Three rookie Giants may see significant playing time
by Craig J. Santucci | Managing Editor
When the Giants drafted offensive lineman Justin Pugh in 2013 from Syracuse University no one, including Justin expected him to be a starting player in his rookie year and the same goes for Odell Beckham Jr.
When the Giants drafted wide receiver Beckham in 2014 from LSU only a few thought he might have an outside chance to start in his rookie season. Then during training camp Beckham injured his hamstring and those high hopes quickly slipped away. Understand that the New York Giants hardly ever start rookies. But in today’s NFL keeping high-priced talent on the bench as depth is not possible.
As we know Beckham and Pugh stepped in as rookies and played extremely well for a franchise that lacked youth and play-makers. It was also a breath of fresh air for the fan base.
This upcoming season you might find three rookies with accelerated learning curves with the opportunity to start. With Will Beatty down and out until November the left tackle position is up for grabs. This could point to Ereck Flowers the Giants 1st round draft pick getting a chance to win this position.
The reviews on Flowers from his college coaches are not favorable when considering how high he was drafted. The knock on Flowers is that his footwork is down right terrible and uses brute force and size to off-set his short comings.
On the defensive side of the ball…every knows that the paper-thin Giants needed a safety. On draft day Jerry Reese moved up to get Alabama star safety Landon Collins. Collins is almost a lock to start the season at Strong Safety but the ease and simplicity of “plug and play ” at defensive end will not happen.
Defensive End Robert Ayers who might have been the most under rated players on the Giants roster in 2014 had been penciled in as the starting left defensive end. His recent injury during the “non contact” OTA’s might have pushed Owamagbe Odighizuwa into the spotlight. Loosing Ayers would be a huge blow to already underachieving defensive.
With Mathius Kiwanuka not being resigned and Damontre Moore still trying to find his NFL mojo, “Double O” may just get a chance to start for the New York Giants in 2015.
I hope he is up to it.