Tag: justin pugh

Giants’ interior offensive line was worse in 2023 than you realize

The New York Giants’ offensive line has been one of the league’s worst over the past decade and one of the main reasons they have sunk to the bottom of the NFL standings.

Many thought the team had taken care of the line by using major resources in the draft and in free agency in recent years but to little avail.

If anything, the line has gotten worse.

Last season, the Giants allowed 85 sacks, the second most in NFL history behind the 1986 Philadelphia Eagles (104) and 20 more than any other team allowed.

More specifically, their interior offensive line surrendered more sacks than the entire five-man unit of 20 NFL teams.

The Giants have an All-Pro left tackle in Andrew Thomas, but he missed seven games in the first half of the season due to a hamstring issue. Right tackle Evan Neal, another top-10 draft pick, was also hampered by injuries and has been largely inconsistent.

The Giants drafted a top center last year in John Michael Schmitz, but he injured his shoulder on a poorly executed version of the ‘tush push’ causing him to miss four games.

The Giants’ guards were also in flux. Ben Bredeson got the most playing time and injuries to others led them to pull veteran Justin Pugh “off the couch.”

The results showed as the Giants were clearly dominated in the offensive trenches last season. This year, they believe they’ve cauterized the wounds by signing veterans Jon Runyon Jr., and Jermaine Eluemunor to fill the guard roles.

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New York Giants fans can’t be mad at Saquon Barkley, says Justin Pugh

New York Giants free-agent offensive lineman Justin Pugh is telling Giant fans on social media to not blame running back Saquon Barkley for his departure to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Barkley, who did not receive a contract offer from the Giants in free agency, agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the rival Eagles on Monday.

Pugh says it’s just business.

The Giants did not elect to use the franchise tag on Barkley this year as they did in 2023. Instead, they allowed him to test the market and the Eagles swooped in and bowled him over with a deal worth well more than the Giants were willing to offer.

Barkley, as stated in the X post by Pugh, did indeed give everything he had for Big Blue in his six seasons after being selected No. 2 overall out of Penn State in the 2018 NFL draft.

It remains good business for NFL teams to not “overpay” running backs who are on their second or third contracts. Many teams are opting for a “running back by committee” approach to their rushing attacks, a strategy that has worked in places such as Kansas City and previously, Philadelphia.

Pugh, who will be 34 in August, is not likely to be re-signed by the Giants after returning to the team last season and starting 12 games after New York suffered another unusually high spate of injuries along the offensive line.



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Justin Pugh wants to stay with Giants, thinks team needs a pass rusher

Long before the New York Giants signed offensive lineman Justin Pugh this past season, the 2013 first-round pick was open about his desire to return to East Rutherford.

Pugh was waiting for the right opportunity after a season-ending knee injury concluded his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.

When the Giants called, Pugh looked to make the best of the opportunity in his second stint with the team.

Pugh prefers to remain with the Giants for the 2024 season but expects to have interest from other teams.

“Fortunately, I had some friends get hired elsewhere in the NFL this year,” Pugh told the New York Daily News. “My former coach Kliff Kingsbury and former offensive line coach [Bobby Johnson] are in Washington right now. Ben McAdoo, my former head coach, is in New England right now. The Cardinals are obviously in my backyard [living in Arizona].

“I love New York. I want to be back in New York. But if they have no ‘want’ to have me back on the team, I obviously can’t just wait around like I’m at the prom with no date. You want someone to dance with.”

Pugh has always had a love for the franchise, but it’s unclear if the Giants have a spot for him on the roster moving forward.

Whether he returns or not in 2024, one area Pugh believes the Giants must address is along the defensive edge.

“Getting a guy to pair with Dexter and Thibodeaux that is a closer, a certified threat. I would spend the most money on that position,” Pugh proclaimed. “Go get a guy that’s done it before at a high level. You look at Josh Allen, the defensive end from the Jaguars. I know he’s a free agent. I think you build from the D-line.

