Tag: Ereck Flowers

Andrew Whitworth: Giants turned me down in favor of Ereck Flowers

Andrew Whitworth wanted to play for the New York Giants in 2017 but when he called the team, they told him they preferred Ereck Flowers.

Once upon a time, veteran offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth called the New York Giants and informed them he’d like to play for them. Why? Because he knew quarterback Eli Manning and wanted to help shore up the O-Line in front of him.

But Whitworth was rejected.

In a phone call to the Giants, Whitworth was informed — likely by general manager Jerry Reese — that the team intended to stick with Ereck Flowers, their 2015 first-round pick, instead.

“I actually had reached out and wanted to be a Giant just because I knew Eli Manning really well,” Whitworth told the New York Post. “But they kinda said no because they thought they were gonna continue with Ereck Flowers at left tackle, and that obviously didn’t end up working the next year. Once we got into it and realized that wasn’t an option, the Jets showed some interest but it wasn’t really something that I was that interested in doing.”

As Whitworth notes, things did not work out with Flowers. He was a complete bust with the Giants, who released him at the conclusion of the 2018 regular season after he was benched in favor of Chad Wheeler.

Things went much differently for Whitworth, who was named a First Team All-Pro in 2017. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod that season and then helped lead the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018. Although they lost, Whitworth hung around and now finds himself heading back to The Big Game this year.

Even at the age of 40, Whitworth continues to plug away and play at an extremely high level. The Giants, meanwhile, have relentlessly cycled through offensive tackles and will need another this offseason.

Hindsight may be 20/20, but it’s these type of personnel decisions that have the Giants in the state they’re currently in.

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Several Washington players stand out in ESPN’s win rates measuring success in the trenches

ESPN’s new metrics further prove Washington as having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, despite all of the injuries.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

There are all sorts of ways to measure player efficiency in 2022. Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus first come to mind when using different forms of data to evaluate individual and team performance.

ESPN Analytics created a new metric in 2021 using NFL’s Next Gen Stats to measure individual and team success in the trenches. ESPN’s new metric measures pass-rush win rate, stop-run win rate, pass-block win rate and run-block win rate.

Washington’s team was built to win in the trenches. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned in 2021, with defensive end Chase Young lost for the season in Week 10 and fellow defensive end Montez Sweat also missing several games.

The WFT also had numerous injuries along the offensive line, including playing the final weeks with their fourth-string center.

According to ESPN’s win rates, Washington held up well in the trenches despite the injuries.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ranked No. 8 amongst defensive tackles in pass rush win rate. No Washington interior defensive lineman ranked inside the top 10 for run stop win rate. However, as a team, Washington ranked No. 13 in team run-block win rate.

Washington ranked No. 19 in team pass-rush win rate. That’s certainly a disappointment considering what Washington has invested in its front four. Even before the injuries, Young had issues getting to the passer consistently.

Washington’s offensive line had plenty of success. Left tackle Charles Leno was ranked No. 10 in pass-block win rate for offensive tackles — tied with Trent Williams. Left guard Ereck Flowers ranked No. 6 among guards. Center Chase Roullier would likely have been ranked if not for his season-ending injury in Week 8.

Washington was even more successful in run-block win rate. Right guard Brandon Scherff was No. 1 among all guards, while rookie right tackle Sam Cosmi was No. 3 among all offensive tackles.

As a team, Washington was No. 9 in pass-block win rate and No. 1 in run-block win rate. Now, you understand why the metrics favor Washington’s offensive line success.

Even if Washington loses Scherff in free agency, the WFT’s offensive line is set up for success in 2022 and beyond.

Who the experts are taking in Washington vs. Eagles

Who do the experts have in Washington’s Week 17 game vs. Eagles?

The Washington Football Team (6-9) hosts the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field in Week 17 NFL action. The game has plenty of playoff implications, especially for the Eagles.

However, Washington is still alive for the playoffs — albeit barely. For Washington to make the NFC playoffs for the second consecutive season, it will need a lot of help. Most importantly, Washington will need to win its final two games.

Washington and Philadelphia last played in Week 15, with the Eagles coming out on top 27-17. Washington was competitive in that game, even leading 10-0, before going into halftime tied at 10. The Eagles dominated in the second half, especially on the ground, and piled up over 500 yards of total offense.

Washington’s effort was impressive, considering the number of players out due to COVID-19, including quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen.

Washington’s situation entering Week 17 is better, although far from ideal. The WFT will be without Antonio Gibson, Sam Cosmi, Tress Way, Landon Collins, William Jackson III and Ereck Flowers — all of whom played in Week 15.

So, what are Washington’s chances for Sunday?

According to the experts, 90% of those who pick games are picking the Eagles, per NFL Pickwatch.

Washington is certainly accustomed to facing these types of odds, and perhaps Sunday does enough to put a dent in Philadelphia’s playoff plans.

Final injury report for Washington vs. Eagles, Week 17

William Jackson III is out for Washington Sunday. In addition to more COVID issues, could this be another long day for Washington?

