Two of the New York Giants’ first-year players found themselves on Mel Kiper’s Midseason All-Rookie Team, released this week.

Tackle Ereck Flowers and safety Landon Collins were among the 29 players added to Kiper’s list.

Both Flowers and Collins have been starters for the Giants since Week 1, and both, despite some visible mistakes at inopportune times, have played well in their respective positions; Flowers, in his protection of Eli Manning’s blindside and Collins in his athletic play against the pass on a team that leads the NFL in takeaways.

Collins leads the team with 44 total tackles and 61 combined tackles and has one interception. He nearly had a second on what could have been the game-clinching drive on Sunday when he had Tom Brady’s pass in his hands, but dropped it as he fell awkwardly to the turf.

“Collins has dealt with growing pains, but he was asked to take on a big role immediately, something we knew would happen when they drafted him,” Kiper said in his analysis of the rookie from Alabama. “He has plenty of promise.”

Kiper added that Flowers has impressed particularly because of his being forced early into the role after injuries opened holes in their offensive production, as they did for Collins in the secondary.

“They didn’t expect Flowers to be thrust into the role he’s in, and while he’s struggled in spots, I think they’re happier with him than they expected to be at this stage. The biggest question is whether Collins and Flowers can make strides and stay healthy? Get that from both, and you’re pretty pleased with this class.”

Flowers has started eight games and Collins nine for the 5-5 Giants. Flowers has the attitude and the athleticism to be a starter in this league, and Collins, as the analysts predicted ahead of the draft, plays his best at or near the line of scrimmage. He has been a very good tackler since his college days and can race any ball carrier to the sideline with ease.


(nyg.247sports.com)

One of the reasons why the New York Giants selected offensive tackle Ereck Flowers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft was because of his nasty-streak and overall toughness. Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty has experienced that first hand during Flowers' rookie season.

"I'll tell you a funny story," Flaherty said Monday, per ESPN's Dan Graziano . "Do you know he got mad at me when I worked him out before the Buffalo game?"

Flowers felt like he was ready to in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills, but the Giants wanted to put him through a pre-game warmup to make sure. He was not happy with that decision.

"He said, 'I'm fine. I'm playing'," Flaherty recalled. "So I said, 'That's great, but the procedure is that we take you out on the field, the trainers watch you do some drills and they decide whether you're OK to play.'"

Flowers given the go ahead to play after the workout, but that didn't make him any happier with Flaherty.

"He just stared at me," Flaherty said. "But wait! It gets better."

Flowers got injured on the first play of the Giants' first offensive possession and he was pulled for the game. That's when Flaherty finally delivered him the first good news he had heard that day.

"So I sat down next to him and I said, 'We didn't activate you to play one play. Your ass is going back in there the next series,'" Flaherty said. "And he perked right up. First time all day he smiled."

Flowers finished the game and has played every snap for the Giants at left tackle since. He is still not 100 percent healthy, but he is playing through his ankle injury anyway. He has had his ups and downs on the field, but no one can question his toughness.


(foxsports.com)

Ereck Flowers is a man of very few words with the media, but the Giants can’t get their impressive rookie left tackle to shut up when the tape recorders and camera lights are off.

“He talks all the time,” guard Justin Pugh said with a laugh Friday afternoon. “The other day I ended up having to tell him that he needed to just shut up because he was talking too much.”

When it comes to reporters, though, Flowers prefers to let his play speak for him. And that play lately has been speaking as loudly as his Big Blue teammates insist Flowers is in the locker room.

Pressed into starting duty right away at left tackle — the notorious “blind side” that is the NFL’s most difficult line position to play — by Will Beatty’s offseason pectoral injury, Flowers is looking like a potential cornerstone for the 4-4 Giants heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers in Tampa.

The big first-round pick from Miami has started every game despite some nagging injuries and is considered a big reason the Giants are fifth in the NFL in scoring offense and 10th in passing offense while allowing Eli Manning to be sacked just 12 times.

Manning is on pace to be sacked 24 times, which would be his fewest since 2012 and the third lowest total over a full season in the quarterback’s 13-year pro career.

“He’s a big, strong kid who plays with good strength,” Pugh said of Flowers. “He just needs to keep working on his technique and getting better in that area. That’s the biggest transition for an offensive lineman on the pro level is handling [the level of technique required], and he’s getting it. He’s getting better every week.”

The Giants still can’t run the ball consistently or effectively in short-yardage situations (they rank in the bottom 10 in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry), but that can’t be pinned on their 6-foot-5, 324-pound rookie tackle.

Don’t expect Flowers to break down his game or his feelings in great detail, either. Or in any detail, for that matter.

“The game has really slowed down for me, which is cool,” Flowers said Friday. “I feel like I belong and that I’ve made some really good strides with my game.”
Flowers then claimed he “forgot” what areas of his game he feels he has improved on and asked to end the interview after 90 seconds because, “I just want to go home, man.”

Flowers’ coaches and teammates are much more effusive with what they see from him on the field, which appears to be enough to force Beatty to move to right tackle when he is expected to come off injured reserve next week.

“He’s a great player who brings a lot to the table,” Pugh said about Flowers. “He’s going to continue to grow and continue to get better, so it’s definitely an exciting future for him, for sure.”

Flowers flashed that fiery side in the Giants’ ugly road loss to the Eagles last month, gathering teammates around him on the sideline after their second turnover and delivering an impassioned speech unusual for a rookie.

That’s a sign Flowers has matured and adapted to the NFL faster than anyone expected, as Manning noted recently.

“[The game] doesn’t seem too big for him,” Manning said. “He knows what’s going on, he’s handled everything, blocked guys and shown some toughness.

“He’s been banged up a little but shown toughness,” Manning added. “He wants to be out there. I’ve been impressed with how quickly he just knows everything that’s going on and knowing his assignments.”

Unless Flowers is alone with teammates, though, look for it to continue to be a case of show, not tell.


(nypost.com)

One of the highlights from the Giants' loss to the Eagles didn't take place on the field on Monday night. It happened on the sideline when, after Rashad Jennings' second-quarter fumble in the middle of the unraveling of the team, rookie offensive tackle Ereck Flowers was shown on the broadcast delivering a fiery address to his teammates.

He pulled them in. He looked them in the eyes. He spoke his mind.

It's uncommon for a rookie to do that, especially on a team with a lot of veteran talent. So why did Flowers step into that role?

"Because," he said simply, "I wanted to win."

Flowers doesn't show that persona much away from the games. He's very limited in sharing his thoughts with the media. But at that moment, he was revved up something fierce.

"You feel more comfortable the more games you play," Flowers said of his growing role on the team as a young leader.

The Giants have spoken about that dynamic for several weeks. Second-year center Weston Richburg said he believed this year's team was more "self-governing" than teams in the past that waited for coaches to spark them. There have been times when other, more established players have rallied the group the way Flowers did on Monday night, players such as Jennings and Eli Manning and Justin Pugh.

Flowers certainly felt the need to speak his mind then, if not now. Asked if he didn't like what he was seeing from his teammates, he shrugged: "Nah."
It didn't exactly work. The Giants offense never regained its footing and lost, 27-7.

"I wish we had a different result," Flowers said.

But that likely won't dissuade him from doing it again.

"Just when needed," he said. "Just when needed."


(newsday.com)

This is the hostile, vitriolic place that can make knees knock and legs turn to jelly, especially if you wear a Giants uniform. Even before you enter this bubbling cauldron of venom, fans of the Brotherly Love Eagles have been known to hurl eggs and invective at your team bus.

The meek have no chance to inherit the earth inside the Linc, especially on a Monday night.

Only the strong survive these riotous blood-and-guts brawls.

It is right in Ereck Flowers’ wheelhouse.

It helps being a 6-foot-6, 329-pound aircraft carrier, yes. But this isn’t a rookie who scares easy. If at all.

This is a baby-faced assassin with a mean streak.

Linebacker Devon Kennard was a rookie out of USC last season, and he wasn’t fazed by the Linc.

“The fans are rowdy, and they’re not nice, and they don’t like us,” Kennard said with a smile. “So it’s just a fun place to play. It kind of reminds me of a college feel.”
Kennard said he thinks Flowers will blossom in such an environment

“I think he’ll thrive,” Kennard said. “Ereck’s a competitor. He’s a beast. He has all the ability in the world, and the tenacity to go with it.

“I’m glad he’s on my team.”

Right tackle Marshall Newhouse depicts young Flowers as an even-keeled Terminator.

“Just him wanting to finish guys,” Newhouse said. “Him wanting to be a jerk out there. That’s what being a lineman in the NFL’s about, at the end of the day. So just having that physicality about him and that finish mentality, he’s got it, for sure.”

Center Weston Richburg was a rookie at the Linc last October.

“Pretty hostile,” Richburg said. “It wasn’t anybody kind of trying to harm us or anything, but you’re getting flipped the bird. But that’s expected. It’s a pretty intense divisional rivalry.”


(nypost.com)

ORCHARD PARK — Ereck Flowers was under the watchful eyes of Tom Coughlin in pregame warm-ups, as the veteran coach wanted to make sure the rookie left tackle would be able to hold up after missing the last game with a sprained left ankle.

Flowers was given the go-ahead to start, but on his first play, his ankle was rolled over and he was forced out. Justin Pugh moved from left guard into Flowers’ spot and John Jerry came off the sideline to play left guard.

“It’s all good, came back, we got the win,’’ Flowers said.

Indeed, Flowers returned later in the first quarter as the Giants beat the Bills 24-10, and he continued to impress those around him for his toughness in battling through this lingering ankle issue.

“The kid’s a tough kid,’’ Coughlin said. “I ask him how he’s doing and he says ‘Good.’ He’s always good. He came out, before you know it he’s back in. I respect the hell out of it.’’


(nypost.com)

Rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers returned to practice Wednesday as the Giants began preparations in earnest for Sunday's game at the Bills. 

Flowers missed the Giants' win over the Redskins this past Thursday with an ankle injury, but was a limited participant during Wednesday's session. The first round pick injured his ankle in the season opener against the Cowboys, but was able to play through it. He then re-aggravated the injury in Week 2 against the Falcons and was forced to leave the game early. Flowers said he felt better after practice. 


(nj.com)

Giants LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in practice on Monday.

The Giants did not actually practice, but Flowers would not have been able to go if they had. Flowers tried to play through his ankle injury Week 2, but was forced from the game in the second half. Coach Tom Coughlin expressed some concern the ankle would bother Flowers throughout the season. The smart move would be to hold Flowers out of Thursday night's game against Washington and give him two full weeks to heal.


(rotoworld.com)

Giants LT Ereck Flowers was forced from Sunday's game against the Falcons with an ankle injury, and will not return.

Flowers tweaked his ankle in last week's debut, and underwent an MRI on Monday. Flowers' injury didn't appear overly serious, but it's obviously concerning that he's been ruled out for the game. RG Justin Pugh has kicked over to the blindside, with John Jerry entering the game at right guard.


(rotoworld.com)

Rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers has scored some toughness points with his head coach for how he is handling his ankle injury. 

Flowers got dinged up in the Giants' season-opening loss to the Cowboys, and had a routine MRI earlier in the week. But when the Giants got back to work and started practice Wednesday to begin preparations for Sunday's home opener against the Falcons, Flowers was out there, after telling Tom Coughlin he would be there.

"He said, basically, 'I'm playing and I'm practicing.' It's a breath of fresh air," said Coughlin, the self-professed dinosaur, about Flowers' old-school mentality.

Flowers, if you'll remember, let reporters know Wednesday he was "all right" on his way to a relaxing dip in the ice tub. And Coughlin agrees with that assessment, as there seem to be no qualms about Flowers' availability to play this weekend. 

"He said, 'I'm practicing.' And he did," Coughlin said. "Can we have a few more (like him)? Whether they're rookies, or veterans, or whatever?"


(nj.com)

Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers, who hurt his ankle Sunday against the Cowboys, was able to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. Although, his availability for Week 2 against the Falcons is still to be determined.

"It was just like any other injury," Flowers said, per NJ.com. "You've got to play through it and get through it.

"I guess we'll see. In my head, I'm looking to play."

With Will Beatty on the PUP list, John Jerry would likely be tasked with protecting quarterback Eli Manning's blindside Sunday, if Flowers can't play.


(cbssports.com)

It was hard not to notice New York Giants rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers hobbling around the field Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in the season-opening loss to the Cowboys. Flowers hurt his ankle early in the game and limped through the rest of it but never came out. He declined questions about it after the game.

Monday, though, the thing was still bothering him, and the team sent him for an MRI and other tests to see how severely it was hurt.

"They're doing the usual number of MRIs, etc., etc.," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said on a conference call Monday. "He did injure the ankle early on, and he gutted it out and finished the game. But today is a different day. He was limited to a certain extent because of the injury, but I thought he battled away, and that's what we always counted on -- that he would battle. And he did."

Flowers, the Giants' first-round pick in this year's draft, was pressed into starting left tackle duty in his first game due to an offseason injury to Will Beatty. He had a rough night in pass protection against the Dallas front, but it's possible he was bothered by the ankle problem and that had something to do with it.

If Flowers has to miss time, the most likely lineup would see Justin Pugh move from left guard to left tackle and John Jerry inserted into the lineup at left guard. But if the injury to Flowers is serious (and at this point there's no strong indication whether it is or it isn't), the Giants likely would have to add an offensive lineman. They only have eight on the roster and only made seven active for Sunday's game.


