Andrew Thomas becomes Giants rock after tough rookie season

Andrew Thomas was castigated after a shoddy preseason outing, and all the negative vibes of his 2020 rookie season have returned. But that wasn’t indicative of the solid summer he had hosted with the Giants, and the criticism was an overreaction.

Three games on in what points to another lost year for a team that seems allergic to victory, no one is singing Thomas’s praises – because a 0-3 record breeds misery, not compliments. However, a player can’t contribute much, and Thomas does a lot to show that he could do well, after all.

“I think I’m fine, but we’re not winning, so it doesn’t matter,” Thomas said. “I’m just trying to do my best to improve myself and improve the offensive line, which will improve our attack and we can score more points and get W’s.”

Thomas, selected n ° 4 in the general classification in the 2020 draft, is doing more than well. On a line decimated by injuries, Thomas was a rock. He played all 200 offensive snaps in the first three games. He didn’t allow one sack in 134 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, after giving up 10 sacks in his rookie year. He’s only allowed five pushes this season, keeping Daniel Jones clean and protected from his blind side.

Serious and thoughtful, Thomas can self-assess his performance and provide honest analysis, like reading a spreadsheet.

“I think this year, I’m doing a little better with my sets, I’m doing a little better in scoring with the placement of the hands,” he said. “What I want to improve is the doubles teams in the racing game. I think my basic blocks on the D ends were pretty good, but I was able to improve in my doubles teams, by bringing together “backers and second level blocks”.

The more proficient Thomas, 22, is at completing his blocks, the more likely Saquon Barkley will start snatching those 10-yard or longer runs that the attacking desperately needs.

The Giants are counting on Thomas to lead the way on the offensive line. They haven’t exactly paved the way for him, when it comes to the continuity that every young player needs.

On Sunday in New Orleans, Thomas will line up on left tackle alongside a different fourth left goalie in four games. Shane Lemieux started in Week 1 against the Broncos, then was put on the injured list after worsening a knee injury. Nick Gates was moved from center and started at left guard in Week 2 in Washington, but in the second quarter he was lost for the season after sustaining multiple lower leg fractures. Ben Bredeson, acquired in a trade with the Ravens on the last day of August, started at left guard against the Falcons but came out of the game with a left hand injury and was ruled out for that game. week.

In what has been a cursed place, it looks like Matt Skura – signed in August to the practice squad following his release from the Dolphins – will play left guard against the Saints. Skura, 28, has 51 NFL starts in the past four years for the Ravens, mostly center.

It was a real whirlwind for Thomas, who was asked to partner with a newcomer every week.

“It’s hard to build camaraderie with falling guys but that’s part of business, the next man can’t make excuses, it has to work,” Thomas said.

“Mostly just understanding how the guy next to me is playing. Sometimes you play with a guy for a while, you know how he sees the blocks, how he sees some rushers, and how he communicates. Sometimes you don’t have to say it when you’re playing with a guy for a while. The important thing is over-communication, making sure no one is confused. ”