Will the New York Giants offensive line be better in 2024?
The answer is, they have to be, after allowing the second-most sacks in NFL history (85) last season.
Par Sharp soccer analysis“The Giants posted a -51 sack differential against their opponents last season, the worse differential of any team in the 2000s.”
it hurts.
The Giants responded by signing veteran guard/center types (Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine El-Emno, Greg Van Roten and Aaron Stinney) to bolster the interior of the line, adding undrafted rookie free agent Jake Cubas and hiring Carmen Bricillo as the new unit coach.
However, the statistics also tend to favor the Giants. Action Footballseven teams allowed 70 or more sacks in a season.
The Giants allowed the second-most sacks of all time last year, and here’s how the offensive line performed the year after that historically awful season: 4 of 6 teams allowed 50+ sacks again, and the following year all 6 allowed 35+ sacks.
- 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
This trend is encouraging: Teams typically attack their weaknesses, and the Giants appear to have done just that with their offensive line.
But that’s not all. Of course, there are times when the quarterback doesn’t have a chance and has to get sacked. There are also times when the quarterback misses a check and holds onto the ball for too long.
The Giants had a lot of both last year, having three quarterbacks start at least five games, and while they led the NFL in sack rate (14.1), an injury-riddled line was obviously a big problem.
This year looks set to be different, and the statistics and trends bear that out.