(espn.com)

The New York Giants were forced to throw rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers right into the action when incumbent starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle in May. Flowers took over left tackle immediately and hasn't looked back since. 

Flowers is running with the first team offense and often the second team offense as well. This kind of usage gives him more repetitions and it gives the Giants a better look at what he can bring the table. He has worked with both units throughout training camp practices and for most of the preseason action.

Flowers has been a very strong run blocker throughout all three games. He has earned positive grades from Pro Football Focus while paving the way for some big runs off the left end. The Giants have found their most success this preseason running off the left end. According to Pro Football Focus, the Giants have ran the ball for 34 yards on five attempts of the left end -- averaging 6.8 yards per carry. 

It's not all good news for Flowers. Through the first three preseason games, Flowers has struggled a bit in pass protection. In the third preseason game against the Jets, Flowers allowed a sack and a quarterback hit on just 22 pass blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Over the course of the preseason, he has allowed two additional quarterback hits and one hurry.

Flowers will look to improve in pass protection and continue more of the same in the run game. If he can clean up some of his issues and keep Manning upright, he could make a major impact for this offense in 2015.


(foxsports.com)

LT Ereck Flowers
It's hard to complain about what you've seen from Flowers this preseason. He's a rookie left tackle holding his own, and he did so again on Saturday night against a good Jets defensive line. Mostly, Flowers was matched against Jets outside linebacker Trevor Reilly. He won that matchup, especially up until the final drive. There were two plays in particular on the Giants' long touchdown drive in the second quarter where Flowers stood out with his run blocking. He also showed some feistiness near the goal line on a play where his helmet came off. The one negative came on a when Flowers found himself against Muhammad Wilkerson and was pushed into the backfield. Wilkerson and Reilly split the sack after running a twist that the Giants left side didn't handle well. Still another promising performance from the rookie left tackle. 

A quick observation of New York Giants first-round pick Ereck Flowers and how he has played through three weeks of training camp:

The Giants drafted Flowers No. 9 overall thinking they could use him at right tackle right away and develop him as their left tackle of the future. But when left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle lifting weights in May, the Giants shifted Flowers to the left side and accelerated his development. He's played on the left throughout OTAs, minicamp, training camp and the first two preseason games, and so far the reviews are good.

As expected, Flowers looks like a giant mauler who can eat up defenders in the run game. The Giants believed he would show that right away, and he has. The questions are about footwork and technique in pass protection, especially now that he's charged with protecting Eli Manning's blind side.

So far on that front, some good and some bad news. Flowers held up all right against the Bengals' impressive defensive front in the first preseason game. Jacksonville didn't test him much Saturday in the second, as most of his one-on-one matchups seemed to be against linebackers and not defensive ends. He looked very good on a couple of plays and was beaten on a couple of others -- basically what you'd expect from a talented rookie learning the league.

What teammates and coaches seem to like best about Flowers is that he's serious about his business and his education. Tom Coughlin said Sunday that he liked the way Flowers went after a loose ball behind the line of scrimmage even though it was an incomplete pass and not a fumble, because it shows he's been listening as the coaching staff has preached pursuit of every loose ball. Teammate Andre Williams said Flowers is "not easily frustrated," which is a fine quality for a rookie who's likely to have some struggles mixed in among the successes.

Overall so far, Flowers has given the Giants reason to believe they could be all right with him as their left tackle to start this season, which is actually more than they expected when they drafted him.


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The offensive line was a big concern for the New York Giants going into Saturday's preseason game, and it held up pretty well. After a really tough outing the week before against the Bengals, the Giants' line protected its quarterbacks effectively against the Jaguars. On the left side in particular, where rookie tackle Ereck Flowers is working with guard Justin Pugh, there were a couple of very impressive blocking plays that helped out the run game.

So put Saturday in the "good" column for a unit about which the Giants have a lot of justifiable concern. And chalk it up as an encouraging night for Flowers, the 2015 first-round pick who's being asked to handle left tackle right away in the absence of the injured Will Beatty.

"I think he's doing well," said Giants running back Andre Williams, who benefited from one of Flowers' more dominating run blocks with an 11-yard first-half gain. "He's got the right attitude. He's smart. He shows great skills in certain schemes, and for a rookie, I like that he's not easily frustrated."

I thought that last part was especially interesting: "not easily frustrated." That's Williams taking a realistic look at Flowers. He's a rookie being asked to handle a very difficult position with no professional experience. The Giants didn't draft him thinking he'd have to play left tackle right away, and they acknowledge the difficulty of the task they've handed him. They don't expect it to go smoothly, and it won't.

While Saturday may have gone well for Flowers on balance, it wasn't perfect. He was one-on-one with a linebacker much of the time, as Jacksonville's defensive line is very thin right now and their top pass-rushers didn't play. And that linebacker, Dan Skuta, did beat him on a speed rush on one memorable second-quarter play. And even if Saturday had been a perfect day, that doesn't mean all the rest of the days to come will be. What's important for Flowers isn't that he doesn't make any mistakes. It's that he accepts that there will be mistakes and understands how to fix them.

That's why "he's not easily frustrated" is one of the more encouraging things you can hear about Flowers. Things are going to happen that could frustrate him. It will help speed his development if he's good at fending that off.


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD – Ereck Flowers wants to only talk about football.

Well, truth be told, the Giants’ starting left tackle and first-round pick would rather not discuss that in tremendous detail, either.

So if you’re wondering if there is significant meaning to what he posts on his Twitter page, whether the messages include lyrics to favorite songs or philosophical phrases that motivate or inspire him, Flowers is not willing to reveal any specifics.

If you are hoping to learn what aspects of his technique have improved since the Giants drafted him ninth overall four months ago, at least from his perspective, those questions are better asked to someone else. Flowers declined to elaborate on anything mentioned above in an interview that lasted 1 minute, 43 seconds prior to practice Thursday.

Make no mistake: There’s nothing wrong with 6-foot-6, 329-pound Flowers choosing to let his actions speak loudest, of course, and considering the quality of noise he has made so far, the Giants are fine with that, too.

Enough pressure is on the 21-year-old to perform in the spotlight, and making sure he provides answers filled with intrigue and emotion to reporters is pretty far down his things-to-do checklist this summer.

"I know he’s a man of very few words, so you guys [the media] probably don’t get as much out of him as you may want to," Giants left guard Justin Pugh said with a laugh. "But he’s heading in the right direction. It’s a bright future for him."

The future for Flowers must be now, though, and the Giants have confidence in the offensive lineman from the University of Miami to figure out what it takes to play in the NFL while honing his skills and protecting the blind side of Eli Manning.

"I’m just looking to get better," Flowers said, and that’s quite an understatement having been thrust into the spot vacated when left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle in the weight room in the spring.

Instead of anchoring the opposite side of the line at right tackle, Flowers finds himself on an island where one false step against – quite often — the NFL’s premier game-changers at defensive end can ruin the offensive game plan at any time.

Flowers held his own in his preseason debut Friday night against the Bengals.

There was some good and some bad, including a 15-yard facemask penalty when he lost his balance in pass protection, but as far as first impressions go, this was a positive one.

On his first professional snap, Flowers drove off the ball and got to the second level rather easily, engaging Bengals linebacker A.J. Hawk and buckling him on impact before pushing him 5 yards deep from the point of attack on a Rashad Jennings run.

Coach Tom Coughlin didn’t exactly throw bouquets at Flowers and the rest of the Giants’ starting offensive line, as is his want, especially after a sluggish performance overall, offering a blunt "OK" as what was essentially the highest grade available.

But Flowers has impressed his teammates on both sides of the ball with his power, not to mention an ability to pick things up quickly in terms of schemes and checks at the line.

"His hands are getting better, his confidence in his sets," Pugh said. "I think the game’s starting to slow down for him."

Defensive end Damontre Moore and Flowers got into a heated skirmish during practice earlier this week, and both players – expected to be significant contributors this season – had to be separated and held back by teammates.

When cooler heads prevailed, Moore said he told Flowers: "Man, I’ve never felt somebody that strong."

"He’s one of those guys where I legitimately tried to use both of my hands to get off of him [and couldn’t]," Moore said, adding: "I can only imagine if he was going full tilt against somebody else. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that."


(northjersey.com)

Damontre Moore and Ereck Flowers got into a heated fight at the end of Monday's practice that required the two players to be separated by teammates and took several minutes to defuse. But the reason for the scuffle -- and Moore's frustration -- may have yielded some of the best news the Giants have gotten all camp.

Moore said he and Flowers worked out their differences later. Moore said he even told Flowers: " 'Man, I've never felt somebody that strong.' ''

Moore is going into his third year as a defensive end in the NFL and has gone against some of its best offensive tackles. He said he wasn't just blowing smoke when he praised the strength of the 6-6, 329-pound rookie left tackle.

"I'm not gonna lie,'' he said. "I've met some strong guys, but I've never been hemmed up like that. He's one of those guys where I legitimately tried to use both of my hands to get off of him [and couldn't].''

That's what led to the fracas.

"Tempers get flared in the heat of battle,'' Moore said. "Nobody likes to be a loser, and when you have two high-intensity, competitive guys, things get a little riled up.''

Moore came away from the confrontation acknowledging that he has to do a better job of controlling his anger on the field. He and general manager Jerry Reese spoke for several minutes after the melee, and Moore said he understands he has to "stay as close as possible to the line but also by the same token not tip over it.''

He also learned that Flowers is the wrong guy to mess with. The Giants are counting on Flowers to man that left tackle spot in place of the injured Will Beatty, and so far he has shown the ability to do so. He looked good in the joint practices against the Bengals. Tom Coughlin said he did "OK'' in the preseason game, and he certainly has left an impression on Moore.

"It definitely is good to have that guy on your side,'' he said. "Going against him and getting hemmed up like that, I mean, we're teammates, so obviously we all know that we hold back from each other. I can only imagine if he was going full tilt against somebody else. I wouldn't want to be on the other end of that.''


(newsday.com)

CINCINNATI — Ereck Flowers' first official snap in the NFL threw him right into the fire.

The Giants' rookie left tackle fired out and, with running back Rashad Jennings soon to be right behind him, headed toward the second level. His objective? Pick up Bengals linebacker A.J. Hawk, an established veteran.

Flowers, the Giants' first round pick, did just that, securing the block and pushing Hawk back as Jennings picked up three yards on the first play from scrimmage in the Giants' preseason-opening 23-10 loss at Paul Brown Stadium.

"It was pretty good," Flowers said. "I think I did pretty well, but I'm looking to improve. I felt good, I had fun. Football is football."

The first team offense struggled mightily on Friday night, especially on the offensive line, on the four drives the unit was together on the field. But Flowers, whose development has been hampered a bit recently by a hip flexor injury, put in a solid individual effort, picking up his assignments with consistency to cap what was a good week for the No. 9-overall pick between a pair of joint practices and the game.

Flowers said there was nothing about the game that surprised him, since "we had been practicing against them all week, so it was about the same."

There were a handful of times when a Bengal defender would get some pressure against Flowers on a pass rush, and Flowers did draw a facemask penalty to wipe out a nice gain when he lost his balance while blocking Bengals defensive end Will Clarke. But on the whole, Flowers did well, moving his feet and maintaining leverage

Flowers saw a variety of Bengal defenders - Wallace Gilberry, Clarke and Hawk, among others - and was consistent throughout both in the run game and in the passing attack. When the starting line then stayed in the game for a fifth series, Flowers helped the unit assert itself against the Bengals' reserves, leading to an 8-play touchdown drive.

The learning curve for a rookie left tackle is a steep one, but Flowers continues to give the Giants optimism so far during training camp that he can step into the crucial role admirably. 

"We need to keep improving," Flowers said, "and getting better."


(nj.com)

CINCINNATI — On the eve of his professional debut, Giants rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers said the hip flexor injury that bothered him earlier in training camp is no longer bothering him.

"It's gotten a lot better than what it was," the first round pick said Thursday prior to the Giants' preseason opener against the Bengals here on Friday night. 

Flowers, who was selected with the ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft earlier this year, missed a handful of practices due to the injury last week. But Flowers was a full participant in both of the Giants' joint practices with the Bengals this week, and performed well in both sessions in preparation of his first professional game experience. 

"I'm excited, it's my first game," Flowers said. "I came in and got some good work (during the two joint practices). I'm looking forward to [Friday]. It's a big deal for me to play any game."

Guard Justin Pugh, who filled in at left tackle when Flowers was unavailable, said he liked what he saw out of Flowers during practice this week.

"I think he did very well," Pugh said. "Especially coming in coming off an injury. It's tough, because he really hasn't been in full pads yet. So to come back and play like he has been playing, I'm excited for him."


(nj.com)

CINCINNATI - Rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers appeared to do OK in his first action against an opposing team, holding up against Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap in pass protection during team drills. Flowers' development is a key to the Giants offense this season as he was thrust into the left tackle spot after Will Beatty (pec) was injured.

"He seemed to be good," Manning said. "We did some cadence stuff and changed some plays and he did a good job understanding what was going on and understanding the looks and what his assignments were. It seemed like he had a good day."

The Giants have been waiting for this opportunity to judge Flowers since they drafted him. As an offensive lineman, it's been difficult to get a handle on just what he's capable of doing when he spent all spring without any pads on and most of training camp going against teammates.

No one doubts Flowers' size is his biggest asset at 6-6, 329 pounds. But his technique seemed stable, as well. He kept square against the pass rushers and was able to keep the pocket generally clear.

The rest of the offensive line also seemed to hold up. Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg were out in front of a screen pass to Shane Vereen at one point and Manning's passing space was generally uncluttered.

