Tag: Shane Lemieux

Saints’ offensive line experiencing a youth movement in 2024

The New Orleans Saints new scheme prioritizes offensive line’s athleticism. This shift coincides with a drop in the unit’s average age:

The New Orleans Saints offensive line is going through a youth movement. By their scheme, it is necessary. Trevor Penning highlighted Klint Kubiak’s wide zone scheme for utilizing the athleticism of the offensive line. That change of direction has also coincided with the unit getting much younger. Not every change can be tied scheme, but it does feel like an intentional shift.

Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz are the only returning starters from last season. Trevor Penning is excluded because he spent most of the season on the bench. The offensive line’s average age drops from 28.2 to 24.6 years old. Even if Shane Lemieux starts at left guard ahead of Nick Saldiveri, the average age only rises to 25.2, which would still be a 3-year drop from last year’s average age.

James Hurst was the oldest player on the line last year, and he simply didn’t fit the new offensive scheme Kubiak is installing. He was the one player who needed to be replaced. New Orleans has always valued athleticism, so the pieces were already there. Of the new starters, first round pick Taliese Fuaga is the only one who wasn’t on the roster in 2023. His experience in a similar scheme, however, may provide one of the smoother transitions to Kubiak’s offense.

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Nick Saldiveri taking all first-team reps in Saints left guard competition

Nick Saldiveri was viewed as a future starter at guard when the Saints drafted him last year. He’s taking charge of the competition early at OTAs:

Nick Saldiveri seems to be in the lead in the New Orleans Saints left guard battle, for now. James Hurst retiring before the NFL draft and Andrus Peat leaving in free agency meant the Saints would need a new starting left guard. But this would have been a move the Saints should have considered even if Hurst didn’t retire. The new scheme requires more mobility than Hurst has shown. Insert Saldiveri.

In the second day of organized team activities open to local media, the second-year pro took all the first team snaps at left guard, per Locked On Saints host Ross Jackson. This was a departure from the approach seen the week prior. Last week, Saldiveri and Shane Lemieux split time in the starting lineup. Saldiveri taking all first team reps suggests he’s ahead of Lemieux, at least for the moment.

The Saints haven’t made it to training camp just yet so the battle is far from over. New Orleans could also be alternating days in the starting lineup. That won’t be known until media is allowed to watch consecutive practices. Saldiveri was viewed as a future starter when they traded up to draft him last year, with the first pick in the fourth round, so him taking over at left guard would be the intended outcome. Saldiveri played right tackle almost exclusively at Old Dominion so he’ll need every rep he can get. He’s off to a good start in 2024.

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Ex-Giants Oshane Ximines, Shane Lemieux sign with new teams

Former New York Giants LB Oshane Ximines and OL Shane Lemieux have have joined the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, respectively.

With the 2024 NFL draft now in the rearview mirror, teams have resumed addressing their needs through what remains of free agency.

On Tuesday, former New York Giants linebacker Oshane Ximines was one of those signed, joining Jero Mayo’s New England Patriots.

Ximines was a third-round pick of the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft but he failed to make a significant impact. He appeared in 48 games (nine starts), recording just 71 tackles (35 solo, nine for a loss), six passes defensed, 24 QB hits and 6.5 sacks.

Most of that production came during Ximines’ rookie season.

In addition to the edge rusher, offensive lineman Shane Lemieux also found a new home, agreeing to terms with the New Orleans Saints.

Lemieux was a fifth-round pick of the Giants in the 2020 NFL draft but like Ximines, failed to make a significant impact. Due to a multitude of injuries, he appeared in just 18 games with 12 starts, nine of which came as a rookie.

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8 pending free agents the Giants should not re-sign

The New York Giants will have 30 free agents to deal with come March and at least eight of them should be allowed to walk.

The New York Giants have a lot of decisions and work to do this offseason after a disappointing 6-11 season.

They have a slew of players headed for free agency and will have to make decisions on whether to bring them back next season.

Here’s a quick list of players they should let walk.

Giants place Shane Lemieux on IR with torn biceps

The New York Giants have placed OL Shane Lemieux on injured reserve after he suffered a torn biceps during practice on Wednesday.

The New York Giants continue to suffer injuries along their offensive line, announcing on Thursday that Shane Lemieux has been placed on injured reserve (IR) with a torn biceps.

Lemieux, who had appeared in four games with one start for the Giants this season, suffered the injury during Wednesday’s practice.

