The 2018 regular season was a bit of a mixed bag for the New York Giants. There were obvious improved from a disastrous 2017 campaign, but they still managed just a two-game improvement, finishing the year with a 5-11 record.
On the positive side of things, quarterback Eli Manning had a career year statistically, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. returned and played well before once again suffering a season-ending injury and rookie running back Saquon Barkley proved to be everything the Giants had hoped for and more.
Unfortunately, there were also quite a few negatives for the Giants, including continued offensive line issues, a defense that lacked stopping power in big moments and a lack of depth at several positions.
But, once again, it was the offensive line issues that loomed largest, and a part of that stemmed from poor play courtesy of right tackle Chad Wheeler, who took over for Ereck Flowers following his release.
Ultimately, Wheeler earned an undesirable honor, finishing the year as the lowest-grade Giants player courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Center Spencer Pulley wasn’t far behind.
Here’s a look at the Giants’ five-lowest graded players from 2018:
- Chad Wheeler, 47.1
- Alec Ogletree, 50.7
- Jamon Brown, 51.7
- Spencer Pulley, 55.9
- Curtis Riley, 58.0
When three of the team’s starting offensive linemen account for 60% of the worst five players, there’s a very real problem that not only brings down those around them, but needs to be addressed immediately.
Wheeler, for example, allowed 45 pressures and six sacks. He was no better when it came to run blocking, where he finished with a league-worst grade at the tackle position.
Additionally, Brown allowed 19 pressures and three sacks and Pulley allowed 12 pressure and two sacks. And like Wheeler, both struggled with run blocking.
Meanwhile, Riley’s presence at the bottom won’t likely come as a surprise to many, but Ogletree appearing on this list will. He struggled early on in the season, but after vowing to improve, it’d appeared he did just that. He was arguably the team’s defensive MVP.