"I thought the offensive line did well," Manning said. "It seemed like we had some good runs and protection seemed to be good on most of the plays. I'll go back and look at the film, but sitting right here right now, it felt like we had a good practice."


(newsday.com)

A little bit of good news on the offensive line injury front for the New York Giants on Saturday, as both left tackle Ereck Flowers and center Weston Richburg returned to practice on a limited basis. Both were on the field for individual drills, and Richburg ran with the first-team offensive line in more than one of the 11-on-11 team periods, though not all of them. Flowers had only one series of team drills.


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD ‐ Giants rookie offensive tackle Ereck Flowers just wants to play football. He doesn't want to watch or rehab on the side field as his teammates participate in a training camp practice. He doesn't want to take mental reps and receive tips from offensive line coach Pat Flaherty. 

Flowers wants to be on the field getting ready for his rookie season. A hip flexor has kept it from happening this week. Flowers missed three straight practices, and the Giants were without four offensive line starters (Flowers, center Weston Richburg, guard Geoff Schwartz and tackle Will Beatty) because of injury on Thursday. 

"Ereck is a little different now. Ereck wants to [get on the field]. He's chomping at the bit. He's in my ear," Flaherty said. "I said, 'Listen,we have the best training staff in the world. They're going to put you out there when you're ready, so you don't get reinjured. It's not good to get out there and get back to square one now.'

"So he's missing some time now, but the objective is when he gets out there, there is no looking back. When that is, I can't tell you."

Flowers and Richburg returned to practice on Friday. 

While every practice Flowers misses is "critical," according to Flaherty, it's at least comforting to see the attitude he brings to the table. Flowers is the ninth-overall pick and doesn't come with any noticeable ego.


(nj.com)

It seems like some kind of right of passage for a New York Giants first-round draft pick to be injured and missing practice time at some point during his first offseason. Last year, it was Odell Beckham Jr. who missed most of the offseason, and now 2015 first-round offensive tackle Ereck Flowers has been absent from practice with a hip pointer.

The Giants had been using Flowers with both the first and second-team offenses at left tackle in an effort to get him as many repetitions as possible to prepare him for life as a left tackle in the NFL. Before practice, Flowers told reporters that he was improving and that he expected to be ready to go again soon. 

“I’ve never been hurt,” Flowers told reporters, per Giants.com. “One time, I came back in a week and a half after surgery. I usually heal pretty fast and do pretty well, so I’ll definitely be out there really soon.”

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin echoed Flowers' optimism.

"He's much improved," Coughlin said of Flowers, per ESPN. "Whether they let him go (Thursday), I don't know. But he is much improved."

If Flowers can get back in time for Thursday's practice, this is great news for the Giants. In their first padded practice on Wednesday, the makeshift offensive line missing Flowers and Weston Richburg was a disaster. Flowers' return is necessary.


(foxsports.com)

The Giants will be in full pads for the first time this summer on Wednesday afternoon, the first training camp session that will more closely resemble honest-to-goodness football. All players look forward to this day, none more so than offensive linemen, who finally get to hit someone, rather than go through the blocking motions in shorts and t-shirts.

Ereck Flowers will miss out on this. The rookie left tackle is still bothered by a hip flexor issue and he said, although he is feeling better, he has not yet been cleared to return to work on the field.

Flowers sat out Monday’s practice and said the problem with his hip started the day before.

“I just fought through it,’’ he said. “I guess it got a little worse so I started getting treatment.’’

This past season at Miami, Flowers underwent knee surgery and missed only one game.

“I usually heal pretty fast and do pretty well,’’ he said.

If Flowers cannot get back on the field in the next day or so, it will compromise his chances of playing in the preseason opener Aug. 14 in Cincinnati, delaying his NFL debut. He said missing the first day of full-pad practice will be “very disappointing,’’ but did not think he will have to miss the game against the Bengals.

“I should be fine by then,’’ Flowers said.

Justin Pugh moved from left guard to left tackle this past Monday to fill in for Flowers.


(nypost.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD —Already short at the tackle position, Giants first-round pick Ereck Flowers sat out Monday's practice with a hip flexor injury.

Flowers is considered day to day.

Coach Tom Coughlin seemed to think it wasn't anything serious. 

"He doesn't seem to be bad," Coughlin said. "This morning he was sore and by the time I caught him in the meeting room he was [turning his hips]. Hopefully it's just a short amount of time [he's sidelined]."  

Flower originally hurt the hip several days back. He tried to play through the problem, before sitting out on Monday. Flowers was taking first and some second-team reps during practices as the Giants are trying to get him up to speed quickly. 

They need to. Starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle in the spring and is out until at least mid-October. Flowers had taken all the first-team reps at left tackle the first three practices at Giants training camp. He spent Monday's workout with trainers on the side field, before joining the team during team drills. Flowers watched from the sideline with his helmet on and took mental reps. 

His replacement for the day was Justin Pugh. The former right tackle moved to left tackle on Monday. Adam Gettis stepped into Pugh's new position of left guard.
Pugh's practice at left tackle included a fist-throwing fight with defensive end Damontre Moore. 

The Giants offensive line can't afford for the injury to Flowers to be serious. They already have an entire first-team unit comprised of players that didn't man the position they are playing for them last year.

The Giants are counting heavily on Flowers, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft this season, maybe even more than they'd like. 

"He's a first-round draft choice," Coughlin said. "The left tackle from last year tore his pec. [Flowers] is out there trying to learn how to play. He's important."
And so is his health. 


(nj.com)

Giants rookie offensive tackle Ereck Flowers has a reputation for being a quiet guy, but on Sunday the first-round pick was thrust into the spotlight by none other than Eli Manning, and he apparently came through with flying colors.

According to second-year lineman Weston Richburg, who is shifting to his preferred center position from guard this season, Manning "stood up and demanded" that Flowers go up on stage in the team's media room and sing for the team. The reserved Flowers obliged.

"Very quiet," Richburg said about Flowers. "He's a good singer though. He just sung for us in the media room. It was actually very good."

Richburg wasn't sure exactly what song Flowers sung, but he said it was "really good. I was surprised. It was good stuff."

"I was really looking forward to his singing because I didn't think he would do it, but he performed very well," he added. "But I think it takes time just to get to know us and to know guys and to be able to open up like that, and I think he slowly is. It's been fun to kind of see him grow and get more comfortable out here."

Last season, Richburg said Manning made him do the same thing. Richburg sung a George Strait song - "a tribute to my favorite singer," he said, but he prefers not to think about it.

"It wasn't good," Richburg said. "I did it on purpose though. I think if you do bad you won't have to do it again. Don't tell them I said that though."


(nydailynews.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the New York Giants took the field for their first practice of training camp, the first-team offensive line alignment was the same one they used in organized team activities and minicamp. Rookie Ereck Flowers was the first-team left tackle in place of the injured Will Beatty. Justin Pugh was at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, Geoff Schwartz at right guard and Marshall Newhouse at right tackle.

Now, that doesn't mean that's for-sure the starting offensive line for Week 1 in Dallas. But with Beatty out until at least November while recovering from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, it seems the Giants want to give this year's first-round draft pick every opportunity to show he's ready to handle the all-important left tackle spot right away.

"What we'd like to see him do is just take off in this circumstance and become the player we know he can be, grasp things as fast as he can and move quickly from all the spring work and the experience he had there and into what we're going to face right now," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of Flowers after Friday's practice. "We want him to just take off at that spot."

The Giants drafted Flowers with the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft because they believed he could play left tackle in the NFL at some point in the future. With Beatty at left tackle, they believed they could ease Flowers in, either at right tackle or in a backup role, while he developed into a franchise left tackle down the road. But once Beatty got hurt in May, Flowers became the Giants' best option as Eli Manning's blindside protector -- whether he's ready or not.

The Giants remain in contact with former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long, a free-agent tackle who's recovering from a second ACL surgery in as many years, and could still add him or another veteran to the tackle mix before the end of camp. Newhouse was signed as a backup and is no sure thing at right tackle, after all. But the Giants are working Flowers at left tackle with the first-team and second-team offensive lines because they want to accelerate his learning curve in the hope he can handle the job starting in Week 1.

"I'm confident in Ereck," said Pugh, the 2013 first-rounder who started at right tackle right away as a rookie and played there last year before being moved to guard this spring. "He's a great player. We drafted him ninth overall for a reason, and I think he's going to show that to people. To come in and play as a rookie right away, it's really just getting an understanding of the plays inside and out. I think that's going to be the biggest obstacle for him. It was for me. So we're just here for him to lean on us, and I think we'll be all right."


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD — Many eyes will be on Giants rookie Ereck Flowers this training camp - and this season, for that matter - as the first round pick steps right in at left tackle. 

And like during minicamp earlier this year, Flowers will get plenty of reps as he gets his feet under him. The 6-foot-6 Miami product took snaps with both the first and second teams on Friday during the first practice of training camp in an effort to try and accelerate his progression a bit. 

"What we'd like to see him do, is just take off in this circumstance and become the player that we know he can be," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Grasp things as fast as he can and move from all the spring's work and the experience that he had, quickly move past that into what we're doing and what we're going to face right now. ... We want him to just take off at that spot."

Flowers will have plenty of support along the way. Guard Justin Pugh said he and center Weston Richburg, both younger players, are there to be a resource for Flowers about the transition as a rookie.

"He's a big, strong, tough kid," Pugh said. "He fits right in with the mold we're trying to create here and what we're trying to do. "

And tackle Will Beatty, who the Giants initially planned to have on the left side before he tore a pectoral muscle in May, was seen taking Flowers to the side once he exited team drills for a few moments on Friday to give him some pointers.

"Everybody in the locker room helps everybody out," Flowers said. "I'm a lot more comfortable (with the offense) then when I first came in. I've made a lot of progress, and I'm looking to keep progressing." 

Flowers had some good moments during Friday's quick practice, as well as some things to work on. But he will get plenty of time - sometimes double time - to grow into the franchise left tackle the Giants thought he could be when they selected him with the ninth overall pick.

"I worked really hard leading up to this," Flowers said. "I'm pretty proud of what I did, and I'm ready to take this next step."


(nj.com)

With five days left until the New York Giants report to training camp, our position-by-position breakdown looks at the offensive line, where much has changed from 2014.

Projected starters: LT Ereck Flowers, LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, RG Geoff Schwartz, RT Marshall Newhouse
Likely to make roster: G John Jerry, G/C Dallas Reynolds, G/T Brandon Mosley, T Bobby Hart
Injured (likely to start season on PUP): LT Will Beatty
On the bubble: C Brett Jones, G Adam Gettis, G Eric Herman, T Michael Bamiro, T Emmett Cleary, T Sean Donnelly

This is all in flux: The projected starters here are based on where they lined up in OTAs and minicamp. There's no guarantee this will be the alignment in Week 1. There's no guarantee this will be the alignment next weekend, after a month of thinking and evaluating what the coaching staff saw in spring. They could decide Flowers isn't ready for left tackle but is ready for right tackle, in which case they could swap him and Newhouse or move Pugh from guard back to one of the tackle spots. Schwartz is likely to be limited at the start of camp, which could mean right guard reps for Jerry and a chance for more playing time if he shows well. Mosley intrigues them and was getting right tackle snaps in minicamp. Tom Coughlin will undoubtedly tell us the Giants are tinkering with different combinations to try and figure out the best five starters, and he'll be telling the truth.

Tackle is where the questions lie: The projected guards and centers are as originally planned. The Giants decided before the draft that they wanted to move Pugh from right tackle, where he started the first two years of his career, to left guard. They moved Richburg to center, his true position, and released 2014 starter J.D. Walton. And they want Schwartz back from last year's toe and ankle problems to start at right guard, where he's comfortable. The Giants believe the interior of their line will be strong. But when Beatty tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights in May and had surgery that will keep him out until at least November, the plan at tackle had to change. Flowers' ability to handle left tackle will determine how well the Giants can stick to their original plan.


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today concluded their offseason program and completed an important transaction when they signed first-round draft choice Ereck Flowers to a multi-year contract.

Flowers did not use an agent and instead negotiated the contract himself.

“It was great,” he said. “(I) talked to them. Got a great deal done. Everything went good. It was smooth.”

Flowers, the ninth overall selection in the NFL Draft, is on track to be the Giants’ starting left tackle on opening day after playing there during the OTAs and the minicamp that concluded today.

“I made a lot of progress,” Flowers said. “I have a better understanding of the plays. I got a lot more comfortable out there. Everything was a success.”

When the Giants selected the 6-6, 329-pound Flowers on April 30, they envisioned him as a potential left tackle, though not immediately. But Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle lifting weights on May 18. Flowers, who had been working at right tackle, moved down the line.

“We like him as a future left tackle of the New York Giants,” offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said. “I am very comfortable with him being out there right now. Nothing is ever set in stone. We look forward to getting back here in camp and seeing him jump in there right from the beginning and give a run at it.”

Offensive line is the position group that is perhaps most difficult to evaluate in the spring. The players do not wear pads and there is no hitting in practice. The coaches must wait until training camp to see players engage in full contact with the team’s – and opponents’ -- defensive linemen.

“I use the term that I really feel and still feel that Ereck is going to be a very good player for the New York Giants for a long time,” offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said.  “I thought in a couple years he would be very good. Well, that couple years now is September.”

McAdoo and Flaherty said Flowers performed well in his first series of tests.

