Will the New York Giants’ offensive line be higher in 2024?
The reply is that they must be after permitting the second-most sacks (85) in NFL historical past final season.
Per Sharp Soccer Evaluation, “The Giants had a -51 sack differential versus their opponents final season, the worst differential for any group within the 2000s.”
Ouch.
The Giants countered by shoring up the inside of the road by signing a number of veteran guard/middle sorts (Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor, Greg Van Roten, Aaron Stinnie) whereas including undrafted rookie free agent Jake Kubas and hiring a brand new unit coach in Carmen Bricillo.
However there are statistical developments that favor the Giants as properly. Per Motion Soccer, seven groups have allowed 70 or extra sacks in a season:
The Giants did so final yr, second-most all-time. Right here is how these O-Traces carried out the yr after the traditionally unhealthy season. 4 of six allowed 50+ sacks once more, with all six groups permitting 35+ the subsequent yr.
- 104 – 1986 Eagles –> 72
- 85 – 2023 Giants –> ???
- 78 – 1997 Cardinals –> 50
- 76 – 2002 Texans –> 36
- 72 – 2006 Raiders –> 41
- 72 – 1987 Eagles –> 56
- 71 – 2014 Jaguars –> 51
The development is encouraging. Groups often assault their weaknesses and the Giants seem to have executed that with the offensive line.
Nevertheless it goes additional than that. Positive, there are occasions when the quarterback has no likelihood and has to take a sack. Then there are these situations the place the quarterback misses his checks and holds on to the ball too lengthy.
The Giants had loads of each final yr. They’d three completely different quarterbacks begin at the very least 5 video games. They led the NFL in sack share (14.1) and the road was clearly an enormous a part of the problem because it was riddled with accidents.
This yr, issues promise to be completely different. The stats and developments help it.