PFF grade this week the worst among the offensive linemen. Runyan has always been more of a finesse technician who excels in zone blocking rather than a mauler with heavy hands to win at the point of attack.

The Giants can get by with him at left guard if they need to, but the more we see him play, the more we are convinced that he doesn’t fit the offensive line profile that John Harbaugh has favored in the past.

Aaron Stinnie

Getting the start today at right guard thanks to Francis Mauigoa nursing a stinger suffered in the joint practice, Stinnie was solid in every aspect of the position.

He resembles a bowling ball out there, banging into walls and crashing into pins without ever giving an inch.

He also received some snaps at left guard in the second half and acquitted himself there well, too. If he doesn’t make this team, we’d be stunned.

Jake Kubas

Getting all of his 43 snaps at left guard, we spotted three Kubas pass-blocking losses that led to hurries and hits on his quarterback; this against Miami’s third stringers, mind you.

Though he had plenty of snaps where he mixed things up pretty well, especially on running downs, the pass-blocking misses in space were hard to ignore.

Kubas can give the team snaps at guard and center, but he still needs some additional development, which is why he might be better suited for another run on the practice squad.

Evan Neal

Getting all of his second-half snaps today at right guard, Neal did nothing to solidify his spot on the roster.

His size and power and high first-round draft pedigree will always persuade some team to give him a shot.

Still, the lack of movement skills and the fact that he may just be too tall to play inside—his struggles with keeping his pad level low are a big problem—don’t bode well for his long-term future with this team.

John Michael Schmitz

Returning from a concussion he suffered early in the penultimate practice in West Virginia, the team’s de facto starter at center started and only played the first two series, leaving the game late in the first quarter.

Schmitz’ game was reliable and economical; he always seems to get his man while rarely hitting him. The grades are there, but the physicality we suspect the coaches want is not.

Lucas Patrick

Also returning from an injury-related absence that caused him to miss the preseason opener, Patrick got all the second-team snaps at center, and it was obvious to see what this veteran brings to the table.

His experience showed in his play, with zero hesitation; his reliable mental game is his greatest asset at this point in his career. This 33-year-old, nine-year vet knows how to play the position and run an offense.

He’s not the niftiest player out there, but he’s got enough size to hold up to power and the smarts to know where to be on every snap.

A knee issue needed to be managed early in camp, making Patrick’s chances at landing the backup center role shaky. But if the trainers have that under control so it won’t be an issue moving forward, that bodes well for Patrick’s chances of a roster spot.

Bryan Hudson

Shunted back to the third team with the return of Schmitz and Patrick to the field, Hudson played the majority of the second half over the ball.

We were disappointed that Hudson did not get any snaps at guard for versatility’s sake, but the young interior offensive lineman did well again in his opportunities.

He once again played his simple, clean type of game snap-to-snap with a preference for mixing things up in the pit, with just enough mobility to make the occasional block in space. Hudson still looks like starting material to these eyes.

Brenden Jaimes

This veteran signed for depth purposes when Schmitz and Patrick went down, got today’s final possession and did not embarrass himself. He ran the offense smoothly and kept everything in front of him.

Defensive Line

Leki Fotu

Getting a start to salvage his sinking chances of making the team, Fotu worked his way into two tackles with some positive movement plays.

However, he wasn’t much of a factor in the pit, as his instinct for finding the ball and shedding blocks isn't there, despite his great size.

Bobby Jamison-Travis

Getting one of the starts, the rookie got himself a clean-up sack when his positive contain at the front of the pocket was closed down with a timely collapse.

Jamison-Travis did a great job of staying on his feet and hustled in pursuit, but he wasn’t very effective in clogging the inside running plays. We still question if he’s a lock for the roster, as his play against fellow backups didn’t really open any eyes. Jamison-Travis has some talent, but the physical presence in his game is what really needs to shine through.

Darius Alexander

For the second game in a row, Alexander, despite getting nine run-game snaps, failed to impress. We’re talking zero tackles and zero stops this week.

Alexander seems to live for rushing the passer, and with that big body, speed, and athleticism, he appears to be tailor-made for the 3-tech position. Alas for him, one can’t strictly live for the glory that comes with the pass rush; there has to be a give-and-take with getting one’s hands dirty in the run game.

One thing we noticed this week about Alexander is that he was slow getting off the snap. Can this be improved? Perhaps, but so far through two preseason games, Alexander doesn't look like a starter to these eyes.

Regardless, Alexander will fill a role as a pass-down specialist with the girth to muck things up. But on a defense that has prioritized stopping the run, unless something changes, it’s hard to see Alexander as a full-time player on this unit.

Chauncey Golston

Making plays once again in a variety of ways, this Swiss Army knife of a player earned a promotion to the starting 3-tech spot and held up quite well. We’re not sure we want Golston getting that pounding every week, but in small spurts, we think he can contribute there.

Golston’s long arms are his best asset, as they help him fend off blockers while getting his hands up to deflect throws—he had another deflection this week.

Golston drew a big run-game hold; he knocked a motion receiver off his feet and out of a naked bootleg play, he made a run-game tackle, and he created several pressures with his slippery inside pass rush and long arms.

All in all, another positive performance from this defender, who initially looked like a cause.

Marlon Davidson

Although Davidson lacks Alexander’s size, we think his game better fits the 3-tech requirements.

Davidson has a plan on most of his snaps, and even when he’s stoned, he always gets his hand up (deflections in both pre-season games).

He runs well for the position and seems more athletic than most defensive ends. We wouldn’t be averse to Davidson taking up some outside linebacker snaps, especially in running-down situations.

As a versatile Chauncey Golston-type, Davidson has a slim but real chance at hanging around, at the very least on the practice squad.

Zacch Pickens

This young vet cleaned up for a sack early on, and also made a solid run game tackle. We’re not as gung-ho on Pickens’ prospects to hang around, but he played a more visible game this week than he did last week, landing near the top of the stat sheet with three tackles in limited snaps.

Anquin Barnes, Jr.

Getting just three defensive snaps, Barnes did not flash.

Ben Barten

Added back this week due to defensive line concerns, Barten got some late-game snaps and showed something with a short-yardage tackle that demonstrated the physicality that we’re looking for inside.

He’s a long shot to make the team, but there’s always a place for a big body who can play, so perhaps the practice squad beckons.

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