“I am excited to have Ereck,” McAdoo said. “I think he has done a nice job so far. He is a young player. He is going to grow, but my concerns are we would like to see him get in here in training camp in great condition and ready to go. Get some good defensive ends over there and get some good one-on-one battles going with some pads on. We are excited for that. We are out there running around in our underwear right now, so it is tough to really put a solid foundation or evaluation on these guys at this point up front. They seem to be working well together, Ereck included.”

“I really have a positive attitude toward him,” Flaherty said, “because he is a guy from the time we went down to visit with him, he really likes the game of football, he has trained very hard in the weight room and he is a competitor. And when you have those types of elements as a person, you have a chance to develop into a player. It is going to take some development. We all know that because of the injury to William that this development has been escalated, so we (have) to go.”

If Flowers is in the lineup in Dallas on Sept. 13, he will be the third Giants rookie lineman to start the opener in as many seasons, joining Justin Pugh (2012) and Weston Richburg (2013). Pugh is playing left guard next to Flowers after moving over from right tackle. Richburg has switched from left guard to center, his natural position.

“I learned some things from Justin that helped Weston and learned some things from Weston in combination with Justin that have helped Ereck,” Flaherty said. “The biggest thing with these guys is, ‘How much time can you spend with them and just keep giving them the information so they just absorb it and digest it.’ One thing you find out with the younger players is they have to go out and do it and they have to do it and do it, the more reps they get. That is what I did in the past and we did in the past. You don’t want to work a guy until he is crawling off the field, but you want to work him to his brink because the more reps he is getting, the better off and the opportunity to get to teach him on tape and he is experiencing that.”

Both Pugh and Richburg had some rocky moments as rookies, but exhibited far more good than bad and quickly became stalwarts on the line. Flaherty expects his latest high draft choice to be similarly successful.

“Ereck, from day one when he was drafted, before he even took a snap with us, when he was up here, we sat and talked,” Flaherty said.

“As I went through a couple of the other (draft-eligible) guys, one asked me, ‘What are your expectations of me if I get drafted by the Giants?’ Ereck never asked me that. Through the conversation, I guess he realized what I was telling him, you were drafted with the ninth pick by the New York Giants for a reason and that reason is that from day one you are going to compete to be a player. I did tell him at that time nobody knows when that day is. It could be the first day, it could be the 25th day, it could be the 10th day. But my goal as a coach is to always get you ready to be ready that first day. That is kind of what we talked about. I didn’t tell him his rookie season is over. You are going to be a rookie, they are going to treat you like a rookie, but I think he will grow and mature at a rapid pace.”


(giants.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD ‐ First-round pick Ereck Flowers says he's getting close with the Giants on his rookie contract. He should know. Flowers is serving as his own agent.

There is no real rush (and really very little room to negotiate), but the No. 9 overall selection is the highest-drafted player still without a rookie deal. Last week he told NJ Advance Media negotiations were "going good." This week he added that he doesn't believe a training camp holdout is in his future.

"I don't really see it getting to that point," Flowers said on Wednesday after practicing on Day 2 of minicamp.

Rookies without contracts can participate in the spring because they signed waivers that guarantee teams will negotiate in good faith in case of injury. It held up in the case of Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler, the No. 3 overall pick who tore his ACL earlier this spring.

These past few months have been important for Flowers and the Giants. They are trying to get him up to speed to be their left tackle after Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle in the weight room last month.

Flowers has even been double-shifting with the first and second-team offenses. He believes the extra reps are paying off.

"I'm leaving here better and trying to come back even better than when I left," Flowers said. "I think I've gotten a lot better since I'm here."

Organized team activities and minicamp can only show so much about a linemen (offensive and defensive). As defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo explained Tuesday, you really evaluate the players' ability to learn in the spring.

Coach Tom Coughlin knows the real evaluation will come this summer during training camp.

"It is not easy," Coughlin said last week about evaluating linemen without pads. "You look at every tape and try to be as technical as you can, but there are obvious restrictions for both defense and offense without the pads."

Flowers believes he's making the most of the situation. He was considered raw coming out of the University of Miami, but blessed with tremendous physical skills.
"What I've really learned is technique," he said. "You have to use more technique without pads."

The power and nastiness that comes with the aircraft carrier has been temporarily tempered by the rules.

"You can't finish right now," Flowers said. "You'll get someone hurt."

Eventually, though, Flowers will be under contract and able to show what he can really do.


(nj.com)

There were 32 players selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and New York Giants first-rounder Ereck Flowers is the only one of them who didn't hire an agent. Flowers has opted to negotiate his rookie contract by himself with limited help from his father and his lawyer. Although he hasn't come to an agreement yet, Flowers noted that negotiations are going well. When Flowers does finally sign the dotted line, he will be about $432,000 richer for not having hired an agent.

When Flowers is unsure of something discussed during the negotiations, he feels comfortable with the team he has in place.

"I have people I talk to," Flowers said, per True Jersey.

Flowers hopes to get a deal done "soon", but he's not going to rush through the process.

"I'd rather get it done soon," Flowers said. "But as long as it takes. Whatever it takes."

The Giants are certainly hoping that a deal gets done soon. They are counting on big things from their rookie offensive tackle in 2015. Throughout OTA practices, Flowers has lined up exclusively as the starting left tackle. 


(foxsports.com)

There was no time for rookie Ereck Flowers to work on his technique or get acclimated to the NFL level. The New York Giants needed him to step up when starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle, and since, Flowers has lined up as the first team left tackle in all six OTA practices so far. The ninth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft was billed with technique concerns by draft analysts, but he has all of the tools to transition to the NFL game. He will need thick skin and an excellent work ethic to make things work at left tackle during his rookie season.

"You have to understand that it's going to get ugly," said  Marshall Newhouse, who is currently receiving all first team reps at right tackle, per Dan Grazziano of ESPN. "You look at the tape of the guys playing tackle in these college spread offenses, and it looks real pretty. You get out on your block, one-on-one with your guy, and you lock him up and it all works. But up here, when you look at the tape at the end of a play -- even one that was blocked well, with everybody doing their job -- and it looks ugly."

Geoff Schwartz was added in free agency last season as one of the team's biggest signings. Injuries derailed his first season with the team, and now the plan is to switch him from left guard where he played briefly in 2014 to his most natural position at right guard. He stressed that Flowers can clean up his technique issues, and that it all came down to what the rookie was willing to put into his game.

"You have to bring your A-game every day," Schwartz said, per Grazziano. "If you have any technique issues, especially when you're young, they'll expose that. There are guys up here whose only job is to rush the passer, and they have tape on you, and if you have a technique flaw, they're studying you and they're going to find it."

Schwartz has all the confidence in the world in Flowers' long-term potential based on what he has seen so far.

"Ereck has all the attributes to play left tackle," Schwartz said. "He's got the size, the strength, the athleticism and the attitude."

For the Giants, while Flowers' long-term upside is excellent, they will need him to realize his potential as soon as the 2015 season if they want to make it back to the postseason.


(foxsports.com)

For New York Giants' rookie offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, there is no transition period. The Giants have been forced to turn to Flowers as their first team left tackle following the injury to incumbent starter Will Beatty. Of course, nothing is set in stone during OTAS and Flowers could eventually be moved to the right side or even the bench. However, the Giants have used the same first team unit for every repetition during OTAs, so it seems like they are set on giving this unit an extended look. The Giants have high expectations for Flowers.

Flowers believes that he is making steady improvements as he gets used to the game speed and new responsibilities that come along with his status as the team's first unit left tackle.

"It's just like any transition -- every day has gotten better for me," Flowers said, per NFL.com. "It's actually slowed down a little bit from the first day. It's a process. You've got to just keep at it. That's how it was in college."

Offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse has been thrust into a starting role at right tackle following the loss of Beatty. Originally, Newhouse was also thrust into a starting role, similar to what is going on with Flowers, with the Green Bay Packers several years ago. He understands the process.

"He's on a very steep curve and it's gotten even steeper," Newhouse said, per NFL.com. "To say he's getting tossed into the fire is a little bit of an understatement. He's getting tossed into a furnace with not a lot of room to move."

Veteran Justin Pugh hopes to help Flowers by offering him advice on how to eat, how to train and how to prepare himself for what is guaranteed to be the most grueling year of his career.

"Coming from college, it is the longest year of your life," Pugh said, per NFL.com.

Flowers will continue to get all of the repetitions at left tackle as the Giants round out their final set of OTAs this week.


(foxsports.com)

When Victor Cruz was injured last season and Odell Beckham Jr. had to step into the starting lineup, the Giants coaches had a message for Beckham. Because he was needed, there was no longer any time to nurse him along.

"Congratulations," they told him, "you're no longer a rookie."

By that measure, Ereck Flowers' rookie year was even shorter; maybe just a few weeks.

The first-round pick has been inserted as the starting left tackle on the offensive line with Will Beatty requiring surgery to repair a torn pectoral suffered last week. Flowers was at that position during Wednesday's first OTA of the offseason, anchoring a realigned line that didn't have one player returning to a starting position.

Flowers figured to start his career at right tackle, a somewhat less strenuous position than protecting a quarterback's blind side, but the Beatty injury scrapped that plan. The Giants get to see what they have in Flowers right away, and Eli Manning said it is good that Flowers is thrust into such a high-profile position now rather than later in the season. But they are still bracing for the pitfalls that always seem to bother first-year linemen.

"He's a rookie and he's been here three weeks," Manning said. "He'll have some mistakes, and that's just part of it. You have to get them out now and be out with the first team and learn from it all and it'll make him better down the road."

"Sure, there are going to be things that happen to him that haven't happened before," Tom Coughlin said. "We knew there were a couple of things we need to clarify and work on him, but he will work."

The rest of the offensive line in the first OTA: former right tackle Justin Pugh at left guard, former guard Weston Richburg at center, Geoff Schwartz, coming off an injury-riddled 2014, at right guard, and newcomer Marshall Newhouse at right tackle. John Jerry split first-team reps with Schwartz at right guard. Coughlin said the Giants will continue to experiment with various permutations on the line.

"Our plans are to continue to try to figure out how this line is going to fall out, who is going to be where," he said.

Flowers was selected with the ninth pick in the draft, and no one can argue that he isn't built like a premier offensive lineman (6-6, 329). But since he was drafted, several reports have quoted unnamed scouts and coaches criticizing Flowers' technique and coachability. Coughlin came to Flowers' defense.

"I don't subscribe to that, what people say," Coughlin said. "He's our kid. He's an outstanding young player. He's going to do nothing but get better."


(newsday.com)

They talk almost as if Giants first-round pick Ereck Flowers just learned to play offensive line. His technique is raw and flawed, the critics say. It's the easy, common and maybe even obvious assessment about Battleship Flowers.

MMQB's Greg Bedard brought the criticism to the surface again this week (almost a month after the 2015 NFL Draft) when he quoted a veteran NFL offensive line coach describing Flowers as having "some of the worst technique I've ever seen in a player drafted that high." Flowers was the ninth-overall selection by the Giants.
The anonymous offensive line coach's criticism is one the Giants likely brush off with a scoff.

"You read that [his weakness is his technique]. The guy is 20. They all have technique flaws," vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross said with a wide smile after the selection. "Nobody is ready-made to play in the NFL. Even fourth- or fifth-year seniors. They all can improve. He is just learning to play, but even with technique flaws, the guy was a productive and dominant player at times."

The rare moments when Flowers did have struggles is what has come to the surface pre- and post-draft. There was the one play matched against Nebraska's Randy Gregory. There were a few bad snaps against Virginia's Eli Harold.

Considering Flowers is believed to have not allowed a single sack last season (and his father claims there were none over the past two years), it's clearly nitpicking. Here's a player who was a first-round pick, no matter who you asked, and eventually settled in the Top 10. Does he have flaws? No doubt. But some of the worst technique ever? Sounds like hyperbole.

So what are these alleged technique flaws that everybody speaks of?

"Like a lot of offensive linemen in college, in college you can get away with clutching and grabbing," former Giants lineman and current FOX analyst David Diehl said. "In the pros, you have to be a puncher from Day 1. The biggest thing you have to do, whether you are at left tackle or right tackle, is re-direct the defensive end's rush.

"That is one thing he definitely has to work on is timing his hands and feet together so he is punching and he gets his hands inside the framework. Outside of those two things, he's a more athletic Kareem McKenzie."

The inefficiency with his movement leads to sloppy technique. It leaves Flowers overexposed and sapped of his power.

This makes him susceptible to both speed and power pass rushers. At the University of Miami, Flowers was able to compensate with his natural strength and athleticism.

On a play against Virginia, he held off a defender with one bent arm. That's won't work against the size and speed of NFL defensive linemen. Flowers will need to clean it all up to be successful at a difficult position.

"Instead of kicking and getting to a spot, exploding and getting engaged, upper body in sync with the lower body, being able to punch and make a stand, a lot of times he's all over the place in moving sections," said Duke Manyweather, a performance consultant with emphasis on offensive line. Manyweather works with the Giants' Geoff Schwartz and Weston Richburg in the offseason.

"That leads to [Flowers] not being in top position with his feet and effectively use his hands. That is one of the big issues."

Former Giants lineman Chris Snee, who analyzed three games of Flowers for line coach Pat Flaherty, can relate. He struggled with some of the same issues Flowers has entering the NFL.

"The hand placement issue I was talking about with Flowers was similar to what I had [coming out of B.C.]," Snee said. "I'd either have one hand inside and the other outside and wouldn't really trust my punch."

