'Prospecting:' Improving the offensive line

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

As good as our New York Giants' offensive line is, depth and a little bit of age have to be somewhat of a concern.

Center Shaun O'Hara will be 32, and left guard Rich Seubert and right tackle Kareem McKenzie will both be 30.

There is very little depth behind them. Veteran Grey Ruegamer has not yet re-signed, and the only thing memorable about the few appearances Kevin Boothe was forced to make last season was the size of his considerable backside.

The Giants need to address that. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing an early pick taken on a guy who could be groomed to play left tackle, allowing David Diehl to move back inside within a season or two. At the very least, they need to find one or two versatile youngsters who can provide better depth than they currently have.

With that in mind, let's go 'prospecting' for choices on the offensive line. I'm going to focus this week on a couple of intriguing linemen who could fit as possibilities in the second, or maybe third round.

William Beatty, OT, Connecticut

There is, as you might expect, a difference of opinion as to how high Beatty might go in the draft.

SBN's Mocking the Draft considers the 6-foot-6, 307-pound Beatty best-suited for the right side and probably a second-round pick. Walter Football says his stock is rising, and he could even sneak into the first round. Draft Countdown thinks Beatty could be a starting left tackle. Here is some of their summary.

Strengths: Terrific size with a large frame...Excellent athleticism...Light on his feet...Real quick and agile...Terrific footwork...Mobile enough to pull and get to the second level.

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger...Could stand to add some weight...Is not overly powerful...Doesn't get a great push in the run game.

Notes: An impressive physical specimen for the position and most of his flaws can be corrected with further development and coaching...Underrated prospect who seemingly has all the tools to play left tackle in the NFL.

Left or right, I like the potential I am reading about.

Max Unger, C, Oregon

Listed by Draft Countdown as one of the two best centers available. The appealing thing about Unger is his versatility.

Draft Countdown had this to say.

Played left tackle his first two years with the Ducks then moved inside to center in 2007...Could realistically play center, guard or tackle at the next level...Good all-around player who is effective and both a run and pass blocker...Doesn't necessarily stand out in any way one area but his ability to play every position along the line is very enticing...Definitely has the ability to start in the NFL but should at the absolute least be a valuable backup...One of the premier interior line prospects available.

Check out 'Mocking The Draft' for another opinion on Unger.

This Week's Mock Drafts

FFToolbox.com: Round 1 (29th), Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina.
The Football Expert: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina; Round 2 (45th), LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh; Round 2 (60th), Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State.
Saturdays2Sundays: Round 1, Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers; Round 2 (45th), Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma; Round 2 (60th), Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri.
Draft King: Round 1, Clay Matthews, OLB, USC.
NFL Draft Blitz: Round 1, Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi.
Walter Football: Round 1, Brian Cushing, OLB, USC; Round 2 (45th), Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers; Round 2 (60th), LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh.
DraftTek: Round 1, Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland; Round 2 (45th), William Beatty, OT, Connecticut; Round 2 (60th), Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida.
NFL.com/Pat Kirwan: Round 1, Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina; Round 2 (45th), Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa; Round 2 (60th), James Casey, TE, Rice.

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Comments

Beatty or Unger

Beatty has very long arms ans is very strong and athletic. Once Donald Brown gets drafted and proves how average he is, it will show how good Beatty was in paving the way for him.

If the Giants should go OLine in the 1st round, Id love to have Beatty. He could potentially slide Diehl back to guard, although he wants to stay a tackle.

Unger would be nice too, but Id prefer him in the 2nd round. He could start right away on any team, but probably not the Giants. He is very versatile and can play all the line positions.

Id still rather the Giants grab a guy in the lower rounds cuz he is just gonna be a backup. I know they really haven’t gotten anyone good lately, guys like Koets, Whimper, Jeff Hatch, all have never been heard of once theny were drafted usually cuz of injuries so that’s more bad luck than anything.

