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Giants Now 8/12: PFF ranks Kevin Zeitler one of NFL's top interior OL

Aug 12, 2020 at 06:00 AM

Matt Citak

Managing Editor, Giants.com

PFF ranks Kevin Zeitler as one of NFL's top interior o-linemen

Kevin Zeitler was a first round pick by the Cincinnati Bengnals back in 2012. In his rookie campaign, Zeitler started all 16 games and wound up being named to the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team. The offensive lineman has started all 16 games in five of his eight NFL seasons and has missed just one game over the last five years.

Zeitler's PFF pass-blocking grade has ranked in the top 15 among all qualifying guards seven times in his eight seasons, including his 2018 campaign where he earned the analytics site's highest pass-blocking grade among guards with a 91.7.

The veteran started 15 games at right guard in his first season with the Giants last year and earned a 76.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus after allowing just three sacks on 991 total offensive snaps. His 76.4 overall grade ranked as the highest among anyone on the Giants' offense and the seventh-highest among the league's guards. In fact, Zeitler has graded above a 73 every season since entering the league in 2012.

PFF ranked the league's top 25 interior offensive linemen ahead of the 2020 season, and the Giants' starting right guard came in at No. 16.

As PFF's Ben Linsey writes, "One year after the Olivier Vernon-for-Zeitler swap with the Browns, it appears as if the Giants got the better end of the deal. Vernon struggled to stay healthy yet again, and Zeitler was once more one of the best guards in the NFL. Stretching back to the start of his career in 2012, Zeitler has been one of the best pass-blocking guards in football. His 87.5 pass-blocking grade across those eight seasons ranks eighth at the position, just behind DeCastro among qualifying guards. This past season was no different, as Zeitler ranked seventh overall at the guard position with a PFF grade of 76.4. He's just about as reliable as they come, sticking out as a bright spot on a Giants' offensive line that has some questions heading into the 2020 season."

Jason Garrett tasked with developing Daniel Jones

Jason Garrett knows quarterbacks.

He played the position his entire career, at University High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Princeton University; and with the Dallas Cowboys, for whom he played 41 games, including nine starts. In 9½ season as the Cowboys' head coach, he tutored productive quarterbacks Tony Romo and Dak Prescott.

Garrett also knows Giants quarterbacks. He was a backup to Kerry Collins from 2000-03. And including his stint as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator, his Dallas teams matched up against Eli Manning 26 times.

Now in his first season as the Giants' offensive coordinator, Garrett is tasked with developing the new generation of quarterbacks, Daniel Jones. Last Nov. 4, he saw Jones complete 26 of 41 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown in Dallas' Monday night victory in MetLife Stadium. Garrett taught Jones the Giants offense remotely during the offseason and has finally been able to work with him on the field in the early stages of training camp.

Garrett is excited about what he's seen and the potential for what lies ahead.

"Since I've been here, he's been a real joy to work with," Garrett said on a Zoom call today. "There's no question he is a football guy. He loves football. He's always so prepared, he's always studying his stuff, he always has great questions and wants to get better. My experience has been, when you have that kind of approach and that kind of attitude, if you have some ability, you're going to keep growing and getting better every day, and he's certainly done that.

"The thing you just like so much about Daniel is just his approach. He clearly has ability. He's someone who's big, he's strong, he's athletic, he has a really good arm. He has all the tools you're looking for. But the thing that really jumps out is the approach that he takes every day. Like I said, he's a ball guy. He loves ball. He works very hard at it and he's always trying to refine his skills. He's always trying to gain more knowledge and find a way to become a better quarterback, individually and for our team. That's what you get most excited about."

Will Giants' defense be 3-4, 4-3 or 4-2-5? 'Yes'

Many people have been asking what the Giants' base defense will look like. Will it be a 4-3, 3-4, 2-4, 3-3-5, or 4-2-5?

Patrick Graham today answered the question once and for all: "Yes."

"I'm not trying to make a joke of it," the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator said during Tuesday's video conference with reporters. "We are going to do what's best with what we have in terms of the people, the personnel we have and what we think is best for the game. … They all kind of blend together in my mind."

In other words, he plans to deploy all of those schemes -- and more -- on Sundays. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said as much about his side of the ball during a separate video conference shortly before Graham. Under Joe Judge, the Giants want to attack opponents in a variety of ways.

It is up to the coordinators to make them as simple as possible for the players, especially in a year when teams have yet to practice fully together, which will happen later this week.

"Even with trying to be multiple, the idea is to be multiple in a limited amount of scheme so that we're doing all the fundamentals that we are looking for on defense," Graham said. "In terms of playing with our hands, playing with good pad level, setting the edge, defending the deep part of the field and tackling, that's what we focus on."

Thomas McGaughey, Joe Judge share 'special' bond

This is the 19th consecutive year Thomas McGaughey has coached as a special teams coordinator or assistant in the NFL or a major college program.