These are all issues that must be addressed. The Giants desperately need Flowers to play (and play well) with starting left tackle Will Beatty likely out until November.

There are three months to work on these flaws. It's far from a lost cause. Flowers was the ninth pick for a reason, and seems to have the right mindset and work ethic.

"[Flowers] said one of the best things he could have possibly said to me that already struck me the right way and gave me a good impression of him," Diehl said recently. "We're sitting there talking about coming [to the Giants] and everything. Before I walked away he said, 'I know you're around a lot. [The team] said you were.
Do you mind if at any time if I have any questions about technique or footwork or different types of stuff if I can ask you?'"

Sounds like someone willing to fix what many consider badly flawed technique.


(nj.com)

There are reasons many mock drafts had Ereck Flowers being taken in the middle of the first round or later. Opinions around the league varied greatly on the Miami offensive tackle, who was selected ninth overall by the Giants in the NFL Draft.

The common knock is that Flowers' technique is flawed. He's raw, critics say. He has massive amounts of work to become a finished product.
That was reiterated in this week's Monday Morning Quarterback, where Greg Bedard pinch-hit for Peter King. This was the first item in the "Ten Things I Think I Think" section:

1. I think the Giants are fooling themselves if they think the pectoral muscle injury suffered by left tackle Will Beatty, which reportedly could keep him out until at least October, won't have huge ramifications. Beatty had developed himself into a very capable left tackle, and now the Giants are left with either Justin Pugh (who underwhelmed so much at right tackle he had been penciled in at guard) or Ereck Flowers, the ninth overall pick out of Miami earlier this month. I recently spent the weekend at the Coaches of Offensive Line (COOL) Clinic in Cincinnati, and the reviews on Flowers were not good. "Some of the worst technique I've ever seen in a player drafted that high," said one veteran NFL line coach. "He played for one of the best coaches, Art Kehoe, and his technique was terrible," said another coach. "That tells me he doesn't take coaching well. That's a big problem because all of the recent tackles have struggled making the transition. It now takes them until Year 3. You can thank the spread and the [collective bargaining agreement] for that."

Let's address this point by point, beginning with the premise that the Giants are going to suffer without Beatty. This is an assertion that is hard to argue. Plug-and-play left tackles don't grow on trees. They don't grow in college anymore, either.

As the veteran line coach who slammed Flowers explained, it's become more and more difficult for rookie tackles to enter the NFL and enjoy instant success. It's going to be difficult for Flowers to succeed, especially if forced to protect quarterback Eli Manning's blindside in Week 1. And yes, the Giants preferred to move Pugh to guard.

As for the comment about being "the worst technique I've ever seen in a player drafted that high," that is somewhat eye-opening. Lots of linemen enter the league with serious technique flaws. The NFL is a completely different game. Linemen are generally drafted based on their natural size, strength and ability.

If Flowers really is that far behind the rest of the highly-picked linemen, it's worrisome. What was said by the veteran line coach is not the kind of comment you expect to see often about the ninth-overall pick.

There is obviously an offensive line coach out there who doesn't think very highly of Flowers. In fact, he's probably not alone. There are most certainly others out there like him.

There are others who share the Giants perspective (all rookie linemen are raw and have technique flaws) as well. The Rams reportedly were very interested in Flowers at No. 10 and another executive and scout with NFC teams weren't the least bit taken aback when I suggested Flowers as the Giants ninth pick a month before the draft.

It just goes to show the variance in opinions on the Giants' first-round pick. Only time will tell who was right on their evaluation.

The final point that was addressed by Bedard was that Flowers didn't take coaching well. To be honest, it's an interesting philosophy. One is left to wonder why Flowers' technique is considered raw when his coach is well respected in NFL circles.

Having met and talked with Flowers, I'm not sure that it's a matter of not taking coaching well. He seems to be a humble kid interested in learning. One theory could be that he came to Miami so incredibly raw that what he is now is already a massive improvement from when he arrived in Coral Gables.

Again, only time will tell. In the meantime, file this report away for three years. Then we'll see which camp had it pegged right.


(nj.com)

There will likely be no developmental period for New York Giants rookie offensive lineman Ereck Flowers. Following a torn pec injury to incumbent starting left tackle Will Beatty, the Giants will be forced to fast-track the No. 9 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft. The Giants will be forced to shuffle the offensive line, and their new goal will likely involve getting the five best offensive linemen on the field even if that means moving some players out of their natural positions.

Take a quick peak around the rest of what the Giants have to offer along the offensive line, and it won't take long to realize that Flowers is already one of the team's best five. If we assume Justin Pugh, Geoff Schwartz an Weston Richburg are locked in to starting spots, that leaves us with two positions to fll out. Flowers' challengers present a weak case to play over him. John Jerry started all 16 games for the Giants in 2014, but he finished as Pro Football Focus' 66th-ranked guard out of 78 qualifiers. The Giants singed swing tackle Marshall Newhouse who allowed 16 quarterback pressures, hits and sacks in just 373 snaps in 2014. He has performed poorly at every stop along the way in his NFL career so far. Fellow rookies Brett Jones an Bobby Hart can't claim to possess the natural talent and athleticism that Flowers has, and they certainly don't have his size.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese has mentioned in the past that he expects first-round draft picks in the top half of the draft to make an impact right away. That's what those picks are there for. The Giants selected Flowers with the highest pick they've spent on an offensive lineman since 1974. At 6-foot-6 and 329 pounds, Flowers has the prototypical size to play offensive tackle in the NFL. He was also a very productive player at the collegiate level. In 2014, he was a plus pass protector at the University of Miami. According to Pro Football Focus, Flowers allowed zero sacks and 10 total pressures. Only two tackles in the 2015 draft allowed less pressures.

Former Giants offensive lineman David Diehl said that Flowers reminds him of another great offensive lineman of their past--Kareem McKenzie. 

"He's a more athletic Kareem McKenzie," said Diehl to Jordan Raanan of True Jersey. "Have you seen him? You're talking about a 21-year-old monster. He is huge."

Diehl is excited about what Flowers can become once Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty gets his hands on him.

"He's tough and nasty, gets after people," Diehl said to John Schmeelk of Giants.com. "He's a fighter. He brings the intangible stuff that meeting room needs and also brings competition amongst the offensive line. The five best players will be on the field, and they will all have to fight and earn that job. Granted, there are technique things he needs to work on, but all of us needed to work on those things when we were that young.  I have the utmost confidence and respect in Pat Flaherty, and I know he will be all over him and make him the best player he can be."

Flowers is doing all of the right things so far in Diehl's mind. The rookie has made an excellent first impression on Diehl.

"[Flowers] said one of the best things he could have possibly said to me that already struck me the right way and gave me a good impression of him," Diehl said to Jordan Raanan of True Jersey. "We're sitting there talking about coming [to the Giants] and everything. Before I walked away he said, 'I know you're around a lot. [The team] said you were. Do you mind if at any time if I have any questions about technique or footwork or different types of stuff if I can ask you?'"

Diehl is not the only former Giants lineman who has taken note of Flowers' upside. Chris Snee broke game tape on two of Flowers' games in 2014 and offered up the following evaluation:

"Technically, he's got work to do, which a lot of these college kids do,'' Snee said. "With hand placement, his hands are often outside. I remember distinctly writing I was impressed with how he could anchor and hold his own with his hand placement being so poor. Physically, he's strong up top because he was able to get away with the technical errors. I read an article where he said he knows he has work to do, too. That's half the battle, he knows he's got to clean that up because you're not going to be able to get away with technique errors at this level, the defensive line will eat you apart.

"This is one thing I definitely noticed, he was a different player at the end of the year than he was in the beginning, in a good way. The Nebraska game, he didn't have a good game, to be honest with you. At the end of the year, the false steps that I saw early on were eliminated, which was good. Hand placement had improved.

"There were a couple of times where one of the South Carolina guys tried to cheap-shot his teammate and he ran over. As a lineman, you want to know your teammates have your back. I'm not asking a guy to get in a fight, but there are times when your buddy's in need, you want to see the guy run over there, as opposed to him just standing there, watching. That part was nice to see.''

Former Giants center Shaun O'Hara also took note of Flowers' nasty streak and willingness to finish plays.

"A couple things that jump out at you when you see him on tape, for how big he is, he has pretty good feet, he's pretty athletic and he finishes plays," O'Hara said about Flowers to John Schmeelk of Giants.com. "To me, playing offensive line it has always been it's the size of the fight in the dog not the size of the dog in the fight. I think he has a little nasty streak in him, and it's all about effort when it comes to offensive line play, so I like that aspect of it."

Current Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz is impressed with Flowers' strength and physique, but he doesn't see Flowers winning the a starting job as an offensive guard. According to Schwartz, Flowers will have to compete to prove he is one of the team's best two remaining options at offensive tackle.

"I definitely think Eric is a tackle, I don't see him as a guard," Schwartz told Armen and Levack, on 104.5 The Team. "He is very athletic. You have to be a certain type of athlete to play tackle and he fits that mold of long arms, strong and powerful. I'm excited to see him get after it."

One thing we can be sure of is that Flowers will get every opportunity to win a starting tackle job this summer. During the Giants' rookie minicamp, he lined up primarily at left tackle, but the Giants may feel more comfortable preparing him to play on the right side now that Beatty is out. As a raw tactician, Flowers will certainly take his lumps, but he has the upside to hold down an offensive tackle spot for the Giants during the 2015 season. Given the current state of their offensive line, they are going to need him to realize that upside sooner than later.


(foxsports.com)

It’s one thing for an average person to call someone a “big dude.”

It’s another for a 6-foot-6, 340-pounder to say it.

But things are different in the land of Giants. After spending some time with the new draft class, Geoff Schwartz, one of the largest humans on the roster, came away with that impression -- and others -- of ninth overall pick and fellow offensive lineman Ereck Flowers.

“Ereck Flowers is a big dude,” Schwartz said of the 6-foot-6, 329-pound rookie during an interview on ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team. “He is strong. We lifted together. He is a strong kid that I look forward to seeing.

“He’s a quiet guy kind of feeling his way in. I get it, I remember being a rookie. It’s tough, especially since I was a seventh-round pick, he’s the ninth pick overall. But it’s nice to have those guys in and start working with them and try to get them acclimated to the group. I’m excited to kind of see them in camp with the pads on.” 

Last week Flowers put on the Giants uniform for the first time at rookie minicamp, which included his fellow draft picks, undrafted rookie free agents and dozens of tryout players. The camp got his feet wet before organized team activities start Wednesday, May 27.

That’s when all eyes will be on where he lines up.

Coach Tom Coughlin hasn’t committed to anything yet, but Flowers is a tackle and is expected to work on the right side initially.

Flowers’ stature has drawn comparisons to Kareem McKenzie, the Giants’ former starting right tackle in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

“I’ve seen Kareem a couple times, I don’t know if [Ereck] is that big,” Schwartz said. “Kareem has a big chest, big shoulders. [Ereck is] 330. He’s a big man, but he’s very proportionate. Like you wouldn’t think he’s 330. That’s what makes him impressive, a guy who looks that lean and is that strong and big.

I definitely think that they hope that he comes in and plays like Kareem did and kind of holds down a tackle spot for a long time and kind of brings that nastiness, that run-blocking style that we need to get back to.”


(giants.com)mai

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Any time a team drafts a mammoth offensive lineman with their top pick, chances are the quarterback is going to be thrilled. That was exactly Eli Manning's reaction on Monday to the Giants' selection of offensive tackle Ereck Flowers with their top draft pick.

Manning was in White Plains for a sponsor recognition party for 38th Annual Guiding Eyes for the Blind Golf Classic — a charity that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss as well as service dogs to children with autism. While clutching a puppy named Otis in his arms, Manning weighed in on the Flowers pick.

"Anytime you get a big 330-pound offensive lineman, the quarterback is usually pretty happy about that," Manning said. "I didn't get to meet all the draft picks, but I got to meet a couple of them, and say hi, and get on the field and work with them."

The Giants' top pick should get an opportunity to protect Manning right away. Flowers saw reps at left tackle throughout rookie minicamp, the position he projects at long-term, and he is expected to compete for one of the tackle spots in training camp.

Flowers has built a reputation as a mauler in the running game, but he performed solidly as a pass protector also, giving up zero sacks and 10 total pressures in 2014, the latter of which was the third-lowest in this draft class, according to Pro Football Focus.

At 6-6, 324 pounds, Flowers' sheer size also leaves quite an impression. Not surprisingly, it was one of the first things that Manning noticed when they were introduced.

"Big man, big man," Manning said.


(nj.com)

Here Flowers (76) is working on a footwork and hand placement drill. Notice the yelling that comes from offensive line coach Pat Flaherty during Flowers' reps. That didn't happen for every player.

Giants OC Ben McAdoo declined to say whether first-round pick Ereck Flowers will start at right tackle.

"We're going to play our best five and if Flowers is one of them, then he'll have a spot," McAdoo said. "We'll give him opportunities, but that doesn't mean we're going to pencil him in right now." Flowers is the Giants’ left tackle of the future, but will start out on the right side. Justin Pugh is expected to move to left guard.


(rotoworld.com)

An NFL scout said Miami T Ereck Flowers is a "big, rugged, physical right tackle" and is an immediate NFL starter.

"Violent, physical player," another scout said. "Fundamentally, he's got to clean some things up. He ducks his head. He tries to win with all upper body. He's got to learn to play with more patience." Flowers led offensive linemen with 37 bench press reps at the combine. "Strictly a right tackle or guard," a third scout said. "He can't play left tackle because he isn't quick. He is powerful and he does have an anchor. He's stiff, so he has problems with adjust and recovery. He carries his hands low. He needs a lot of work with his hands. Big disappointment of the (top) group."