“If I was putting a priority on positions in the NFL, quarterback clearly is one, defensive line is two. And I would have eight of ’em. That’s how the Giants won all their Super Bowls. They had the best defensive line in football. That should be the top free agent priority for the Giants is to get another edge rusher. You need to have a guy that makes offenses lose sleep on Monday or Tuesday when you’re getting ready to play them.”

The Giants had depth on the defensive line when they won their last two Super Bowls. With Azeez Ojulari struggling to stay on the field, the Giants do have a need for another edge rusher to play opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The Giants have plenty of work to do this offseason retooling a roster full of positions needing upgrades. It will be interesting to see both how much of a priority they make adding an edge rusher and if there is a fit to bring Pugh back.

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7 Giants who could be playing their last game in blue vs. Eagles

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Justin Pugh was proud that he was able to come ‘right off the couch’ and play competitively on the field this season.

Good for him for feeling that way. He’s a good guy to have in the locker room and a professional all around. Unfortunately, while the spirit was willing, the flesh, at times, was not.

Pugh got pushed around pretty good in some games and the Giants would be better off with a younger, healthier option on their roster.

They already have that in-house and will likely add a few more this offseason.

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New York Giants injury report: 87players limited in practice

The New York Giants returned to the field on Thursday for their first full practice ahead of a Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Rams — one day removed from a walkthrough.

The injury report was lengthy to open the week and that trend continued 24 hours later.

While everyone practiced on at least a limited basis, several key players remained limited — seven in total with 13 players listed on the official injury report.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participant: CB Detone Banks (shoulder), TE Lawrence Cager (groin), NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee) P Jamie Gillan (groin/knee), OL Justin Pugh (elbow)

Full participant: RB Saquon Barkley (elbow), OL Ben Bredeson (quad), CB Adoree’ Jackson (ankle), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (quad), OL John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), TE Darren Waller (knee)

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Dexter Lawrence, 4 others miss practice

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday ahead of a Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium.

Because the Giants played on Christmas Day and are on a short week, head coach Brian Daboll limited the team to a walkthrough. They will conduct full practices on both Thursday and Friday.

Coming out of Monday’s game, the Giants were relatively healthy despite a few players (Darren Waller, Justin Pugh) getting banged up. Daboll said everyone would participate on at least a limited basis.

“We’re doing a walkthrough today so everybody will be participating in the walkthrough,” Daboll said.

The lie detector test determined that was a lie.

Several players sat out on Wednesday and several more were limited, including punter Jamie Gillan, who suffered a groin injury two weeks ago and a knee injury in the Giants’ loss to Philadelphia.

“We’ll see tomorrow but trending in the right direction,” Daboll said of Gillan.

The Giants’ full (projected) Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: CB Detone Banks (shoulder), TE Lawrence Cager (groin), NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee)

Limited participant: RB Saquon Barkley (elbow), OL Ben Bredeson (quad), P Jamie Gillan (groin/knee), CB Adoree’ Jackson (ankle), OL Justin Pugh (elbow), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (quad), OL John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), TE Darren Waller (knee)

Full participant: N/A

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Dexter Lawrence continues to miss practice

The New York Giants enjoyed an off day on Friday with their final practice scheduled for Saturday ahead of a Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With most players away from team facilities, that meant little change in terms of injury status. However, the Giants still moved forward with a projected injury report.

Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was a projected non-participant due to a hamstring issue that has plagued him for several weeks.

“He’s still working through his hamstring,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters this week.

Even with an extra day off this week, Sexy Dexy seems unlikely to suit up on Monday afternoon against the Eagles.

The Giants’ full (projected) Friday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee), OL Evan Neal (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (groin)

Limited participant: DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), RB Matt Breida (hamstring), LB Carter Coughlin (neck), P Jamie Gillan (groin), S Xavier McKinney (illness)

Full participant: OL Justin Pugh (calf/neck), TE Darren Waller (hamstring), RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring), OL Matt Peart (shoulder)

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Dexter Lawrence, Xavier McKinney not practicing

The New York Giants were back on the practice field Thursday ahead of a scheduled day off and were down a starter.

