At least the Giants have symmetry on how to handle former first-round draft pick Evan Neal’s complicated future.
Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson joined general manager Joe Schoen and Neal himself in balking at the idea that the struggling second-year right tackle would be better off playing guard — where he started one of his three seasons at Alabama — whenever he returns from the ankle injury that will sideline him Monday for a fourth straight game.
“He doesn’t have the body of work to say, ‘He’s not a tackle,’ so let’s give him the time and opportunity. Part of that is being healthy,” offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said. “Let’s not automatically assume somebody can’t because they don’t have the body of work. Let’s give him the chance to prove that he can. I have to coach better, he has to play better. That goes to a lot of guys. I just hope he gets back soon so we can give him some opportunities.”
There have been examples of highly drafted offensive tackles who salvaged spiraling careers by becoming serviceable guards, including Giants’ 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers and the Raiders’ Robert Gallery (No. 2 overall, after Eli Manning, in 2004).
“If you draft a guy in the first round as a tackle and you move to guard, is anybody going to be happy with a serviceable guard?” Johnson said. “No, give him the opportunity to put the body of work that he can or cannot do something he was drafted to do. I know right now we want him to be better. He wants to be better.”
Neal has allowed 30 pressures (two sacks) on 309 pass-blocking snaps and ranks No. 97 among offensive tackles in pass-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus.
“I would be curious as to why people think since someone struggled at tackle, why they would all of a sudden be a better guard,” Johnson said. “Things happen even faster [inside] because there’s less space to react to it.That’s the flip side of the coin that nobody ever really talks about.”
Neal also missed four games as a rookie who allowed 52 pressures (eight sacks).
“I know he’s working hard to try to get back,” Johnson said. “He’s still missing a lot of reps. We have to catch him up as fast as he can when he comes back.”
DT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DT A’Shawn Robinson (hamstring), LB Isaiah Simmons (ankle), TE Daniel Bellinger (illness) and WR Parris Campbell (knee) are listed as questionable. Campbell was a new addition to the report.
Coach Brian Daboll expressed confidence in the availability of both defensive tackles, saying that Lawrence participated in some individual reps and team periods during Friday and Saturday practices. Bellinger came to the facility “still not feeling good” and was sent home, Daboll said.
Running backs coach Jeff Nixon reportedly is a leading candidate to become Syracuse’s offensive coordinator under new head coach Fran Brown.
Nixon called it a “great opportunity” and said his goal is to be a coordinator and ultimately a head coach.
“There have been some talks,” said Nixon, who worked with Brown at Baylor for two years. “Right now, I’m really just focused on what we are doing here. I’m going to be here for the rest of the season, and I’m excited about the opportunity we have to finish this season strong.”