(rotoworld.com)

NJ.com's Jordan Raanan predicts Miami T/G Ereck Flowers will be the Giants' pick at No. 9 overall.

Raanan says he'd fully expect the Giants to draft Clemson OLB/DE Vic Beasley if he lasts to No. 9, but doesn't anticipate Beasley making it there. Flowers would add run-blocking prowess to New York's offensive line, but is a major work in progress as a pass protector. He's best suited to play guard.


(rotoworld.com)

It’s likely that Ereck Flowers will be the first Hurricanes player chosen in the NFL draft, which begins April 30.

It’s clear the Carolina Panthers, who own the 25th pick, really, really like him.

Flowers, the 6-foot-6, 324-pound offensive tackle who left UM after his junior season, fills an immediate need for the Panthers on the right side and could eventually move to the left side. He interviewed with Carolina at the NFL combine, visited the team and worked out for top brass. The team also sent several representatives to watch him at the Hurricanes’ April 1 pro day. The Charlotte Observer even flew their beat writer to do a profile on him (though as usual, Flowers didn’t talk).

If he’s available when Carolina picks, he’ll probably join Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin. But several analysts think he might not be.

In the slew of mock drafts we found online, Flowers is slotted as high as No. 9 overall. FoxSports.com’s Peter Schrager has him going at that spot, to the New York Giants.

Click here to read what Schrager, who has no other Hurricanes in his two-round mock, wrote about Flowers as well as the rest of the proCane potential draft picks by Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post!


(palmbeachpost.com)

The Ereck Flowers pre-draft hype is building, with the Giants as the possible landing spot. They own the ninth overall selection in the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft.

Following an NJ Advance Media report several weeks back that had the Giants high on the University of Miami offensive linemen (and he landed at No. 9 in my most recent mock draft, see below) more evidence has recently been brought to the table. The team's brass attended his Pro Day and now Flowers told WalterFootball.com that he has a pre-draft visit in New Jersey.

"[The Giants] came for the pro day; I had dinner with them, and I have a visit set up with them," Flowers said.

Fox Sports' Peter Schrager also heard glowing reviews recently from several NFL sources who revealed there are multiple teams with Flowers as their No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft. Schrager also put Flowers at No. 9 for the Giants in his most recent mock draft.

Here are the basics on Flowers, per NFL.com and analyst Lance Zierlein:

Height: 6-6
Weight: 329 pounds
Arm Length: 34½
Hands: 9 7/8
40-Yard Dash: 5.31
Bench Reps: 37 (most at the NFL Scouting Combine)

"BOTTOM LINE While they have different body types, Flowers will have some of the same strengths and flaws 2014 first-round pick Greg Robinson had coming in. Flowers has the size, feet and talent to be a very good left tackle but he will be a work in progress unless he can eliminate some of the balance issues that could plague him."

Flowers is believed to be a plug-and-play NFL right tackle who also has the flexibility to slide inside to guard. Some view him as a potential future left tackle.




(nj.com)

The Scot McCloughan era Washington Redskins have not had many pre-draft visits leaked or reported so far this year. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota reportedly had a visit lined up at some point, and the Redskins reportedly worked out  Houston DL Joey Mbu.  That's it, that's the news that is out there for now. Miami OT Ereck Flowers reportedly told NFL.com's Gil Brandt that he has several pre-draft visits lined up for next week, including one to Ashburn to meet with the Redskins.

Flowers(6'6", 329 lbs) is projected to go in the 1st round of this year's draft, with CBS Sports ranking him as the 4th best OT and the #21 overall prospect. Flowers was ranked the #2 OT in Mike Mayock's latest Position Rankings. Flowers would be considered a reach by most people at #5, but the Redskins will listen to any offer involving a trade down, and depending on how far they drop, Flowers becomes a very real option at a position of need.

From CBS Sports:

STRENGTHS: Shows quickness and balance getting to the second level when run blocking. Broad shoulders and a wide base to cover a large area in pass protection and drive defenders off the ball in the run game.

WEAKNESSES: Can struggle against the speed of undersized pass rushers, allowing defensive ends to cross him inside and trip up running backs in pursuit. Tendency to be a beat late off the snap in load road environments.

COMPARES TO: Andrew Whitworth, Bengals -- Massive frames make these big men vulnerable to speed rushers. But massive frame, length and combative style made Whitworth an underrated foundation stones in Cincinnati. Flowers has the same potential.

.@CanesFootball T Ereck Flowers tells @Gil_Brandt & me predraft visits begin next week w'trips to @Browns @Panthers & @Redskins @SiriusXMNFL

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) April 9, 2015

Meet Ereck Flowers, the OT @sgw94 says is "built like a damn refrigerator" http://t.co/tcTQdhvx0Z pic.twitter.com/aOMDC4g457

— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) April 4, 2015

(hogshaven.com)

The National Football Post's Greg Gabriel cites New Orleans, Denver, and Indianapolis as teams with late first-round picks who could be fits for Miami T Ereck Flowers.

"Despite his notable athletic gifts, Flowers is still graded only as a late-first or second round prospect, mostly due to his technique," Gabriel wrote. "After minimal contributions at right tackle his freshman year, he spent the remainder of his career on the left side, and although he mostly found success, he had issues with holding penalties (six in two seasons) and terrible performances (contributing to Virginia’s four QB sacks this season). As overwhelming as his physical presence is, it is sometimes neutralized by his poor footwork and slow start off of the snap, which can lead to poor balance." Flowers has been racking up the frequent flyer miles over the past month. He has or will visit the Panthers, Bucs, Jets, Browns, Rams and Colts, that we know of.


(rotoworld.com)

If you've followed the mock drafts this year, Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff is a familiar name. He's often the player associated with the Giants and the No. 9 pick pretty much since the start, and he's considered by many as the top lineman in the draft.

Miami's Ereck Flowers is more of an unknown. Most mock drafts have him pegged for the middle of the first round, but behind team doors and on draft boards, opinions vary, especially with this year's offensive line class. Some NFL talent evaluators view Flowers in the same class as last year's top linemen.

Here are the basics, per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein:

Ereck Flowers
Height: 6-6
Weight: 329 pounds
Arm Length: 34½
Hands: 9 7/8
40-Yard Dash: 5.31
Bench Reps: 37 (most at the NFL Scouting Combine)

"BOTTOM LINE While they have different body types, Flowers will have some of the same strengths and flaws 2014 first-round pick Greg Robinson had coming in. Flowers has the size, feet and talent to be a very good left tackle but he will be a work in progress unless he can eliminate some of the balance issues that could plague him."

Robinson was last year's No. 2 overall pick to the Rams. He had an up-and-down rookie season, as injuries forced him to play left tackle instead of guard, where St. Louis anticipated him playing last year. But there are still high hopes for Robinson's future, just as there are for Flowers'.

Why Flowers at No. 9: He showed during dominant performances against Florida State and Nebraska (more in-depth breakdown of his play will come closer to the draft) that he's a potential NFL star. He can play against the top competition and thrive.

The thinking is that Flowers is a future NFL left tackle, but can be a "Day 1 starter at right tackle," according to former scout and current NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. He's a dominant run blocker and quality pass blocker.

With Flowers' size and skills, there is little doubt that he's an NFL tackle. There is significantly more uncertainty when it comes to Scherff and LSU's La'el Collins. Some teams have them pegged as guards, although the Giants seem to think Scherff is a tackle.

Still, all of this factors into the equation. It's why I picked Flowers at No. 9 in my mock draft. Most importantly though, it's because the Giants think very highly of him.

The caveats: The Giants are not married to drafting an offensive lineman in the first round. They could have other quality options considering they own the coveted ninth pick.

If pass rushers Vic Beasley or Dante Fowler make it to No. 9, they'll pounce. If wide receiver Amari Cooper is available, don't expect them to pass either. Defensive tackle Danny Shelton and cornerback Trae Wayens are also highly regarded inside the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. They could be options.

But if the draft plays out as I expect, Flowers is the pick. He's the Giants' top lineman.


(nj.com)

In front of reps from all 32 NFL teams, the unquestioned star was receiver Phillip Dorsett. He blazed his way to an unofficial 4.25-second 40-yard dash after running an already-excellent 4.33 at the NFL combine in February. He could have settled on that time and simply performed pass-catching drills for NFL scouts, but Dorsett wanted to put on a show.

“It was just me and my competitive spirit just coming out here and doing everything,” Dorsett said. “Because I know everybody wants to see it. Everybody likes to see a guy go out and compete and do everything.”

Dorsett, who measured in at 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds, said he improved his vertical to 38 inches (he leaped 37 at the combine) and bench-pressed 225 pounds 13 times (he did not lift at the combine).

For me, the star of the day was Phillip Dorsett,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “A kid who didn’t have to do anything because he performed so well at the combine. What did he do today? Comes out runs a 4.25, 4.26, jumps 38 inches, 10-9 broad [jump], and then looked fantastic catching the football and getting in and out of breaks. I thought Phillip Dorsett had an outstanding day.”

Dorsett will work out for the Dolphins, Panthers and Falcons. What if the hometown chose him?

“Being a Hurricane and I always was a fan of the Dolphins, too,” said Dorsett, from Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas. “It would be great. It would be a dream come true,” he said.

* Linebacker Denzel Perryman suffered a pulled right hamstring and scratched on his second attempt at running the 40-yard dash. UM did not release official testing results to the media, but according to a group of scouts that got together and compared times, Perryman’s first heat in the 40 was a 4.67 — better than the 4.78 he ran in Indianapolis.

He did not perform in the shuttle, 3-cone and positional drills. He said not being able to finish was “real disappointing, but I think a lot of teams just wanted to see what I could run. I feel I accomplished that today. I answered a lot of questions.”

He said he measured in at 5-11 and 239 pounds and put up 30 reps of 225 pounds. He increased his vertical from 32 (combine) to 33 inches.

Perryman watched film with the Lions hours before pro day began and has three NFL team visits lined up: he will meet with the Dolphins next Thursday, the Falcons on April 12 and the Panthers on April 16. Along with Clive Walford and Dorsett, he ate dinner with Saints brass Tuesday night at Fleming’s Steakhouse in Coral Gables. Perryman said he ate shrimp and scallops (Rob Ryan had a steak, if you were wondering).

* Running back Duke Johnson ran a 4.47 twice, which was a much better result than his combine time (4.54). He also “caught the ball naturally,” according to Mayock.

Why run the 40 again? “I wanted to do it for myself, because I know I can do better, and I know I train too hard to run what I ran at the combine,” he said, adding that his “game speed speaks for itself. … If you run 4.2, 4.3 but you don’t play it, it really doesn’t make a difference.”

Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey agreed.

“When we watch guys play with helmets and shoulder pads, those are the important things,” he said. “Those guys that play fast and also run fast, that’s great. The importance is the speed they play at.” The 40 time is “a measurement — you always judge it against how they play.”

Johnson, who measured in at 5-9 and 203 pounds, said he did 18 reps of 225. He did not lift at the NFL combine.

Tight end Clive Walford did not run because he suffered a hamstring pull last week. Walford (6-4, 250) said he would meet with the Steelers after pro day and the Falcons and Packers in the coming days. He said he has talked to a laundry list of teams, including the Dolphins, Saints, Falcons, Packers, Broncos, Chargers, 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs and Buccaneers.

Walford, a Glades Central grad and South Bay native, on the hometown team: “I talked to them. I wouldn’t say a lot, but I saw that move that they made this offseason. Shout-out to the Dolphins.” He’s talking, of course, about the Fins adding Ndamukong Suh.

Is UM’s tight end tradition helping his draft stock? “We produce great tight ends,” he said. “Look at the history. We’ve got great ones to come. I feel I kept up that legacy. Hopefully the young ones do as well.

* Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, a projected first-rounder, did not perform lifting drills – he was the top overall bench-presser at the NFL combine, with 37 reps of 225 – but did everything else. Flowers did not speak to the media (he rarely does).

Mayock was very high on Flowers, Jon Feliciano and Shane McDermott‘s performances.

“I counted eight to 10 offensive line coaches, obviously here to see mostly Ereck Flowers, who I think is going to be a first-round draft pick,” he said. “But Feliciano could get drafted. Shane McDermott could get drafted. I thought it was a great day for that whole group of players.”

* Defensive end Anthony Chickillo, who looked even lighter than he did at the combine (when he measured 6-3, 267), looked like a much more explosive player than he was as a 280-pound strong-side defensive end at UM. “Very twitchy” was Walford’s assessment. “Quick. Fast.”

* Quarterbacks Ryan Williams and Jake Heaps threw a variety of routes for scouts. Williams said he checked in at 6-4 and change and 215 pounds, and ran a 4.84 in the 40. Before tearing his ACL last April 4 – 362 days ago – he said he ran in the 5-second range. He definitely looked a lot faster than before. He has several meetings scheduled, but has not worked out with an NFL team.

“I’m always positive,” Williams said. “Regardless if I get drafted or not I’m still going to get a chance somewhere so I’m not really worried about the draft.”

* Cornerback Ladarius Gunter ran a solid 4.56 time in the 40 and looked very rangy in coverage drills.  He’s projected as a mid-round pick.

* Linebacker Thurston Armbrister showed good speed and agility, though he struggled to catch interceptions in drills. Would bet he gets a shot somewhere.

