New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning explains the key towards having a dominant offensive line this upcoming season.
When it comes to the offensive line unit for Big Blue, Eli Manning has experienced a tough time for nearly a decade. For the last truly dominant New York Giants front five, you’d have to go back to the David Diehl-Rich Seubert-Shaun O’Hara-Chris Snee-Kareem McKenzie unit, circa the 2009 season.
Problems have occurred across the offensive line basically every season since then. Thus, one of the main concerns for the Giants this offseason is improving that aspect of the game.
When speaking on this with Bob Papa and Charlie Weis on “The Opening Drive” on SiriusXM NFL Radio, per Dan Schneier of 247Sports, quarterback Eli Manning explained the keys to making the offensive line what it once was. And in the process, greatly complimented his new left tackle, Nate Solder.
“You get a guy, Nate Solder, in there at left tackle and Nate is obviously a tremendous player, but he gets it. He just gets it,” Manning said. “He knows how the offensive line is supposed to work together as a group, has them in there early, has them eating lunch together, has that bind that I always thought was the most important with the offensive line.”
The two-time Super Bowl MVP also touched on the chemistry that needs to be in place with this unit.
“It’s not having the five best players at each position,” Manning mentioned. “It’s having five guys that just work together, they communicate, they’ve got a toughness about them, they’ve got a pride in their job and, hey, being able to get that third-and-two, being able to run the ball, being able to pass protect and give us enough time and pick up the stunts and blitzes. So I think [Solder’s] kind of bringing that attitude to this group.”
With training camp beginning on July 25, the Giants will look to go into 2018 with a clean-slate attitude overall. That hopefully will include the offensive line unit, as it was ranked 26th in the NFL last season via Pro Football Focus. However with the signing of Solder this offseason, Big Blue seems to be going in the right direction.
