EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 04: Jon Halapio #75, Will Hernandez #71, and Nate Solder #76 of the New York Giants look on during second half of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Giants hosted one of the worst offensive lines in 2019, thanks to inconsistent play and unjust confidence at the tackle positions. General manager Dave Gettleman made it a priority to solve their woes in the trenches on offense, utilizing the fourth overall pick in the draft Andrew Thomas.
Spending a top-five selection on an offense of tackle and a third-round pick as a developmental piece in Matt Peart, it seems the Giants are taking the cohesion of the line much more seriously. Hiring Marc Colombo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett requires them to have a strong line. Having enjoyed the fruits of the Cowboys’ offensive front, they will require a similar competitive advantage.
However, Nate Solder has opted out for the 2020 season, which leaves Thomas, Cameron Fleming, Nick Gates, and Matt Peart to battle it out for the starting position.
We should anticipate an improvement of sorts, but let’s take a look at last year’s unit to give you an idea of just how poor they performed.
Solder was arguably the worst lineman on the team last year, and while his mind was distracted due to personal issues, he allowed 11 sacks and five penalties. He ranked third in the league for most sacks allowed and failed to earn any of his $5.4 million base salary.
His departure for the 2020 campaign will put Fleming and Thomas in a more difficult position, but it will give them a competitive advantage to earn plenty of starting reps.
Hernandez had a very tumultuous 2019 campaign. Having struggled at left guard, he was sandwiched between Solder and John Halapio. He allowed two sacks and four penalties over 1068 snaps. He is a much better player than his statistics portray, but he must take a step forward if he wishes to cement himself as the everyday starter for the foreseeable future.
Halapio suffered his second consecutive significant injury in 2019. After breaking his leg back in 2018, he tore his Achilles last season which ended his season prematurely. Before he went down, Halapio was a liability at center. His frequent mental mistakes hurt the Giants against more complex defensive looks. Stunts easily beat him and was overwhelmed at the point of attack far too often.
The Giants will be looking to supplement his injuries and deficiencies this season, which is why they signed Gates to a two-year extension and drafted Shane LeMieux to compete as well.
Zeitler was the best offensive lineman for the Giants by a fair margin, was sandwiched between Mike Remmers and Halapio. his individual performance stuck out among the rest. He was able to hold down his assignment and help others in the process. His mean mentality and fantastic work ethic make him a staple in a line and the Giants should be looking to keep them around for as long as possible. He will be reliant on the season to set the tone and dominate in the trenches.
His contract expires after the 2021 season.
Remmers spent just one season with the Giants as a plug and play free agent. Coming off back surgery, he managed to play in 14 games. He allowed three sacks and five penalties over 870 snaps. Ultimately, he was a good player for one season but isn’t a long-term solution at right tackle. This upcoming season will look to Fleming, Gates, or even Thomas to fill the void.
I stated above, the Giants recently extended Gates on a two-year contract. He will make just 675K in 2020 and his new deal will start in 2021. The value he brings is significant, whether it be as a starter or depth piece to fill at guard, tackle, or center. His diversity makes him valuable on all fronts, and he performed well last year in three starts. While he was a bit overwhelmed against the Philadelphia Eagles in their versatile scheme, he played well against the Dolphins and had some good snaps against the Jets.
If he can continue to develop and it’s established himself as a starter, the Giants will have landed a steal as an undrafted free agent last season.
His contract info:
Gates will have a base value of $6.825 million and could max out at $10.325 million.
This post was published on 2020-08-02 13:00