* Defensive tackle Olsen Pierre ran a 5.15 in the 40.

* If you saw my Twitter feed, you’ll get a roll of NFL personnel I spotted, but among the notables were a large contingent of Dolphins personnel (GM Dennis Hickey, VP Mike Tannenbaum, head coach Joe Philbin, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, running backs coach Jeff Nixon, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi), Jets head coach Todd Bowles, Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. NFL Network said seven GMs attended, including Hickey. The others: Mickey Loomis (Saints), Mike Maccagnan (Jets), Kevin Colbert (Steelers), Doug Whaley (Bills), Steve Keim (Arizona), Ruston Webster (Tennessee) and Floyd Reese (Giants). Former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, now a college scout with New Orleans, was also there.

* Former Hurricanes who attended included Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Edgerrin James, Demarcus Van Dyke, Jacory Harris, Lamar Miller and Tommy Streeter. A slew of players from the 2012 and 2013 teams were there. Jonathan Vilma was also in attendance, working for NBC Sports along with former Dolphins great Jason Taylor. NFL Network had a five-person crew and analyst Mike Mayock interviewed several UM players and coach Al Golden, who did not speak to other media.

* Former Hurricanes running back Damien Berry, a Glades Central grad who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2012, was the oldest of several pre-2014 Hurricanes who worked out (linebacker Tyrone Cornelius and defensive end Shayon Green, both from the 2013 team, also performed).  “I’m still young, 26 years old. I think it’s time to give it another shot,” said Berry, who last played for UM in 2010 and now lives in Boca Raton. Berry, 5-11 and 230 pounds, he said he ran a 4.7 in the 40.


(palmbeachpost.com)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers was perhaps the centerpiece player at Miami's pro day on Wednesday, and his position drills drew a big crowd.

NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock joined, among others, Oakland Raiders line coach Tom Cable, Indianapolis Colts line coach Joe Gilbert and San Diego Chargers line coach Joe D'Alessandris as interested observers.

Mayock called Flowers (6-foot-6 1/4, 329 pounds) "a really gifted player" but also "incredibly raw."

Flowers was a part-time starter at right tackle as a true freshman in 2012 before moving to the left side in 2013 and becoming a full-time starter. Some analysts see him as a better fit on the right side; that group includes Mayock, who sees Flowers as a potential "Pro Bowl right tackle."

"He's going to go in the first round," Mayock said.

Flowers looks to be the only UM "lock" in the first round. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, linebacker Denzel Perryman and running back Duke Johnson are potential second-rounders, and tight end Clive Walford could go in the second or third round.


(nfl.com)

Miami T Ereck Flowers "shows good instincts as a pass blocker, but admits he enjoys run blocking and that is evident in his play," noted CBS Sports' Frank Cooney.

"If his knee is OK, the only problems he may have will be against elite speed rushers -- same as even the best tackles in the league," Cooney wrote. "If doctors give Flowers clearance, some teams may be willing to call his name in the middle of the first round." We aren't aware of any leaguewide concern regarding the knee. Flowers feels he's ready for the next level. "We run the zone block in Miami, we run man, that's what Miami does and I think that's why Miami's been successful in the NFL," Flowers said. "Our coaches do a good job emulating the stuff they're doing in the NFL and college so we ran man, zone so I'll be fine wherever I go."


(rotoworld.com)

Who to watch: Offensive tackle Ereck Flowers will headline a talented group of Miami players on Wednesday in Coral Gables. Flowers recorded 37 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, the most of any player, and is projected to be a first-round pick. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was expected to be in the running for the fastest 40-yard dash time at the combine, but he finished in third with a 4.33. Dorsett has been clocked as fast as 4.18.

Also keep an eye on: RB Duke Johnson, TE Clive Walford, LB Denzel Perryman, DE Anthony Chickillo, CB Ladarius Gunter and G Jon Feliciano.


(buccaneers.com)

The latest reported pre-draft visit is going to add to the confusion of team's wondering what the Cleveland Browns will do in the first round of April's NFL Draft. According to WalterFootball, the Browns are planning to visit Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers. The Miami native is expected to be taken in the first round.

The junior is also receiving interest from the Chargers, Buccaneers, Saints, Colts, Panthers and Falcons according to the report. Flowers is unlikely a candidate for the Browns selection at No. 12. He could be at pick No. 19, however.

Offensive tackle is one of the positions that the franchise could conceivably take. Defensive tackle, outside linebacker, quarterback, wide receiver and tight end are also considered positions of need. In the past, reports have stated that Cleveland's primary target to take over the right tackle position is LSU's La'el Collins.

Mitchell Schwartz is the incumbent starter at the position but he has underwhelmed and is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Michael Bowie is also expected to get a long look after returning from an injury.


(247sports.com)

Miami T Ereck Flowers has "some of the same strengths and flaws 2014 first-round pick Greg Robinson had coming in," writes NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein.

The players have differing bodies, but the situations compare. "Flowers has the size, feet and talent to be a very good left tackle but he will be a work in progress unless he can eliminate some of the balance issues that could plague him," Zierlein wrote. Flowers compares to Anthony Davis on the field, Zierlein believes. The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Flowers, who decided not to hire an agent and will represent himself, is highly athletic (5.29 forty, 10-yard split of 1.78). He's a probable Round 1 pick.


(rotoworld.com)

The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and a first-round playoff game in 2014. But the Panthers also finished below .500 overall and definitely have some holes that need to be filled via the draft.

Wide receiver and offensive tackle would seem to be the Panthers' biggest needs -- drafting one would give quarterback Cam Newton more weapons and drafting the other would help keep Newton upright.

On Thursday night's "Path to the Draft" show on NFL Network, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah described the Panthers' offensive tackle situation as "awful," and he said picking Miami (Fla.) tackle Ereck Flowers with the 25th overall pick would be a good move.

Coincidentally, Jeremiah has Flowers as his No. 25 overall prospect.

Jeremiah called Flowers (6-foot-6 1/4, 329 pounds) "a big, physical, dominating run blocker." Jeremiah said Flowers "needs to get a little bit better, technique-wise, in pass protection."

Flowers was a part-time starter at right tackle as a true freshman in 2012 before moving to the left side in 2013 and becoming a full-time starter. Some analysts see him as a better fit on the right side -- at least initially -- in the NFL. "He will be an upgrade at right tackle" for the Panthers, Jeremiah said. "To be honest with you, he's better than anything they got at left tackle, too."

Fellow analyst Mike Mayock has said he sees Flowers -- who is Mayock's No. 4 tackle -- as a future Pro Bowl player on the right side.

Newton is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, but the Panthers still allowed 42 sacks in 2014. In addition, Carolina had just 10 rushing touchdowns.
Flowers -- who had 37 reps in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, the most of any player -- missed one game in 2014 after minor knee surgery, which ended a streak of 21 consecutive starts.


(nfl.com)

Q. Briefly describe your journey to this point. Where did you grow up and how did you first get into playing football?
EF: I’m originally from Kansas, but I moved down to Miami when I was six. I went to high school in Miami Norland, and I played ball with Duke (Johnson). We went to high school together and then we moved on and played together in college at Miami.

I actually started playing basketball first, but I didn’t see a future in that so I went on to play football my junior year.

Q. What led you to the University of Miami?
EF: I grew up watching Miami, and my dad was a fan. I had season tickets before I even played there, so when I got my opportunity to play there it was an easy decision to make.

Q. Was there any specific reason you ended up playing on the offensive line?
EF: I initially wanted to play defensive line, but my coach needed someone to play offensive line and I was the biggest person on the team so he put me there.

Q. How does your basketball background help you play the left tackle position?
EF: It helped me a lot with my feet and overall athleticism.

Q. With the college season over, what do these next few months look like for you as you prepare for the NFL Draft?
EF: I’ve been training with a few of my teammates at Bommarito. We’re there from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm every day, except Sundays. We’re there every day just preparing for each event–the Combine, the Pro Day, and the Draft.

Q. Is there a specific part of your game you’re working on improving?
EF: I’m really just trying to improve my overall game. I want to work on my hands a lot more. I want to work on my technique and really improve on it.

Q. Many draft analysts have you rated as one of the top offensive tackles in this year’s class. For people who may have not watched you at Miami, define your game for us.
EF: I’m a pretty well-rounded offensive lineman. I love to run block, as well as pass block. I have pretty decent athleticism, especially when it comes to hooking guys on the edge. I play with a lot of passion and heart when it comes to playing in this game.

Q. Watching you at Miami, one game that stands out to me is your performance against Florida State where you shutout Mario Edwards. Do you have a specific game or moment at Miami that stands out to you and maybe signified you could take your game to the next level?
EF: To be honest with you, I really don’t. For me, I believe each game I progressed since I played as a freshman. I never really had a game where I felt like I arrived.

Everything over my career has just been a progression. It wasn’t something where I just had one good game. I felt like everything was just a process and that I got better each week.

Q. Offensive linemen are often the unsung heroes of a team. What do you love about playing the position?
EF: I like everything about it. I like the nastiness of it and everything it takes to be good at it.

Duke and I are pretty good friends, so I like seeing him run for a lot of yards. I like being part of the reason he’s having success on the field.

Overall, I like everything about the trenches. I like being able to be physical and push defensive linemen around.

Q. What do you believe is the most underrated part of your game?
EF: I really don’t know what others say about my game. I talk to my coaches, so I know I could do a better job with my technique and hand placement. But I still haven’t found out what teams are looking for me to get better at.

Right now, I’m just working on my hands. They’ve gotten a lot better, but there is always something you could work on improving

Q. Who was the most challenging player you had to block in your time at Miami?
EF: I went against some pretty good players. I went against Randy Gregory of Nebraska. I also went against Dominique Easley and Bjoern Werner when I was a freshman.

It was kind of like facing a gauntlet of  pass rushers playing at Miami. I can’t just pick one.

Q. What did you do to prevent these players from beating you in the game?
EF: I just try to get in their head. A little talking won’t hurt.

Q. As I said earlier, many speak highly of you going into the draft. Do you have an expectation of where you’ll be drafted this spring?
EF: I really don’t. I just want to get myself ready to play at that level. When and where I get picked will figure itself out.

I really don’t care which round I’m taken. My focus right now is to just be prepared to play at a high level once I am on a team.

Q. As a player, is it difficult to not pay any attention to all of the draft coverage in the media or see where you’re project to go?
EF: I really don’t follow that stuff. I just play football. That’s my focus right now.

Q. Regardless of where you get drafted, what will that moment be like for you when you hear your name called and you’re officially in the NFL?
EF: That’s going to be great! That’s going to be exciting. Period.

Q. Is it kind of weird at this point, that you don’t know where you’re going to end up or what city you’re going to be living in?
EF: Yeah, man, I have no idea where I’m going to be living for the next few years. I’ll watch teams every Sunday wondering if I’m going to be there.
I guess you have to be ready for wherever you’re drafted. Wherever I go, I’ll just be ready to go to work.

Q. The Packers will look to the draft this spring to improve their offensive line and you’re a guy we believe will be on their radar. How would you feel about playing for a team like the Green Bay Packers?
EF: I’d love to play in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers. They have a great running back too. They were almost in the Super Bowl, and they’re a great team.
Green Bay would be a great place to play. It’s one of the best organizations in the league, and they win games. I always like winning. I would love to land in Green Bay.

Q. The Packers already have some pretty good players on their offensive line in Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang, and they also have Aaron Rodgers under center. What do you think you could learn by playing with established veterans like these guys?
EF: I would love to play on their line. I watch some of their guys and try to learn things from them. I’ve watched Bulaga and tried to pick things up from his game.

Q. If drafted by the Packers, what could you bring to their offense?
EF: Hard work. Passion. That will to win. I’m hungry to go get it each and every week and I’ll do whatever it takes to win.

Q. Tell us a little bit more about yourself. When you’re not playing football, what do you like to do in your free time?
EF: If I’m not playing football, I’m probably just working out with my dad preparing for gameday. We’re working on it nonstop.

Other than that, I just chill with friends. When you’re in school and playing football, you really don’t have time for anything else.

Q. Finally, is there anything else you’d like Packers fans to know about you before I let you go?
EF: I would love to play for Green Bay. That’s about it.


(lombardiave.com)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be active in trades on draft day. Specifically, Charlie Campbell reported on the Pat and Aaron Show on 620 WDAE that they could trade back up into the first round to draft Miami tackle Ereck Flowers. Campbell used to cover the Bucs for Pewter Report, so he certainly has some connections in the area.

Flowers is an intriguing prospect, playing left tackle for Miami over the past three years. CBS Sports have him as their 21st overall prospect, while ESPN have him as their 16th overall prospect. At 6'6", 329 lbs. he has outstanding size and he moves very smoothly in pass protection, although he can get sloppy. His size probably precludes him from moving inside, and tall guys like him tend to have leverage issues in run blocking, but the consensus seems to be that he's very talented if a little raw in technique.

Campbell also noted that T.J. Clemmings wasn't a very hot prospect among teams.

Trading up for a quality tackle would make sense, because the Bucs simply need offensive linemen. They're likely to sign one or two in free agency, but they need to build up young talent at the position too. Logan Mankins is old, Demar Dotson won't be around forever, and Evan Dietrich-Smith is highly replaceable. They really don't have any long-term building blocks.

So yeah, trading up for Flowers or some other offensive lineman would make quite a bit of sense.


(bucsnation.com)

Miami T Ereck Flowers will intrigue the Rams, Browns, Saints, Texans, Lions and Panthers, notes ESPN's Todd McShay.

