It can look different and feel different, but it is only different if, in fact, it actually is different.
Soon enough, all the good, positive vibes mustered by the Giants about their offensive line this summer will give way to the stark reality of first-and-10 in Washington for the season opener.
At that point, feelings and vibes get pushed aside in favor of performance on the field.
“I think there’s some truth to that,’’ left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “I think there’s a lot of buy-in, but you really don’t know the character of a team until you hit adversity. We’ve got to put it on film when it counts. I think we’re moving in the right direction. When we’re faced with our opponent and adversity, that’s when you’ll see who we really are.’’
Sage words by one of the Giants’ most pragmatic players — also one of their best players.
Thomas coming off the physically unable to perform list this past Tuesday was the shot-in-the-arm the offensive line needed to gear up for the regular season.
That group worked throughout training camp without Thomas as he finished up his rehab following foot surgery.
The plan always was to get him back this week.
The next hurdle is seeing if the process can move rapidly enough to put him in the starting lineup on opening day.
If he makes it, the Giants will return the exact same starting five on their offensive line.
Thomas, left guard Jon Runyan Jr., center John Michael Schmitz, right guard Greg Van Roten and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor all lined up together to face the Vikings in the 2024 season opener.
Thomas did not make it through the season, going down in Week 6.
That group battled and struggled through all the losing without him until Runyan, after 13 games, was lost to an ankle injury that eventually needed surgery.
The front office was encouraged by the work of this group before Thomas went down and out.
By the end of the season, the Giants ranked 23rd out of 32 in offensive line play, according to Pro Football Focus.
Those who wanted the Giants to overhaul a position that has haunted them for more than a decade received no satisfaction, as the same starting five returns intact.
The depth is expected to be improved, though, with the signing of veteran tackle James Hudson III, the selection of Marcus Mbow in the fifth round of the draft, and the change of position to guard by Evan Neal that the team hopes will save his flagging career.
“Getting A.T. back has been a big thing,’’ assistant general manager Brandon Brown said. “He’s going to be an anchor for us. Just the strides that JMS has taken, his hand placement being better; getting a healthy Jon Runyan Jr.
“Then just look at the depth we’ve been able to create in terms of bringing in Marcus Mbow; bringing back some more guys from last year; GVR being really the straw that stirs the drink from the character [and] morale standpoint, doing a lot of the off-field things that aren’t seen, from the O-line dinners to the extra film sessions. He’s been really the torchbearer in that group that carries a heavy voice. The synergy is really cool to see.
“Even James Hudson, when you see the physical nature that he plays with, it becomes infectious. He plays with, I call it, that controlled aggression where you see it from him, you see it from Marcus Mbow, and a lot of those guys that are around him. They know, hey, this is the kind of brand of ball we want to play, and it spreads to that room.’’
What sounds like a solid plan in the summer often gives way to desperation in the fall and winter, especially with the Giants and their offensive line follies.
The early returns were promising.
The Giants used four quarterbacks in the first two preseason games, and they dropped back 89 times.
The offensive line allowed only one sack and there was minimal pressure in the pocket.
“For me personally, I don’t really put too much stock in the preseason,’’ Eluemunor said. “I think it doesn’t really count for much. Obviously, it looks good, but you can’t really base things off preseason. I think everyone individually is doing what they’re meant to be doing, and we practice hard going against a really good defensive line, so that helps, too. But I wouldn’t put too much stock in the preseason because you don’t win any Super Bowls in the preseason.
“Sometimes, technically you’re not going against their best players. So for me personally and the standard I have and I’m sure the standard we have in the O-line room, we’re not really looking at it too much. Obviously, it’s probably cool for the fans to see the O-line perform like that, but as an O-line, we have such a high standard and where we want to be that we’re just going out there and doing our jobs.’’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