I couldn;t complain if they grabbed a O-lineman in the 1st round then lucked out and got Jared Cook and Ramses Barden in the 2nd round.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 3, 2009 7:42 AM EDT reply actions

O-line

To be honest, I wouldn’t complain, either, if the Giants go offensive line with their first pick. Unger is a 2nd round guy. I love the guy’s versatility. Beatty could go 1 or 2, it seems.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Unger or Mack

I think Unger or Alex Mack would be ideal choices for the Giants and I wouldn’t mind moving up in round one to get a good left tackle . The key to keeping this franchise strong for years to come is developing strong offensive and defensive lines. The D-Line is set for several years, but we need to start grooming talented replacements for the O-line rather than patchwork guys like Boothe and Whimper. I just can’t see the Giants going wide receiver in the first round. But time will tell. The guys who do the mock drafts don’t really know much about the Giants. They just jump on the Plax situation and assume that we “have” to draft a receiver.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Apr 3, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

I find the lack of depth to be alarming. I don’t have any faith in Boothe, Guy Whimper or Adam Koets. Obviously, you generally take the best player, but I would be really happy if the Giants end up taking a couple of offensive linemen, including one early in the draft.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

My thoughts exactly, Tucker.

With the two USC LBs under a cloud I think the odds have increased that they’ll trade up for a LOT.

by blue gonz on Apr 3, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

As a Cal fan

and having followed Cal football for the last four years of my life, I cannot say enough good things about Alex Mack. The guy’s work ethic, devotion, and smarts are without competition. They say he’s a late first round pick, and could potentially start. Of course, we have our monster O-Line, but I certainly wouldn’t mind shoring it up a bit, especially since every time there’s an injury, they put in prone-to-penalty Boothe.

Having played every year against Oregon, I also have a healthy respect for Max Unger—he plays center but is capable of pulling, so I’m sure he’ll make a serviceable guard as well.

by NYinCalifornia on Apr 4, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see you guys are concerned about the OL

In this week’s mock draft the “experts” only have 3 OLmen listed out of all their choices. I’m not a big college FB watcher, so I can only say that UNGER sounds appealing!!
I don’t think that having rookie linemen who COULD start, but spends a year learning the NFL as a backup is ever going to hurt his development.

NY GIANT – MAX UNGER: sounds like he played at the Polo Grounds

by NY17NE14 on Apr 3, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Max Unger

It’s a good name for a New York Giant, isn’t it?

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

If the Giants

are going to spend a 1st day pick on an OL, then I would hope they would spend it on a LT. I do like the name Unger, but don’t we already have that type of lineman in Diehl (i.e. versatile)? It seems that drafting a true LT is the real need. You could make the argument the other way for depth, but by drafting an LT you are still creating depth.

by potroast on Apr 3, 2009 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

I hear you

But, a guy who could be a quality player at any of the 5 spots along the line would also be a nice get.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Jamon Meredith

I am impressed with Jamon Meredith. He also happens to be one offensive lineman no one seems to be talking about. He will be a good value pick late second round.

by bonwei on Apr 3, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

There;s a whole bunch of

lineman this year from tackles guards and centers who all seem like they can play

Meredith would be a nice tackle to get, probably the third round would be perfect cuz there;s some other positions Id like to see the Giants grab in the 2nd round.

I have no idea who the Giants will grab, but I know that they probably won’t be one of the gigantic lineman like Herman Johnson or Phil Loadholdt or even Duke Robinson,3 guys a few mock draft have he Giants grabbing. The Giants entire O-line is pretty athletic and generally weighs under 325 (at least on paper, McKenzie probably cracks 340 during the days leading up to games).

But these guys are HUGE and don’t fit the Giants O-line athletically (Johnson is 6"7 356!!!)

Id say Meredith, guys like Fenuki Tupou, Troy Kopung for ttackle, Andy Levitre (i could see all the jokes on this guy already) are more likely in the 3rd and fourth. Even an under the radar guy like Gerald Cadogen is possible, probably just cuz he’s from Penn State and the Giants are usually good for a few guys from BIg 10 schools who are under the radar.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 3, 2009 9:06 PM EDT reply actions