#Giants still solving offensive line woes at training camp

Two weeks into training camp there has been plenty to see and not a whole lot already determined.

The Giants on offense are a work in progress, with new receivers Kenny Golladay (slow start and now a hamstring strain) and rookie Kadarius Toney (COVID-19 list and now a gradual ramp-up) barely providing glimpses of what they can be. The Giants on defense, on cue, look to be stacked in the secondary and suspect as far as their edge rushers.

Two weeks into camp, the greatest question hovering around this team — the quality, or lack thereof — of the offensive line remains very much a question. Really, more of a question than it was when this all got started.

Leonard Williams penetrating into the backfield will be a welcome sight for the Giants this fall and winter but not so this summer, as the big defensive lineman’s havoc means he is dominating what the Giants have up front on offense. This past Saturday was a lowlight for the offensive line, with right guard Will Hernandez removed for a play after a false start (he was replaced, interestingly, by tackle Nate Solder) and backup guard Kyle Murphy jumping offside with the offense backed up at the 1-yard line. That one really infuriated head coach Joe Judge.

“Yeah, it wasn’t good,’’ center Nick Gates said. “We’ve got to do a lot better than we did. Some days will be up, some days are going to be down, and you’ve just got to keep an even keel and just keep moving forward.’’

The entire efficiency of the second-unit offensive line was lacking, which comes as no great surprise. The Giants believed they fortified their depth with the signing of Zach Fulton (90 NFL starts) and, more recently and more significantly, Joe Looney (41 NFL starts) but when both of those veterans suddenly retired last week, it left the Giants short on options. That starting left guard Shane Lemieux went down early in camp with a knee injury — he is back in individual drills now — further exacerbated the depth issue.

Where is the Giants’ offensive line two weeks into camp? Not where it needs to be, that’s where.

“I’ve seen a lot of encouraging things from our offensive line in the team periods,’’ Judge said. “We’ve really done a good job of adjusting to what the defense is doing and creating a good pocket. There’s some coaching points for our receivers and quarterbacks as well that sometimes amplify what you see from the offensive line, but it takes all 11. Everyone’s got to be on the same page and execute at the same tempo, so it’s not always just one person’s issue. It’s not just the offensive line and maybe it’s something else on the field that affected something in a different way.

“But in terms of the offensive line, I am pleased with the way they’re working and competing. We’ve got a couple of guys we are looking to get back as soon as possible. With that being said, we’re coaching everyone we have on the field. We do see some daily improvement from them, but we’ve got to be more consistent with that and keep going forward.’’

There are a few alterations for the Giants to consider, although they are not exactly teeming with options. There is considerable confidence in Gates, who received a two-year contract extension for $6.82 million, as the starting center, but Gates has position flexibility and has stepped in at guard at times with Lemieux out.

“I like guard, I’ve always liked guard,’’ said Gates, who started 25 consecutive games at Nebraska at left tackle. “It’s like a natural thing, so I enjoy it.’’

If things get dicey at guard, Gates can slide over, as long as the coaching staff feels good about Jonotthan Harrison — with 42 NFL starts — moving in at center. That is no sure thing. This is why the sudden departure of Looney — a real starting consideration at center or guard — was so debilitating.

There is also the large presence of Solder — he’s 6-foot-8, so of course his presence is large — on the roster. At 33, his body is rejuvenated after he opted out of the 2020 season and his role as a backup swing tackle seems set. If second-year Matt Peart cannot handle the starting right tackle job, Solder is next in line.

There is no one on the projected starting line older than 25. It is still early in camp, with the first preseason game arriving Saturday.

“We’re doing good,’’ Gates said. “We have a long way to go, and we have what, four more weeks of camp or something like that? Hopefully, we can get that right.’’

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The Giants swapped out wide receivers on Sunday, claiming Matt Cole off waivers from the Jets and waiving Andy Jones, who was signed last Wednesday. Cole spent some time on the Dolphins practice squad and got into one game with the 49ers in 2020.