Kicker Randy Bullock has been placed on season-ending injured reserve (IR) with a hamstring issue. He will be replaced by fellow kicker Cade York, who is currently on the practice squad, for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, all eyes were on the Giants’ trio of defensive tackles — Dexter Lawrence, A’Shawn Robinson, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, all of whom are banged up.

Lawrence and Nunez-Roches continued to sit out while Robinson was limited.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), S Xavier McKinney (illness) DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee), OL Evan Neal (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (groin)

Limited participant: DT A’Shawn Robinson (back), RB Matt Breida (hamstring), LB Carter Coughlin (neck), P Jamie Gillan (groin)

Full participant: OL Justin Pugh (calf/neck), TE Darren Waller (hamstring), RB Gary Brightwell (hamstring), OL Matt Peart (shoulder)

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Ben Bredeson praises Giants’ culture after New Orleans embarrassment

The New York Giants’ offensive line has had a tough year, to say the least. They have been ravaged by injuries which has led them to basically start a new lineup every week.

The injuries have disrupted any traction and continuity the unit was hoping to forge this season. As a result, the offense has sputtered and the Giants have come up short on the scoreboard in nine of their 14 games.

One constant along the line has been journeyman Ben Bredeson, a versatile player who has been asked to play all along the line. Bredeson has started 13 of the Giants’ 14 games and leads all offensive players in snaps this season with 810.

The line had been holding up — barely — during the team’s three-game winning streak until they ran into a buzzsaw of a defense in the New Orleans Saints this past weekend.

The Giants’ line was completely overwhelmed and overmatched by the Saints’ defensive front. Quarterback Tommy DeVito got tossed around and pounded way too frequently and Saquon Barkley and the running game went nowhere.

Bredeson was asked what happened down in the Big Easy on Sunday.

“We just didn’t execute well enough,” he said. “You know there are things to improve that we’ve addressed in the film and things were looking forward to correct heading into Philly.”

The Giants face the Eagles on Christmas afternoon, a team that has beaten them in 12 of their last 14 meetings, including the most recent four.

But the sins of New Orleans are on display for all to see. The communication was poor and the talent level was too low of rhyme to compete. Justin Pugh, a former first-round pick who the Giants signed this season ‘right off the couch,’ looked completely washed and perhaps should return to said couch.

Bredeson said it seemed that the line was ‘one piece off’ on run plays and wasn’t able to adjust to the stunts and movements of the Saints defensive line.

“It’s part of the job and you’ve got to block guys and they’re allowed to move so we just have to work in tandem and work as unit and handle the movement and get on our guys and get Saquon through there,” he said.

Bredeson said the unit was not discouraged and will continue to work to improve.

“We have a great culture here. It’s a very process-oriented mindset, that’s something that (Brian Daboll) preaches all the time,” he said. “We’re looking to improve from the last week and correct the mistakes and move forward to the next week and go win a game one week at a time.”

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New York Giants’ Evan Neal doubtful vs. New Orleans Saints in Week 15

The New York Giants wrapped up their week of practice on Friday and are about as healthy as they’ve been all season.

The one lingering health issue is that of right tackle Evan Neal, who’s still dealing with an ankle injury. And while he did return to practice this week, head coach Brian Daboll says he is doubtful to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Daboll would not commit to Neal reassuming his role as the starter once he does return.

The other question facing the Giants is the status of tight end Darren Waller, who was designated to return from injured reserve (IR) on Thursday. Daboll says a decision on the veteran will be made over the next 24 hours.

Waller ultimately expects to be activated and play.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Saints can be found below:

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Out: N/A

Doubtful: OL Evan Neal (ankle)

Questionable: NT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), OL Justin Pugh (calf), TE Darren Waller (hamstring)

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Out: RB Kendre Miller (ankle), DE Isaiah Foskey (quad), DE Payton Turner (toe)

Doubtful: N/A

Questionable: WR Chris Olave (ankle), OL Ryan Ramczyk (rest/knee), RB Jamaal Williams (groin)

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