The New York Giants haven’t had an easy start to their 2020 season, especially rookie tackle Andrew Thomas, who has faced off against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Coming out of Georgia, Thomas was known as a solid pass protector with run blocking potential. He faced off against Bud Dupree in week one against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Khalil Mack in week two against the Chicago Bears.
Both represent some of the best pass rushers in the league, and Thomas held his own for the most part despite an overall 56 grade by PFF. He has only allowed one sack against those two behemoth players, so it is fair to say that Thomas has played up to his potential, so far.
“He’s gone against two great pass rushers and he’s held his own for the most part,†Colombo said. “There’s a lot of room for improvement and Andrew knows this. It’s really good for him to get these type of pass rushers right off the bat because his whole career is going to be these type of pass rushers. He’s capable of shutting down anyone he wants to. We just have to keep pushing the fundamentals with him, but I like where he’s headed.â€
The New York Giants should feel good about Andrew Thomas:
Ultimately, playing against the best will make you the best. Easing your way into the NFL with lackluster opposition does not spur development. Holding your own against players like Mack and Dupree is impressive, especially at just 21 years old. The former Georgia stand out is extremely young and has a ton of potential in his future. While he isn’t the highest-rated rookie tackle through two weeks, he has done more against some of the best pass rushers in the league than any of the first-round tackles drafted this year.
It‘s important to note that the Giants rebuilt their offensive line again this year, inserting Thomas, Nick Gates, and Cameron Fleming at new positions. Understanding their schematics and communication between each other was always going to take time. Thomas has done a good job considering the factors working against him. He improved in week two, which is all we wanted to see after a tough week one performance against Pittsburgh. Of course, there are snaps that he will want back, specifically in the run game, but his pass blocking was solid for the most part.
In week two against the Bears, Thomas held his own against Mack but was pushed around by DL Robert Quinn. Chicago’s interior players did some damage on Thomas, exposing him in the run game routinely. Nonetheless, the experience he has gained facing off against such quality players will only help him in the long term. It is important to remember that the Giants are still rebuilding, and things will be different in 2021.