Prior to this season, he worked under head coaches Dick Vermeil, Mike Shanahan, Tom Coughlin, Rex Ryan, Jim Tomsula, Ron Rivera and Pat Shurmur in the NFL and Art Briles and Les Miles in college.

Head coach No. 10 is different for McGaughey, because Joe Judge has an extensive special teams background. Judge spent the previous 11 years coaching the kicking game, as an assistant at Alabama (2009-11) and in New England (2012-14) and as the Patriots' coordinator (2015-19, doubling as the wide receivers coach last season).

McGaughey is in his third season as the Giants' coordinator, a position he previously held at LSU and with the Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers. He is thrilled to have one of his own as the team's new coach.

"Joe's been awesome," McGaughey said today on a Zoom call. "I can't even begin to tell you. It's been very enlightening and he has been outstanding. I just look forward to getting the season going, just watching him grow as a new head coach and just see how far he can take us.

"It's one of those things where it's kind of a perfect marriage. Joe has a ton of experience and has had a ton of success in the league. We just sit down and come up with the things that feel like are good for the unit and we implement them. It's an easy conversation, it flows great. We put the stuff together that is going to help the team the best. We put it all out there, guys love it, they eat it up. They just go out there and do it on the field. Practice it, walk through it and those the different things. It's weird, it's a really good situation."

Giants sign WR Cody White, OT Jackson Dennis

The Giants made a pair of roster moves, today, adding wide receiver Cody White and tackle Jackson Dennis.

They waived tight end Kyle Markway and linebacker Mark McLaurin.

White, 6-3 and 215 pounds, was signed as a free agent following the NFL Draft by the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who waived him on July 29.

He played in 35 games with 26 starts at Michigan State. He finished his career ranked seventh in MSU history with 143 receptions, 12th with 1,967 receiving yards and tied for 16th with 12 touchdown catches. White compiled 2,115 all-purpose yards (1,967 receiving, 85 punt return, 63 rushing) and had five career 100-yard receiving games. In 2019, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after finishing fourth in the league with 66 catches, for 922 yards and six touchdowns, all career-high totals.

Dennis, 6-7 and 308 pounds, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals following the draft and was waived on July 26, when the team cut its roster to 80 players.

Dennis played in 40 games with 24 starts in five seasons at Holy Cross. In 2019, he started all 12 games at right tackle for an offense that averaged 135.9 rushing yards per game and scored 18 rushing touchdowns.

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) celebrates a touchdown catch against Washington State during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdwon during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan State won 27-0. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State's Cody White, right, catches a pass in the end zone against Utah State's Ja'Marcus Ingram (2) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. The play was called back due to a penalty. Michigan State won 38-31. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State players, including Cody White (7), celebrate after a win over Rutgers in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State's Cody White, right, runs on a pass reception against Maryland's Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 19-16. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) makes a catch in front of Rutgers defensive back Tre Avery during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan State won 27-0. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan State won 27-0. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan State won 27-0. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State's Cody White, right, is pursued by Maryland's Antoine Brooks Jr., left, after a pass reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) catches a touchdown pass in front of Rutgers defensive back Tim Barrow during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) scores a touchdown in front of Rutgers defensive back Tim Barrow (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State's Cody White talks with coach Mark Dantonio, left, during an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) reaches short of the goal line as Michigan defensive back Ambry Thomas (1) defends in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019.. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White makes a catch against Indiana defensive back Raheem Layne (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) rushes around Tulsa safety Manny Bunch (10) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 28-7. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

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Michigan State's Cody White (7) and Darrell Stewart celebrate Stewart's touchdown reception against Indiana during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) catches a pass in front of Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (15) during the first half of the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White is lifted by offensive lineman Nick Samac after scoring a touchdown against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Michigan State's Cody White, left, tries to elude Indiana's Raheem Layne (17) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 40-31. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State's Cody White, right, catches a pass against Central Michigan's Sean Bunting during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) makes a catch against Indiana's Raheem Layne during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) runs against Indiana's Devon Matthews (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Michigan State's Cody White (7) runs for a 22-yard touchdown against Rutgers during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) makes a touchdown catch in front of Arizona State cornerback Langston Frederick (18) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Michigan State 16-13. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ross D. Franklin

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) is tackled by a group of Indiana players during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) makes a touchdown catch in front of Washington State safety Jalen Thompson (34) and cornerback Darrien Molton, rear, during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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Michigan State's Cody White (7), LJ Scott (3), Matt Sokol (81) and Jordan Reid celebrate White's touchdown reception against Utah State during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White (7) runs a route against Rutgers defensive back Isaiah Wharton (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Julio Cortez

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Michigan State's Cody White, bottom right, returns a punt from Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Julio Cortez

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Michigan State receiver Cody White, left, catches a pass against Indiana's Andre Brown Jr. during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 17-9. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

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Northwestern safety Godwin Igwebuike, left, chases Michigan State wide receiver Cody White during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Michigan State wide receiver Cody White runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)