The final injury report is in for the Washington Football Team in their Week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it contains more bad news.

Cornerback William Jackson III is the only Washington player listed as out. However, with Darryl Roberts already on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Washington is extremely thin at the cornerback position. Kendall Fuller, Danny Johnson, Corn Elder and Troy Apke will be the WFT’s corners. Safety Bobby McCain can also play corner and Washington could activate veteran D.J. Hayden from the practice squad.

DE Montez Sweat, DE James Smith-Williams and WR Curtis Samuel are all questionable Sunday. Sweat missed practice all week after the tragic death of his brother earlier this week.

If Samuel plays, fans probably shouldn’t expect too much.

The absence of Jackson comes on the heels of more bad COVID-19 news for Washington. The WFT placed RB Antonio Gibson and LG Ereck Flowers on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday. This comes the day after Washington placed RT Sam Cosmi and P Tress Way on the COVID list.

The only player ruled out for the Eagles was RB Miles Sanders. RB Jordan Howard is questionable.

Washington places Antonio Gibson and Ereck Flowers on reserve/COVID-19 list

Washington places Antonio Gibson and Ereck Flowers on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Four starters in two days added to the COVID list.

It looks like both Washington and Philadelphia will be without their starting running backs ahead of Sunday’s NFC East showdown at FedEx Field. Eagles’ running back, Miles Sanders, is out of Sunday’s game with a broken hand.

Washington has placed its starting running back, Antonio Gibson, on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Gibson is the third Washington starter in the last two days to go on the reserve/COVID list, joining offensive tackle Sam Cosmi and punter Tress Way.

Gibson currently sits at 891 rushing yards on the season. Overall, it’s been a frustrating season for the second-year running back. After a run of four games in which he ran for 358 yards and helped Washington on a four-game winning streak, Gibson has run the ball 31 times for 91 yards in the WFT’s current three-game losing streak.

He’s battled numerous injuries this season, including shin and hip injuries, but has played in every game. Washington’s running game has been inconsistent due to the number of injuries along the offensive line. Brandon Scherff has missed six games — Washington has lost every game. Cosmi has missed seven games, while Washington is currently on its fourth center, having lost Chase Roullier for the season in Week 8.

Washington also placed starting left guard Ereck Flowers on the COVID list. Left tackle Charles Leno and Flowers have been the only offensive linemen to remain healthy throughout the season. Flowers has been outstanding in his return to Washington.

Jaret Patterson will likely receive the bulk of carries for Washington, with Wendell Smallwood and Jonathan Williams also playing a role. Washington has been without J.D. McKissic since after a Week 12 win over Seattle.

Washington adds center Keith Ismael to active roster

Washington signed center/guard to the active roster on Thursday.

The Washington Football Team lost starting center Chase Roullier for the season earlier this week with a leg injury. Veteran Tyler Larsen will now replace Roullier as Washington’s starting center for the remainder of the season.

On Thursday, Washington added some familiar depth by promoting center/guard Keith Ismael from the practice squad. A fifth-round pick out of San Diego State, Ismael will now be Washington’s primary backup to Larsen.

Ismael was on the active roster for the last two games but was not eligible to be called up again without being signed to a normal player contract. At the end of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, he played in three snaps when left guard Ereck Flowers went down with an injury.

After this week’s bye, Washington hosts Tampa Bay in Week 10. The team expects to get All-Pro right guard Brandon Scherff, right tackle Sam Cosmi and Flowers back for the game.

Ismael was a part of Washington’s final cuts before the season, but the team immediately signed him to the practice squad once he cleared waivers.

How are Chase Roullier and Ereck Flowers after injuries in Washington’s Week 8 loss?

What are the latest updates on Ereck Flowers and Chase Roullier?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

No position group on Washington’s roster has been hit harder with injuries than the offensive line. All-Pro right guard Brandon Scherff has missed the last four games with a knee injury, while rookie right tackle Sam Cosmi has missed three games with an ankle injury.

In addition, Cosmi’s replacement, Cornelius Lucas, missed Sunday’s game with an illness.

Fortunately for Washington, dependable center Chase Roullier along with left tackle Charles Leno and left guard Ereck Flowers remained in the lineup for the WFT’s Week 8 game at Denver.

Sadly, it didn’t take long for the injury bug to hit Washington’s offensive line again as Roullier went down in the second quarter and was carted off the field with a leg injury. Roullier has played in 67 games, making 61 starts since being drafted in 2017. He is quietly one of the NFL’s better centers.

Now, it appears his season may be over.

Later in the game, Flowers went down with a leg injury. There was no prognosis on Flowers after the game.

In his Monday press conference, head coach Ron Rivera told the media he didn’t have an update at the time of his presser.

However, later in the day, Ben Standig of The Athletic reported that there appears to be good news surrounding Flowers. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Roullier.

Hopefully, for Roullier, there isn’t more damage. However, he is likely done for the season, dealing Washington another tough blow.

