O-Line gets a little credit

by Ed Valentine on Jul 20, 2008 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 11 comments

Nice overview of the Giants in Yahoo! Sports the other day, focusing largely on the Giants underappreciated offensive line.

If most offensive success starts with the line up front, which NFC team has a better unit than the Giants?

The left tackle is David Diehl, a conversion last season from left guard; the right tackle is Kareem McKenzie; the left guard is Rich Seubert, whose horrific leg injury in 2003 seemed to mark him for the trash pile; the right guard is Chris Snee, who appears headed for a Pro Bowl berth this year; and the center is Shaun O’Hara.

Last season, through the 20 games that mattered, the line missed the total of one game (O’Hara, the first playoff game in Tampa). Diehl was said to be too slow for the position. He wasn’t. Sure, some of the super-fast defensive ends beat him, but they beat all the left tackles. McKenzie is a road grader on running plays and did more than well at pass protection. Seubert is said to be the toughest player on the line, the "Tasmanian Devil" when it comes to giving 100 percent. Snee combines size and strength with intelligence, and you know he has a great understanding of patience since he is head coach Tom Coughlin’s son-in-law. O’Hara is the "old man" of the line at 30, a nine-year veteran who joined the Giants (unrestricted free agent, Cleveland, 2004).

So before the high-tech defenses can get to quarterback Eli Manning and stand up the running backs like Brandon Jacobs (6-4, 265), Derrick Ward 6-0, 228) and the swift and elusive Ahmad Bradshaw (5-9, 200), they have to get past the O-line.

"We’ve got a few things going for us," says O’Hara. "Like smarts, toughness, talent and a very nasty streak when people say we aren’t good enough."

There probably aren't any superstars on that line. But, there aren't any weak spots either.

Here's one writer's opinion on the Giants chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions this year. Consider that the writer is Paul Domwitch of the Philadelphia News.

Do they have a chance? Sure, they have a chance. This is the parity-driven NFL, where every team not owned by Al Davis or Bill Bidwill or Denise York or Dan Snyder has a chance to capture the grand prize each year.

Even with the retirement of Michael Strahan, the Giants head into '08 with 10-plus-win talent, particularly if Eli Manning picks up where he left off last season. But they didn't win last year because they were the best team. They won because they were the hottest team at exactly the right time. They caught lightning in a bottle in late December, and that usually doesn't happen to a team 2 years in a row.

While I have great respect for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants' pass rush just won't be as fierce without Strahan coming off the left side.

To me, that's basically the standard line about the Giants. It doesn't thrill me, nor does it upset me.

We will just have to see what happens.

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46 days, nine hours, 4 minutes.....

Until we get a chance to prove we were not a fluke.

by giant fan since 57 on Jul 20, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's nice to know I'm not the only Nut counting!

We're only gonna score 17 points?

by big blue wrecking crew on Jul 20, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brains and teamwork are more important that raw talent when it comes to

offensive lines. A line has to play as a unit with each guy looking to cover for his mates. Our guys have great chemistry and function as one. They may not be the best in the NFL, but they come close. They’re certainly the best unit the Giants have. Thanks to Reese, they’ll be together for at least five years, I think. In the event of injuries there are backups with potential.

by george cronin on Jul 20, 2008 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they're not

the best in the NFL. I actually do admire the bloated behemoths in Dallas. But ,.....those oversized whales wore down a bit in December(at least it appeared so to me). I really do think this could be the best group since I’ve been a fan (late 60’s). we don’t necesarily have a Tony Bosseli or Larry Allen but…...Snee is right up there, Suebert is as tough as anyone …...ever, Diehl has played all positions buit center and performed well at all spots. I didn’t think he’d handle left Tackle as well as he did and he’ll probably improve a bit this year after a year under his belt. Ohara plays like a nasty S.O.B. (my kind of lineman). Lastly , McKenzie has performed pretty darn good….....I haven’t heard his name mentioned since his second year on the team, an offensive linemans highest compliment.
So, maybe they aren’t technichally the most dominant or biggest line ever but, the play well together and seem to be genuinely good guys who can summon up a nasty streak when it counts…........Go Giants.

We're only gonna score 17 points?

by big blue wrecking crew on Jul 20, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McKenzie's a snowplow on running plays.

Perhaps a better way to put what happened to the ‘boys whales is that Spags’s schemes and his superbly conditioned defenders wore them down. Without a doubt, they were really dragging their asses in the 4th quarter.

by george cronin on Jul 20, 2008 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It is funny....

George Cronin, you are right. Usually it is the defense that wears down first when they stay on the field, but the G-Men seemed to get stronger as the game went on. That was my take on it then and is surprised me a bit. They also really seemed to confuse Romo late in that game as I saw him look very indecisive often times….maybe T.O. was already crying in the huddle???

http://www.myteamrivals.typepad.com/newyorkgiants

by myteamrivals on Jul 20, 2008 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Depth?

How much depth do they have on the line. I know last year when Seubert missed the game, it seemed like they really didn’t drop much. Any take on the backups?

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by NYERinSF on Jul 20, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Backups

Reugamer is still there, and he’s a veteran who can play center and guard. At tackle, they have Whimper, who they like, and they signed Shane Olivea, a four-year starter in San Diego. Olivea could be a quality backup, provided his head is screwed on straight.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 21, 2008 6:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, plus Reese picked up two versatile young guys with game

experience: Booth and Quarterman. Of course, if the O-line can remain as healthy as last year it would be fanatastic.

by george cronin on Jul 21, 2008 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't know those guys

They are UDFA’s. But, I love the approach. Find your OL behemoths without using your high draft picks whenever possible. There are a lot of guys you can uncover who can do the job if they have some athleticism and are properly coached.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 21, 2008 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diehl

I think Diehl would have been All-Pro at Guard, the way he was playing and improving, and with his amazing play at LT, think what he would have done inside. If anyone remembers him filling in at RT a couple years ago, he wasn’t great and got beat quite a bit from what I remember, and i was thinking about that when this season started. Given his first try at RT I am beyond impressed with his play last season. And the Giant’s did the right thing giving him some of the money he would have commanded had he stayed at guard. I think in a couple years we’re going to want to expand the All-Giants team to OL-at-large position for Diehl.

by queler on Jul 22, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs