Josh Ezeudu will take over at left tackle as Giants try to navigate the loss of their best lineman
The New York Giants are 2-4 and should be better than that. For the first time in many years, though, no one can point the finger of blame for the Giants’ struggles at the team’s offensive line.
The rebuilt line, which GM Joe Schoen chose to invest heavily in rather than re-signing star running back Saquon Barkley, has been exactly what the Giants hoped it would be.
Solid.
After Giants’ quarterbacks were sacked a league-worst 85 times in 2023, Daniel Jones has been sacked 14 times in six games, which puts the Giants 14th in the league. At that pace, Giants’ quarterbacks would be sacked 40 times over 17 games — a vast improvement.
Pro Football Focus ranks the Giants’ line 18th in the NFL entering Week 7. That is, basically, middle of the pack — and something everyone would have signed up for when the season began.
Perhaps part of the reason for that solid play is that the starting group of left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Jon Runyan Jr., center John Michael Schmitz, right guard Greg Van Roten, and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor has been together for every snap this season.
Until now.
Beginning Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants face the monumental task of replacing Thomas, the best player on that line, who is now out for the season following foot surgery for a Lisfranc injury.
“You can’t replace an Andrew Thomas,” head coach Brian Daboll said on Wednesday.
Talent-wise, no. No team in the NFL has a top-five left tackle sitting on their bench in the event of injury.
“Obviously, it’s a tough blow to lose Andrew,” Jones said. “He’s a tremendous player, a tremendous leader for us. But I’m confident guys will step up. I think more than anything it’s about that group playing well together as a unit, communicating, getting on the same page, and helping each other. So far they’ve done a really good job.”
“It’s tough,” Runyan said. “Great player, great person. He’s a lot of our offense. He’s been a vital part about what’s been going on around here and (we’re) going to miss him. He’s a guy you can’t really replace. Hate to see him go but the season is not stopping. It’s next man up and I got a lot of confidence in whoever is going to be out there to go execute and do the job.”
Josh Ezeudu is first up
Daboll did not commit to Ezeudu starting at left tackle on Sunday. Ezeudu, though, did get the first-team reps at the spot and it was clear from talking to players in the locker room that Ezeudu at left tackle on Sunday is what they anticipate.
“We’ll just do what we think is best,” Daboll said. “I think it’s always easy just to replace one person, but you want to make sure you’re doing what’s right for the team because the line, they’ve been doing a nice job.”
Ezeudu started five games at left tackle in place of Thomas last season before suffering a toe injury and being placed on injured reserve.
Ezeudu surrendered five sacks and 12 total pressures in 181 pass-blocking snaps last season, ending the year with a 95.0 pass-blocking efficiency score, per Pro Football Focus. That ranked him 65th among 86 qualifying offensive tackles graded by PFF in 2023.
Ezeudu was asked to play left tackle last season despite practicing at guard throughout the spring and summer. This year, he has spent most of his time working as Thomas’s left tackle understudy.
“Even though I hate how it comes because I love A.T., I’m very excited for the opportunity,” Ezeudu said on Wednesday. “It just feels like it’s coming back full circle in a way.”
A 2022 third-round pick out of North Carolina, Ezeudu said he feels better prepared this time.
“In order to get better at anything, all you need is reps,” Ezeudu said. “I’ve gotten a lot of reps in the spring. I’ve gotten tons of reps in camp, and I’ve continued to get a lot of reps now, too.”
Ezeudu has also been soaking up knowledge from his teammates, as well as new offensive line coaches Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz.
“I’ve been learning a lot of things,” Ezeudu said. “Coach Carm, A.T., Jermaine, just a lot of things.
“Playing tackle is different from playing guard. You have to actually be very intentional because if you’re not, then in a split second the dude could just go past you.”
Eluemunor, who worked for several seasons before becoming a full-time starter, has been particularly helpful.
“Josh has kind of been following me around, watching me on the sideline when I’m playing in games, asking me certain questions about why I do certain things a certain type of way,” said Eluemunor, who is in his eighth season. “As a backup swing tackle, you have to be ready for any opportunity that you get. And this is the opportunity now, and I believe that he’s ready for that.
“And I’ll be with him all week. I’ll be with him out there on Sunday. And if he has any questions, then I’ll be able to help him. I’m going to watch film on all the rushers we’re going against, so I’ll be able to give him pointers and stuff, too, and, kind of take the burden on my shoulders to make it a point of emphasis to make sure he goes out there and does his job and has all the confidence in the world to do it.”
At least for now, the Giants appear to want to bypass the option of moving Eluemunor to left tackle and inserting Evan Neal at right tackle. While Eluemunor has significant left tackle experience in the NFL, that move potentially weakens two positions rather than one.
“If I have to [move to left tackle], I’ll do it,” Eluemunor said. “But I believe in EZ and I like playing right tackle.”
Eluemunor said “I think people kind of don’t understand how hard it is mentally and physically” to switch sides with little to no practice.
“I don’t really know how to compare it to anything, just in regular life,” Eluemunor said. “But just thinking about you’re used to doing something a certain way, and then out of nowhere with like two, three days notice, you have to switch it. It’s tough.”
What about Neal?
By starting Ezeudu the Giants are bypassing the 2022 No. 7 overall pick. Perhaps that is about making only one switch on the line and allowing Eluemunor, whose 97.7 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking efficiency score is the best of his career, to stay at right tackle. Perhaps they don’t think Neal, who did not begin to practice until midway through training camp after offseason ankle surgery, is ready. Perhaps they simply think Ezeudu is a better option.
Neal would like to play. He was adamant when I spoke with him on Wednesday that he was ready to play. He was also supportive of Ezeudu.
“Josh is a guy that comes in and he works extremely hard. He tries to do everything the right way. So, hey, the coaches called his number, so I’m happy for him,” Neal said. “Whatever I’m asked to do, that’s what I’m going to do. And whatever decision that the coaching staff makes, ultimately I’m going to be okay with that.
“Whether Josh gets to start, whether I get to start, whoever, however it shakes out, I’m okay with it.”
Neal also indicated he would be willing to work at left tackle.
“Left tackle is something that I can do if need be,” he said. “I’d be open to it but, that’s the coach’s call.”
Final thoughts
Ezeudu can’t, and won’t, be Thomas. He knows it.
“Andrew Thomas, A.T., he’s an incredible player,” Ezeudu said. “My main goal if I am out there I know it took A.T., he’s in year five to become who he is. I’m not trying to be A.T., I’m just trying to be me.
“I know with time I’ll get better, too.”
As good as Thomas is, perhaps it is comforting that this had not been a vintage season for Thomas.
Per PFF, 21.1% of the pressure on Jones this season had come through the left tackle spot. That’s more than any other position. Thomas’s 71.8 PFF pass-blocking grade and 95.9 pass-blocking efficiency score are the worst since his miserable rookie season.
“As a line we can just all do just a tiny bit more, too, that we’ll be able to offset the impact of losing him,” Ezeudu said.
The Giants could probably also be expected to use a tight end like Chris Manhertz on Ezeudu’s side more often, and to chip and slide protections to help him.
“The next person has to step up,” Daboll said. “Just like Azeez [Ojulari] had to do that for Kayvon [Thibodeaux]. Just like [Darius[ Slayton had to do that for Malik [Nabers]. That’s the expectation of being on the football team and being ready to go when your number’s called.”
