Believe it or not, there was a football practice out at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday.
After head coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Jaxson Dart, and linebacker Abdul Carter answered every conceivable question under the sun regarding Dart and Carter’s recent behavior and its aftermath, many forgot that the reason for being there was that there was a practice.
We did not hear much about that practice, though, and we didn’t learn much more about the manufactured dissidence stemming from Dart’s appearance and statements at a recent rally featuring President Trump.
That aside, the Giants went on about their business on the field. The highlight of the day was actually another lowlight. The Giants suffered their third Achilles injury of the spring. This time, it was returner Gunner Olszewski, and the injury appears to be of the long-term variety.
One thing of note, provided by The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, was the Giants’ sudden depth along the offensive line. Even with left tackle Andrew Thomas sitting out team drills, Big Blue looked more stout and more prepared than they have in recent years.
First-team OL: LT Marcus Mbow, LG Jon Runyan, C John Michael Schmitz, RG Francis Mauigoa, RT Jermaine Eluemunor.
Second-team OL: LT JC Davis, LG Daniel Faalele, C Lucas Patrick, RG Aaron Stinnie, RT Ryan Schernecke.
Third-team OL: LT JC Davis, LG Jake Kubas, C Bryan Hudson, RT Evan Neal, RT Ryan Schernecke.
No live reps for Andrew Thomas or Josh Ezeudu, who was wearing a big brace on his right arm.
Some observations: Mbow is very solidly in the conversation at tackle, alleviating the anxiety of having no depth behind Thomas should he miss time again. The Giants are doubling down on Schmitz at center. This is a make-or-break year for him. Runyan will also be forced to elevate his game.
Neal and Kubas are on the roster bubble, and so might be Ezeudu. We will see in training camp if they actually get a real opportunity to make the club. The rookies, Davis and Schernecke, are getting opportunities, but again, we’ll see where they line up in training camp.
All in all, the depth appears to be better. Patrick at the backup center; the rookie Mauigoa is pushing Faalele to the second unit, and the versatility of the young lineman adds up to a unit that has improved from back to front.
The right side looks solid with Mauigoa flanked by Eluemunor. Again, these practices are non-contact, and this group was assembled based on their physical attributes, so it’s difficult to predict right now how things will look when the hitting starts.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants have sudden depth along offensive line
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
