Brian Daboll won't judge Giants' offensive line until after first game
Giants offensive lineman Jon Feliciano snaps the ball during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Tuesday. Credit: Brad Penner
Brian Daboll isn’t too worried about his offensive line.
That could come later this week.
After the starting unit had a somewhat shaky performance in Friday night’s Fan Fest scrimmage, which included a number of penalties for holding and false starts, missed assignments picking up blitzers, and crowded pockets for the quarterback, Daboll said he won’t get a true sense of where the revamped group is at until he sees some work in actual preseason games. The Giants will play at New England on Thursday.
“I think the best evaluation will come when we play the game,” Daboll said. “Everything is important, but when you’re actually bringing down guys and tackling and quarterbacks are live, that’s when you get the best evaluation.”
Truth be told, despite the lack of cohesion and consistency displayed on Friday, the group still was better than most of the lines the Giants have trotted out for regular-season games during the last few seasons. And there were some bright spots.
Andrew Thomas, who was flagged twice in the span of three plays, looked strong and solid holding up to some bull rushes. Center Jon Feliciano, who missed five practices with hydration issues, was able to get out in front of Saquon Barkley as a blocker on a 21-yard swing pass. And while defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams each had one standout play, they were hardly the game-wreckers they have shown themselves to be in practices.There were even one or two holes for Saquon Barkley to run through.
Remember: The Giants’ goal when putting this group together was not to create dominance but functionality. Given the recent versions of the line, that would be a step forward.
“I think they are jelling,” Daboll said. “I think the guys are communicating well, they are working together. We still have a long way to go, just like every position, but I think they are moving in the right direction.”
Thursday, then, will paint a truer picture of their progress.
Notes & quotes: Rookie G Marcus McKethan, carted off the field Friday night, was diagnosed Saturday with a torn right ACL. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
