New York Giants veteran right tackle Chad Wheeler excited for position battle with Mike Remmers leading up to the season.
The offensive line was one of the biggest disappointments for the New York Giants in 2018 was their offensive line. The front five was tied for 22nd in the NFL with 47 sacks allowed the whole season. That number was the most sacks quarterback Eli Manning has had to take in a season throughout his entire 15-year career.
Arguably, the most ineffective individual on that offensive line was right tackle Chad Wheeler. In his second year in the pros, Wheeler scored a below-average 47.4 Pro Football Focus grade. Therefore, Wheeler was the lowest-graded player on the entire roster. Wheeler also scored the worst run-blocking grade in the NFL in 2018. Not great for a guy trying to make a name for himself.
This offseason, the Giants went out and signed free agent tackle Mike Remmers. He spent the last two seasons playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur was Remmers’ offensive coordinator during the 2017 season.
Wheeler and Remmers will be undergoing a position battle for that right tackle spot leading up to the regular season. Wheeler told reporters this past weekend that he’s looking forward to the competition.
“Just a very competitive battle,” Wheeler predicted, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I’m going to bring my best, he’s going to bring his best. We’re gonna let the chips fall where they fall.”
Despite Wheeler’s troubles on the offensive line last year, the former USC Trojan is staying confident in what he brings to the organization.
“Obviously I’m still here,” Wheeler said. “I showed flashes, I guess. I saw some plays where I shined and did well and then other plays were just, I don’t know if I was patient enough or didn’t get off the ball enough or just my set, hand placement, got to get lower in the run game, get my second step down. There’s all these little things I’m trying to become very consistent at so I help our O-line ascend.”
The offensive line will also consist of another position battle at center. Jon Halapio and Spencer Pulley were both re-signed and both have a chance to start on the interior of this offensive line in 2019.
