Giants' Offensive Line Woes Exposed: Sacks, Pressures, and Yards Before Contact

The New York Giants' offensive line faced significant challenges throughout the 2022 NFL season. According to the analysis, the initial offensive line combination of left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Jon Runyan Jr., center John Michael Schmitz, right guard Greg Van Roten, and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor struggled in both the passing and running game.

In the passing game, this offensive line combination allowed 14 sacks (6.0%) and 86 pressures (35.8%) over just 6 games. The unit also faced a blitz on 27.1% of their snaps during that stretch. This often led to the Giants facing third-and-long situations, with 146 third-down plays last season requiring 6 or more yards, and 68 of those needing at least 10 yards.

The Giants' running game also suffered, ranking 20th in running back yards before contact per rush at 0.87 yards. To be fair, the starting offensive linemen rarely worked together during the 2022 training camp due to injuries, which likely contributed to their struggles.

Looking ahead, the Giants are hopeful that Evan Neal's transition to guard can help improve the offensive line's performance. Neal was the team's best run blocker in 2022, and the coaches believe he can make a successful move inside. If Neal can solidify the guard position, it could help the Giants establish a more balanced offensive attack in the upcoming 2023 season.