Flowers has been outstanding in his return to Washington in 2021. After a breakout season for the WFT in 2019 in his first season at guard, Flowers signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins. He played one season in Miami, before the Dolphins traded him back to Washington just before the 2021 NFL draft.

The bye week is coming at a perfect time for Washington. The hope is Flowers, Scherff, Cosmi and Lucas can all return for the Week 10 game against the Buccaneers. Washington also hopes to get back wide receiver Curtis Samuel and tight end Logan Thomas.

Injuries continue to pile up on Washington’s offensive line

Washington lost two more starters on the offensive line in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Washington Football Team entered Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos minus two starters and the top backup offensive tackle. All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff missed his fourth consecutive game, while rookie tackle Sam Cosmi missed his third straight game.

Veteran offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas didn’t make the trip to Denver due to an illness. Lucas had started the previous two games at right tackle and played well.

So, on Saturday, Washington elevated offensive tackle David Steinmetz and center/guard Keith Ismael from the practice squad.

In the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, Washington lost dependable center Chase Roullier for the game with what the team called an ankle injury. The cart came on the field for Roullier, which means his absence is likely an extended one.

This was brutal as Roullier is arguably Washington’s most important offensive lineman.

Late in the game, Washington suffered another blow when dependable left guard Ereck Flowers went down with a leg injury. It was toward the end of the game, so Flowers did not return. Head coach Ron Rivera didn’t offer an update on either Roullier or Flowers after the game.

The good news for Washington is this is finally the bye week. Hopefully, players like Scherff, Cosmi and Lucas will be back in two weeks, and the injury to Flowers isn’t serious. Roullier is likely done for 2021.

A tough day for Washington was made even worse with multiple injuries along the offensive line.

 

Financials of Dolphins’ trade of Ereck Flowers tell quite the story

Financials of Dolphins’ trade of Ereck Flowers tell quite the story

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbwhebtqp7ahdjt player_id=none image=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Miami Dolphins faced a nearly impossible task this offseason — they’ve managed to find a way to trade veteran offensive guard Ereck Flowers just one year after signing him to a 3-year, $30M contract. It is just the latest of Miami’s key 2020 additions that the team has bid farewell to, as Flowers joins Kyle Van Noy, Jordan Howard and Shaq Lawson as key additions that failed to see a second season with the Dolphins.

But the fine print of Miami’s trade of Flowers tells quite the story. This was not the salary dump that it initially appeared to be for the Miami Dolphins: reports indicate that the Dolphins are actually still on the hook for a $6M salary cap hit in 2021 despite finding a trade partner for Flowers’ services. Such a cap commitment means that the Dolphins only saved a total of $3M in 2021 cap with their decision to move Flowers.

Flowers, who held down the left guard spot for Miami in 2020 and was well regarded as a leader of the unit, was always going to be difficult to move given that his initial contract with Miami featured $8M in guarantees this upcoming season. So the pick swap for Miami becomes a marginal trade up in the draft order for the Dolphins and the team managed to save $2M more than they would have if they’d have simply cut Flowers outright.

The presumed move for Miami now? 2020 rookie guard Solomon Kindley stepped over to the left side of the offensive line in 2020 when Flowers went down late in the season with an ankle injury — and the team is reportedly in position to transition Robert Hunt to play offensive guard as well. Such moves would leave Miami with question marks at center and right tackle in the long-term and both positions are potential areas of need for Miami to address in the top-50 of this weekend’s NFL Draft.

Washington now has a lot of money tied up at guard in 2021

The Washington Football Team may not have its starter at left tackle on the current roster, but there’s plenty of money tied up in the guard

The Washington Football Team may not have its starter at left tackle on the current roster, but there’s plenty of money tied up in the guard position after Wednesday’s trade for Ereck Flowers.

Washington, which currently has seven guards on the roster, has over $35 million committed to the position in 2021 alone. Brandon Scherff, who is on his second franchise tag, counts for more than $18 million against the cap in 2021.

Flowers’ cap hit for 2021 is $9 million, according to Spotrac. Last year’s starting left guard, Wes Schweitzer, has a $5 million cap hit for 2021.

Washington’s spending at guard accounts for almost 18% of the salary cap for 2021. In contrast, Washington has just 7% of the salary cap tied up at offensive tackle. Right tackle Morgan Moses is counting $9.65 million against the cap.

These are definitely some high numbers for a position many thinks is less valuable than offensive tackle. While I would say it isn’t very likely, perhaps the team will explore a trade for Scherff.

Trading Scherff doesn’t seem feasible, though. For one, he is one of the best guards in the league. And, it’s also hard to imagine a team giving up valuable assets for a player on a second franchise tag who it would then have to sign to a long-term contract.

The Flowers’ trade is more about 2022 and beyond when Scherff likely signs elsewhere.

For the Football Team, this trade made sense as it gives them more depth along the offensive line, and they had the cap room to make a move.

This doesn’t change Washington’s needs for the 2021 NFL draft when it is expected to pursue an offensive tackle in the early rounds.