Over his four-year career, Lemieux has been limited to just 18 games (12 starts) due to injuries. He dealt with a patellar tendon issue in 2021 and then was limited to just one game last season as the result of a toe injury.

Lemieux joins J.C. Hassenauer and Joshua Ezeudu as members of the team’s offensive line currently on IR.

In addition to the group on IR, offensive linemen Andrew Thomas (hamstring), Evan Neal (ankle), Matt Peart (shoulder), John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and Mark Glowinski (quad/ankle) all currently appear on the injury report.

In a corresponding roster move, the Giants have signed offensive lineman Sean Harlow from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

Harlow, a fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL draft, spent time with the Giants in August. He was released as a part of final cuts. He signed with the Cowboys a day later.

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Giants injury report: Daniel Jones limited in return to practice

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, while LT Andrew Thomas continues to sit out.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday and so did quarterback Daniel Jones, who is still nursing a neck injury.

Although Jones is not yet cleared for contact, he was able to do some throwing and could be in play for Sunday, although that should be considered unlikely.

“He’s doing better and he’ll be out here at practice today doing some stuff. We’ll see where we’re at,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s cleared to throw so that’s what he’s going to do today.”

Asked if there’s any concern DJ misses the rest of the season, Daboll said his quarterback will “be back.”

The news wasn’t as positive for several others, including left tackle Andrew Thomas, who continues to sit out with a hamstring injury.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OL John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), OL Evan Neal (ankle), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), OL Matt Peart (shoulder)

Limited participant: QB Daniel Jones (neck), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), CB Cor’Dale Flott (ankle/shoulder), K Graham Gano (knee), OL Mark Glowinski (quad/ankle), CB Adoree’ Jackson (neck), OL Shane Lemieux (groin/biceps)

Full participant: RB Gary Brightwell (ankle), DL D.J. Davidson (knee), CB Tre Hawkins (knee)

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Giants’ Daniel Jones, 4 others out vs. Bills in Week 6

The New York Giants will be without QB Daniel Jones and many other key starters on Sunday night in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills.

The New York Giants will take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday night and they will do so incredibly shorthanded.

After three days on the sideline, head coach Brian Daboll officially ruled quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) out for the game. He will be joined by a multitude of others, including left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring).

Running back Saquon Barkley is also unlikely to play although the Giants say that will be a game-time decision. That’s been the case in each of the previous three weeks but Barkley has been ruled out prior to warmups each time.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Bills can be found below:

Giants injury report: Daniel Jones continues to miss practice

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones (neck) missed practice again on Thursday as the team’s injury report somehow grew in size.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Thursday but did so without starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who remains sidelined due to a neck injury.

Although head coach Brian Daboll refused to rule Jones out for a Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills, things appear to be trending in that direction.

In addition to Jones and the remaining injury report, which was already large in scale, punter Jamie Gillan was added as a non-participant. He missed Thursday’s practice with what the Giants called an “illness.”

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: QB Daniel Jones (neck), LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OL John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), OL Matt Peart (shoulder), LB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), P Jamie Gillan (illness), RB Gary Brightwell (ankle)

Limited participant: DB Deonte Banks (ankle), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), DB Cor’Dale Flott (ankle), OL Shane Lemieux (groin), OL Marcus McKethan (knee), DL D.J. Davidson (knee), LB Micah McFadden (ankle), OL Evan Neal (ankle), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), TE Darren Waller (groin)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants vs. Dolphins: 5 biggest storylines for Week 5

The New York Giants face the Miami Dolphins in Week 5. Here are the five biggest storylines to follow for this contest.

The New York Giants (1-3) travel down to South Florida to face the Miami Dolphins (3-1) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Here are five storylines we are following.

Giants’ Andrew Thomas, John Michael Schmitz out vs. Dolphins

The New York Giants will be without three offensive linemen in Week 5 against the Dolphins, including LT Andrew Thomas.

The New York Giants take on the Miami Dolphins this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida and will do so shorthanded once again.

Head coach Brian Daboll revealed prior to practice that left tackle Andrew Thomas, rookie center John Michael Schmitz and reserve guard Shane Lemieux would all remain sidelined.

That was a bad omen and the worst-case scenario proved true as all three were listed as “out” for the Week 5 game.

Meanwhile, running back Saquon Barkley remained limited in practice and will be a game-time decision for the second consecutive week. It remains unlikely that he’ll play.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Dolphins can be found below: