Meanwhile, as we ponder what may or may not happen for the Giants this season, as we imagine how a newly bearded Daniel Jones could help Malik Neighbors poke through the seams, as we ponder life post-Sakson in the backfield, and as a new day dawns with Brian Daboll at the helm…
Stop and think about it for a second: The offensive line is still in flux, and despite the near-money-back guarantee that this group should be better than its 2023 version, there’s no certainty in this, because, well, this is the Giants, and this has been their blind spot and weakness for far too long.
The quintet the Giants want to start in their regular-season opener against the Vikings on Sept. 8 likely won’t be in action until then. Four of the five are expected to take the field Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston, although left guard John Runyan Jr. will likely be sidelined as he deals with a shoulder issue that sidelined him at training camp this week.
This isn’t a huge deal, but it is a significant one, especially considering the franchise’s recent history with this position group and their long-term avoidance of ability.
“You want to have your own group, that’s true, but this is the NFL,” new Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo said. “If you can get your top seven or eight guys to play together, that’s probably the best thing you can do in this league, no matter what injuries you have.”
The Giants’ preferred lineup, from left to right, is Andrew Thomas, Runyan, John-Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine El-Emno. Schmitz missed a week and a half with a shoulder injury, and Van Roten didn’t sign until July 30. Aaron Stinney will be brought in to help fill the inside, and the Giants hope Evan Neal can return to be the backup swing tackle after finally healing from bone spurs in his left ankle that delayed his rehabilitation from surgery.
Will that be enough? Other than Thomas at left tackle, no one has been known for anything special in their NFL careers. Runyan is a very good, solid, durable guard. El-Emunor was a career backup before taking over at right tackle with the Raiders the past two years. Schmitz was a second-round draft pick in 2023 and endured typical rookie growing pains. This is Van Roten’s sixth team in the past decade, and he’s been a serviceable and unwanted guard option for a decade.
The plan is clear: bring in smart, proven players who can work together. Maybe not the most athletic group, but more cohesive than they’ve been in the past. The Giants expect Bricillo to be better than Bobby Johnson, who worked with Brian Daboll in Buffalo and served as his offensive line coach the past two seasons. Bricillo worked with the 29-year-old El Emnor and the 34-year-old Van Roten last year in Las Vegas, so there’s a connection there. The young core of Thomas (25), Schmitz (25) and Runyan (26) was assembled with long-term success in mind. They won’t rely on rookies this time around.
“I think it’s important to have some veteran guys in that room, guys that have been in the league a long time,” Daniel Jones said, “and it helps me and it helps the younger guys that are in the room. It helps everybody.”
The Giants allowed a franchise-record 85 sacks in 2023, which prematurely aged everyone involved. Because of this, anything that doesn’t run smoothly on the offensive line is cause for alarm in this area. Van Roten lined up at guard and center. Runyan was slotted at right guard but has since moved to the left wing. Neal was on injured reserve until last week, but is now fighting for a role despite being a high draft pick (7th overall in 2022). The front office is hopeful Neal can overcome a terrible start to his NFL career.
“Most places I’ve been to, at this time of year, they’re always cutting back on staffing to go ahead and evaluate,” Daboll said. “I wish it was just five people there.”
Naysayers have made noise here and there. Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, now with CBS Sports, graded the Giants as the worst team in the league. That dire prediction was before Van Roten joined the team, but overall it hasn’t been much of a game changer.
“It’s hard to tell,” said team-best Thomas, “We had a lot going on last year with injuries and rotations and stuff like that, but we have a good group of guys on the team and we have some veteran players, so I think that will help us hold the team together.”
That’s the plan, and the Giants need it to work.
