Giants.com is counting down to the start of 2024 Giants Training Camp with 24 questions in 24 days.
8) What is the biggest area the Giants need to improve on offense?
John Schmeelk: Pass protection. Until this gets fixed, not much else will matter. Only the 1986 Eagles allowed more total sacks in a season than the Giants last year. The rate numbers are just as bad. According to PFF, the Giants allowed a 41% pressure rate last year, which was the second-worst in the NFL.
Their play had a lot to do with injuries with the team losing starting tackles Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, starting center John Michael Schmitz, and other parts of the line at different points in the season. The Giants also made changes in the offseason, bringing in new offensive line coaches Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz, and two new potential starters in Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan. Eluemunor can not only start at guard, but he also provides a reliable backup at right tackle if Evan Neal is not the starter there.
Poor offensive line play impacts every part of an offense. It can stymie the run game. It can take away a quarterback's ability to read the field and be patient in the pocket. It makes it more difficult for longer-developing routes to produce explosive plays down the field. Constant hits can also completely discombobulate a quarterback's internal clock, making it difficult to perform at a high level.
A top 10 line isn't necessary for high-level offensive play, but a bottom 10 line makes it very difficult for an offense to succeed. Before the other stuff, like more explosive plays, can get better, the offensive line must provide an environment for everything else to function at a higher level.
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