The New York Giants selected Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The pressure has been on Thomas to show that pedigree early on in his career but thus far he’s still finding his way.
Thomas was the first tackle taken in the draft, but is lagging behind the other tackles selected after him in several key categories.
QB pressure % allowed by 1st RD OTs
1. Tristan Wirfs, Bucs – 3.4%
2. Jedrick Wills Jr, Browns – 3.8%
3. Mekhi Becton, Jets – 5.4%
4. Austin Jackson, Dolphins – 8.1%
5. Andrew Thomas, Giants – 10.6% pic.twitter.com/Z6oHFiSoLk— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 27, 2020
First-round tackles ranked by pressure % allowed with screens, play-action and RPOs removed:
🔸 Tristan Wirfs (4.2%)
🔸 Jedrick Wills Jr. (4.4%)▪️ Mekhi Becton (6.2%)
▪️ Austin Jackson (10.4%)
▪️ Andrew Thomas (12%)— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) December 24, 2020
The Giants made a change in the coaching ranks along the offensive line midway through the season, moving Marc Columbo out in favor of Dave DeGuglielmo. The change has been met with mixed results. The Giants are no longer dominant in the run game and the quarterback pressures have increased.
DeGuglielmo has been trying to spoon-feed the unit, which contains three rookies (Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux, Matt Peart and a converted guard/tackle in Nick Gates at center) new techniques and ideas but it could take some time before they take hold. He is simply sticking to stressing the fundamentals at this point.
Thomas has taken some large steps forward as the season has gone on. He began the year completely overmatched and has been gradually improving as the season wore on. The bottom line is it is too early to predict if the Giants have a future star or a bust on their hands.
DeGuglielmo spoke about Thomas on his media session on Tuesday. He is not about to give up on the Giants’ prized rookie.
“As a player, I think he’s a tremendously aware. He sees things most rookies don’t see,” said the coach known as ‘Guge.’ “These things are going to happen. I think he’ll tell you that he’s a pretty good student of the game and as long as we go over things and talk about thing, about the ‘what-ifs” if you will, I think he’s done a tremendous job throughout the year and he’ll continue to do that.
“My opinion hasn’t changed since the last time. He’s got talent and he’s playing obviously at a premier position in this league. It’s not [easy] to do. I couldn’t do it. Never could, never be able to, but I see the competitiveness that’s going to take him to have a solid career. Now, he’s a rookie. Rookies and kickers, they all go in the same bucket with me, you know they’re all over there. They’re their own little grouping of individuals. You need them, they’re necessary and they’re important to your program but it always takes time for a rookie, any rookie to elevate his game to what the others will be.
“He’ll get there. He’ll get there. I promise you this guy will get there, one way of another he’ll get there.”
The Giants certainly hope Guge is right.
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