New York Giants fans are concerned that right tackle Evan Neal may not live up to his first-round pedigree.
The seventh overall selection in last year’s NFL draft out of Alabama had a trying rookie season and fans are hoping he can make the jump like another Giants first-rounder — left tackle Andrew Thomas — did in his career.
Landon Dickerson, who will start at guard for the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in Super Bowl LVII, was a teammate of Neal’s for two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He knows Neal well and is not concerned.
“Great teammate, good dude,” Dickerson told the New York Post. “He can be quiet at times. I was with him in his younger years at Alabama. He didn’t say a whole lot, but when he did he could be funny when he wanted to, he always knew how to have a good time, he always came to work every day trying to get better.
“The more you do something the more experience you get at it. The NFL in itself is an adjustment and for him, getting used to the guys he’s playing around, the speed of the game, how the offense is run, the more time you spend in it the better you get at it.”
That’s exactly what happened with Thomas. He was a mess early on, went through some injury issues, and then became a Pro Bowl-caliber player in Year 3.
Neal was clearly vexed by the speed of NFL edge rushers this season. His timing was off and he battled injury, which slowed him further.
Giant fans hope they can take Dickerson’s word on Neal.
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