Recently, the Cowboys and Eagles have set the pace in the NFC East with quality offensive line play. This offseason, the Giants and Redskins aimed to close that gap. The 2015 season may very well mark the return of old-school offensive football in the NFC East.

*We credit Pro Football Focus, STATS and Football Outsiders in assessment of past performances in the offensive linemen outlined below

New York Giants

The New York Football Giants were an effective pass-blocking unit in 2014 as they transitioned to a quicker, higher-percentage, passing game. However, they were a poor group of run blockers. This is a unit that has been flux for a few seasons.

One reason may be the shear size of the Giants prototype. We’ve never seen a depth chart with so many 340 pounders. There’s just not a surplus of those guys on the planet, much less many with NFL-caliber athleticism. Heading in to training camp, the average size of the first and second-unit lineman is 6’5″ 324 pounds. Even Bill Parcells would be impressed.

In an attempt to keep up with the Jones’s (literally), New York has used a first or second round draft pick on an offensive lineman three years in a row, including exercising a Top 10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft on offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. They also took a round-seven flier on offensive guard Bobby Hart.

Free agency was relatively quiet in the Big Apple, as the Giants re-signed guard John Jerry and also signed offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse. Both are backup-quality players to this point in their careers, and are ideally depth signings. Underperforming center JD Walton is gone, as is guard James Brewer as GM Jerry Reese attempts to shake this group up for 2015.

Unfortunately, it’s already been a rough start to this season as the team’s best offensive lineman, left tackle Will Beatty, has been lost to injury for the season. First-rounder Ereck Flowers will be quickly baptized by fire as a pro. It’s a concern for all fantasy assets involved that this is shaping up as a “C” group to begin 2015.

Projected Starting Lineup

Ereck Flowers, LT 6’6″ 329 pounds- Chosen RD1 pick 9 of 2015 NFL Draft. Draft expert Mike Loyko was high on Flowers’ talent and noted- “Ereck Flowers hasn’t received the hype or publicity of other top OT prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft, but he might be better than everyone else on the field. Flowers was a day-one starter as a freshman at Miami, who plays with a combination of athleticism and power. He has a massive frame. In the run game, he generates great movement through his power and long arms. In pass protections he’s got a quick kick and moves his feet fluidly. Even if he get beaten he has enough athleticism to recover and run them by the pocket”

Justin Pugh, LG 6’4″ 301 pounds- Moving inside to LG. He was a RD1 pick in 2013. Struggled putting it all together at right tackle, where he was a below-average performer. Has positional versatility and should be an upgrade at guard

Weston Richburg, C 6’3″ 298 pounds- A RD2 pick in 2014 who is shifting back to his natural position at center where he says he most comfortable. A member of the 2014 RosterWatch All-Senior Bowl Roster. Played guard in 2014 as rookie and struggled mightily. New York erred in signing former veteran center JD Walton of 3M last season which pushed Richburg out of position.

Geoff Schwartz, RG 6’6″ 340 pounds- Made only two starts last season at right tackle after a return from the injured reserve but did grade positively. At 30 years old, he’s ended the last two seasons on IR. Was a plus-performer on the interior for KC in 2012 and 2013 before toe injury. His best position is RG which his where he’ll play in 2015.

Marshall Newhouse, RT 6’4″ 328 pounds- 29-game starter for the Packers 2011-2012. Flashed good ability in 2012 but ultimately didn’t fit the athletic mold of the Packers line, moved to Cincy in 2014 and again struggled.

Notes-

In a nutshell, this is a group that consists of three underperformers being moved to their so called “natural positions” to bolster the interior while two completely unproven players protect the edge. We surely don’t long to be Eli Manning this season.

However, if the science experiment works, this is a group that may show improvement in 2015 – especially up the middle in the run game. If so, it’s RB Rashad Jennings who stands to benefit.

On the other hand, this may be a unit that forces Eli Manning to air it out for his life- as he will be in constant jeopardy. We don’t like it for his value – or for anyone’s not named Odell Beckham Jr. Actually, we could also see Shane Vereen being used often to slow the pass rush in the screen game – and big-bodied tight end Larry Donnell as a secondary bailout target behind Beckham.

Overall, the depth of this Giants offensive line is very poor, and they can ill-afford injury in 2015. Back up guard Brandon Mosley (6’5″ 318) was a RD4 draft pick in 2012 and has played less than a 100 snaps in his NFL career. John Jerry (6’5″ 340) started all 16 games at RG last year for New York, but graded very poorly in all aspects. He did flash in 2013 for the Dolphins, but is realistically a career backup.

Former UDFA Michael Bamiro (6’8″ 340) was a converted OG project in Philly where he couldn’t even make the roster. Another also-ran is Emmett Cleary (6’7″ 324 pounds), an UDFA in 2013 who is attempting to now stick with his 5th NFL team.

NFL Draft Expert Mike Loyko broke down 2015 seventh-round draft pick Bobby Hart, OG (6’5″ 329) as follows- “Bobby Hart is the youngest Senior in the 2015 Draft Class. He started his first game at Florida State as a newly minted 17 year old. He has four years of experience, mostly at Right Tackle, but with some game reps at Guard. Hart is still rough around the edges and will be helped by moving off right tackle. His shuffle skills and feet aren’t quick enough to play there in the NFL. In the run game Hart exhibits mobility and range to secure his blocks. He can work up levels and get into space to engage his defender. If he moves inside to OG, his mobility and short area quickness will only “play up”. Hart has a tendency to fall off blocks early because he stops his feet and leans on defenders. He struggles to adjust on the move is susceptible to outside speed. He doesn’t consistently play with the same amount of power and his technique needs to be cleaned up in all areas. Hart still has plenty of undeveloped and untapped ability. Offensive Line coaches will pound the table starting in the 5th Round”. Ourlads.com lists Hart as 4th string depth player who will struggle to make the roster.