Evan Neal, Giants' O-line ready for Jaguars' challenge
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) blocks Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) during the second half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Credit: AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack
The Jaguars’ Josh Allen was the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and his edge-rushing partner, Travon Walker, was the first overall pick in 2022.
The Giants’ Andrew Thomas was the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and his offensive tackle partner, Evan Neal, was the seventh overall pick in 2022.
On Sunday, the four talented young SEC alumni will face one another for the first time as pros in matchups that should help decide the teams’ game in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars figure to move their defenders around, but for the most part Allen likely will be on Thomas’ side and Walker on Neal’s in an all-rookie battle.
“We’ll have our work cut out for us,” coach Brian Daboll said of handling the Jags’ pass rushers. “It’ll be a good matchup.”
Thomas has established himself as one of the league’s better young tackles. Neal has won over many skeptics over the past month. The fact that he appears to be up to Sunday’s challenge is a testament to how far he has come since a nationally televised nightmare of a game against the Cowboys in Week 3.
“I feel like my teammates believed in me even after that game,” Neal said after practice on Wednesday. “They gave me nothing but encouraging words. Games like that you just put in the past, learn from them and focus on getting better.”
Neal said it was not difficult for him to move on.
“Nobody wants to play like that, but the only thing you can do is move forward,” he said. “You can’t dwell on things like that.”
Said center Jon Feliciano, “It just proves what everyone already knew about him. He’s a guy that really cares about his job, cares about his performance.He’s going to put in the work in the classroom and the weight room. He does so many extra things that aren’t asked of him.”
Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has been working on some technique tweaks with Neal, and they seem to be working.
Now comes another test.
“I played against Walker twice in college,” said Neal, who played at Alabama against Walker’s Georgia teams. “He’s a real powerful guy, explosive, strong guy, long arms. Josh Allen, he’s a real fast guy, isn’t as heavy, feels like he plays with a high motor.”
Allen has three sacks this season – 23 ½ in his career – and Walker has one.
The Jaguars are 2-4, but all four of their losses have been by eight points or fewer, and they clearly are a better team than they were during a chaotic 3-14 campaign in 2021 that included the firing of coach Urban Meyer after 13 games.
Even though the Giants are 5-1, oddsmakers have made Jacksonville a slight favorite in the game.
The Giants have been more consistent running the ball than throwing it so far, relying heavily on Saquon Barkley, who leads the team in rushing yards with 616 and in receptions with 21.
No currently healthy wide receiver has a reception of more than 26 yards.
To get the deep passing game going, Daniel Jones will need plenty of protection. Thomas and Neal aim to give it to him, a prospect that looked dicey for Neal back in that Cowboys game — the Giants’ only loss this season.
“You’re not always going to have your best game,” Daboll said. “You’re probably going to wish you could do things a little bit better. That’s everybody, not just Evan. Come in, see what you can improve on, work hard to improve and get ready to play the next week.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