"He's a massive right tackle prospect at 6-6, 329 pounds, with long arms (34.5 inches) and excellent strength -- his 37 bench press reps were the most in his class, which is pretty remarkable given how long his arms are," McShay wrote. "His times weren't great, with a 5.31 40, but not bad when you consider his size. He didn't do the jumps or shuttles, so he'll need to do those at his pro day." The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Flowers decided not to hire an agent and will represent himself. He's a possible Round 1 pick.


(rotoworld.com)

An NFL scout told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he projects Miami T Ereck Flowers to right tackle.

"Big frame, good technician, good with his hands, good bulk and anchor," the scout said. "Has ability to hold up against power rushes but also can handle speed. Physically and athletically, probably more of a right tackle in the NFL." Flowers, who has started the past two-and-a-half seasons at LT for the Hurricanes, posted 37 reps on the bench press at the combine, the most of any offensive lineman. The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Flowers is also highly athletic (5.29 forty, 10-yard split of 1.78).

(rotoworld.com)

Not every offensive lineman struggled on the weight bench. Former Miami Hurricanes stud Ereck Flowers should have said "Hulk smash" after he finished producing the numbers O'Hara reported:

Miami OL Ereck Flowers did 37 reps in the bench, says he likes to work in the weight room. Obviously.

— Mike O'Hara (@MikeOHaraNFL) February 20, 2015

From the jump, Flowers looks ready to be a force in any team's run game. As a prospective left tackle, he will also need to prove he can be effective as a pass-blocker. That's where there are concerns about his ability.

There are times when speed-rushers can beat him to the edge, but that's an area where he can improve.

There's something about Flowers' intangibles that make me believe he is the real deal and that his best is yet to come. When you look up information and accounts on the 6'6", 324-pound monster, the consensus seems to be that Flowers loves to compete. Whether it's his NFL.com draft profile from Zierlein or quotes from his college head coach Al Golden (via Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com), competitiveness is the constant trait used to describe him.

With the strength and athletic gifts he possesses, that should be a formula for success.


(bleacherreport.com)

Miami T Ereck Flowers' best "unofficial" forty at the NFL Combine was 5.29 seconds with a 10 yard split of 1.78.

Flowers is a big man at 6'6" and 329 lbs with 34 1/2" arms. He shows a lot of strength moving forward, but we think he still has issues with functional strength when pass protecting, likely stemming from too much movement equaling a poor base. Still, Flowers is being linked to first-round picks.

Flowers posted 37 reps on the bench press at the combine, the most of any offensive lineman.

We've noticed Flowers' lack of strength while pass protecting, but think that is due to technique issues stemming from a poor base. In the run game, Flowers has no such issues. The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Flowers has great athleticism (5.29 forty, 10-yard split of 1.78) and has the look of a first-round prospect. He certainly helped himself Friday.


(rotoworld.com)

Ereck Flowers had a tough day of kick-slide drills at the NFL Scouting Combine, but a few on-field workouts shouldn’t decide his 2015 NFL Draft stock. After watching a bit more tape, I came back to my original take: Flowers is a legitimate prospect that is going to make an NFL team very happy.

Many times on tape, Flowers shows a natural ability to simply be a wall. He squares up very well and does a good job matching up head-to-head against elite defenders. When he gets things right with his first step, his strength is unquestioned.

It’s easy to get scared when you see some of the drills yesterday — I know I did — but you must rely on the tape to give yourself an accurate evaluation. While there are a few instances where he fails to meet the edge rusher, the poor outing at the Combine doesn’t really translate to what you see when you turn on the film.

The former Miami Hurricane is very talented, and it can be argued that his only real flaw is the fact that he occasionally has technical lapses in his game. Too many times does Flowers struggle with doing what he needs to do technically. With NFL coaching, he should improve mightily the moment he hits the practice field.

As far as draft stock goes, Flowers has a legitimate chance to be taken in the first round. Although his talent projects around the second round, there are too many teams in the NFL that have a need at the tackle position.

I’ve mocked Flowers to the Carolina Panthers a few times, a fit that seems natural.

Below, you’ll see my top-seven at the tackle position:

1. Brandon Scherff, Iowa
2. T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
3. La’el Collins, LSU
4. Jake Fisher, Oregon
5. Ereck Flowers, Miami
6. Andrus Peat, Stanford
7. Cam Erving, Florida State

Projecting where Flowers will land becomes significantly tougher when we bring a guy like Jake Fisher. The Oregon standout could emerge as a first-round pick, and Flowers could be pushed back into the second round because of it.

On the other hand, you could argue that teams will see how raw Flowers is and look at that as a major plus. He has so much room to improve, something that could make him seem a bit more valuable in the scouting process.

Any team that has some wiggle room on the outside could value the kid that put up 37 reps on the bench press this week.


(fansided.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Left tackle Ereck Flowers, the standout from the University of Miami who is projected as a mid first-round or early second-round pick in the NFL Draft, said Friday he doesn’t plan on hiring an agent this year.

Flowers said he originally got the idea from former UM players.

“I talked to players before about this,” Flowers said. “The University of Miami, one thing we take pride in is players coming back to teach other people the way. I’ve done research with my father. We didn’t see any reason to have one.”Flowers said he’d probably hire a lawyer to “look through” his rookie contract.

“Other than that, I’m not signing with an agent,” he said.

With NFL salaries slotted, there’s little reason for a player to hire an agent initially, so Flowers will handle the job with his father.

“We’ve just done research on it,” Flowers said. “My father is a pretty intelligent guy so we’ve talked to people and I’ve talked to my coaches a little about it, so it’s one thing we decided we would do.”


(sun-sentinel.com)

INDIANAPOLIS ‐ Strength is mandatory for a quality offensive lineman. At the NFL Scouting Combine, it's measured in the bench press, where prospects are asked to put up 225 pounds.

It's not perfect, but it does serve as some sort of indicator of pure strength. Here are the results for some of the offensive linemen in Thursday's bench press:

Top 10
1. OT Ereck Flowers (Miami) 37
2. OG Mitch Morse (Missouri) 36
3. OT Sean Hickey (Syracuse) 35
4. OG Mark Glowinski (West Virginia) 31
5. C Cameron Erving (Florida St.) 30
5. OG Ali Marpet (Hobart) 30
7. C Andy Gallik (Boston College) 29
7. OG John Miller (Louisville) 29
7. OT Tyrus Thompson (Oklahoma) 29
10. OG Jamil Douglas (Arizona St.) 28
10. OT Corey Robinson (South Carolina) 28

Other Notables:
OG A.J. Cann (South Carolina) 26
OG Donovan Smith (Penn St.) 26
OG Laken Tomlinson (Duke) 25
OT Brandon Scherff (Iowa) 23
OT Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M) 23
OT T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh) 22
OT La'el Collins (LSU) 21
OG Rob Havenstein (Wisconsin) 16

NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock believes Miami T Ereck Flowers is a future Pro Bowler at right tackle.

Though Flowers is plenty athletic, his movement skills aren't as refined as one would like to easily project him to the blind side. He also might lack the necessary functional strength to be an elite pass protecting left tackle. The 6-foot-6, 324-pound Flowers' athleticism helps to make him a top-notch run blocker, and it mitigates his potential floor.


(rotoworld.com)

Eight Miami Hurricanes are making the pilgrimage to Indianapolis this week — eight players eyeing future dreams and envisioning the performances of their lives at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.

“It’s amazing to have seven guys who are my brothers competing with me in one place and representing our school,” said receiver Phillip Dorsett, who hopes to shatter Chris Johnson’s NFL Combine 40-yard-dash record of 4.24 seconds, set in 2007. “I’ve watched the scouting combine every year and always dreamed of being there. Now, I’m ready to perform.’’

Despite UM’s 6-7 record, the Hurricanes had enough talent for their eight standouts — defensive end Anthony Chickillo, wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, offensive linemen Jonathan Feliciano and Ereck Flowers, cornerback Ladarius Gunter, running back Duke Johnson, linebacker Denzel Perryman and tight end Clive Walford — to be invited to the Combine most coveted by players and NFL executives alike.

Last year, of the five Hurricanes invited (Seantrel Henderson, Allen Hurns, Brandon Linder, Stephen Morris and Pat O’Donnell), three were drafted. This year’s NFL Draft is April 30-May 2.

“I’m really excited to go up there and show the NFL what I can offer,” said Feliciano, who said he has “slimmed down” from 335 to 325 pounds and has gotten stronger in the process. “I want to run faster and look good for the NFL scouts.”

Feliciano and projected first-round prospect Flowers leave Tuesday for Indy, as athletes by position groups are staggered throughout the week and undergo medical exams, team interviews, psychological testing and an array of performance drills.

Dorsett, a Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas graduate who was projected by analyst Mel Kiper Jr. to be drafted late in the first round, said he will run the 40 on Saturday, with the NFL Network providing live TV coverage.

“I don’t really have a goal,” said the speedster, who posted single-season career highs of 871 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014 and has been timed as low as 4.21 in the 40. He noted that the 4.21 was timed by hand-held stopwatches as opposed to the NFL’s more sophisticated electronic timers — “so, it doesn’t really count. I’m going to run my fastest and whatever happens, happens.’’

Johnson, UM’s all-time rushing leader with 3,519 yards, said his combine goal is “to be myself, have fun and show who I am on and off the field — not only in football but when it comes to interviews.

“We have to enjoy the experience because everybody doesn’t get a chance to do it.’’

Johnson, Dorsett and Perryman have continued training at UM with strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey — and a bevy of other Hurricanes, including former Canes and NFL players such as Andre Johnson, Jimmy Graham, Lamar Miller, Olivier Vernon, Travis Benjamin and Brandon Harris.

“Why work out here? Because I feel really great about myself and Coach Swasey is the reason why,” said Perryman, a first-round projection who lost seven pounds, and now weighs 238. “I’ve been working out with him for four years. My body, my speed, my strength have changed for the better because of him.”

Several other Canes seniors, who weren’t invited to the NFL Combine, will compete on April 1 at UM’s Pro Timing Day. Those include quarterback Ryan Williams, center Shane McDermott, defensive tackle Olsen Pierre and linebacker Thurston Armbrister. But for the chosen eight, the fun begins this week.

“It’s real important,” Perryman said. “You’re on national television. You have all the scouts, head coaches and general managers out there seeing what you can do. But there’s no reason to get nervous.

“Like I said, I feel great about myself.”


(miamiherald.com)

NFL.com notes Miami T Ereck Flowers is "considered to be further along as a run blocker than as a pass protector."

"Flowers is a better athlete than a lot of folks think, though, and might be able to open some eyes with his combine performance," wrote College Football 24/7 writer Mike Huguenin. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah ranks Flowers as the No. 33 overall prospect and the No. 5 tackle. Fox Sports' Joel Klatt ranks Flowers No. 17 overall on his board, while ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks him No. 18.


(rotoworld.com)

In his latest mock draft released Wednesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Phillip Dorsett, the former Hurricanes standout wide receiver, going 31st overall to the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks. He is one of three UM players Kiper projects to go in the first round, along with offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (16th overall, Houston Texans) and inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (28th, Denver Broncos).

Kiper’s reasoning for his Dorsett-to-Seattle projection:

Another player who shined in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, Dorsett would offer Seattle something they simply don’t have on the roster right now, which is a player who can consistently create space with quickness in the passing game. The Seahawks are simply far too reliant on Russell Wilson’s ability to extend plays and allow wide receivers time to get open, and Dorsett is a Porsche in terms of acceleration and the ability to start fast and stop quickly. He also can beat you deep if you let him to run in a straight line. Remember that Paul Richardson will be coming off an ACL surgery recovery period as the 2015 season starts, so an already thin wide receiving corps isn’t a given to be better without any additions.

Dorsett, from Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas, led UM with 871 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior and averaged 24.19 yards per catch, the best among non-College Football Playoff FBS teams.

Kiper’s reasoning for his Flowers-to-Texans projection:

Analysis: This is a spot where I can see the Texans going in a few directions, and I like the fit of a cornerback here as well. And while taking a high-upside talent at tackle isn't a flashy pick, I think it fits a pattern of taking the best player available. Flowers has emerged as a potential top-12 pick and a challenge to some of the more well-known tackles available in this draft -- and depending on free agency, it's a possibility the Texans will be looking for a rookie to come in and take over starting duties at right tackle. Flowers plays with an edge, is a coachable kid who could get better quickly, and could become an elite pass protector if he can be better with his hand placement. (As to the cornerback possibility: I'm not sure they go after Peters if Waynes is off the board.)

Kiper’s reasoning for his Perryman-to-Broncos projection:

Analysis: The Broncos were solid along the defensive line last year and made important additions in the secondary before 2014 in the secondary. Perryman could be an immediate help as an inside linebacker, an area where they could use it as a team that remains in "win now" mode, assuming No. 18 is back under center. And even if Peyton Manning isn't back (I assume he will be at this point), it's not like they're looking for a replacement at this point in the draft.

The Hurricanes haven’t produced three first-round picks in a single draft since 2007, when Brandon Meriweather (24th), Jon Beason (25th) and Greg Olsen (31st) were chosen late on opening night.

The last Cane to be selected in the first round was Kenny Phillips (2008). That streak, UM’s longest first-round draft drought since 1960-67, will almost certainly be broken this year.

The Hurricanes had 14 consecutive first-round picks from 1995-2008. UM has had at least one player drafted every year since 1974.


(espn.com)

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay came out with his first Mock Draft today, and guess which Canes he's projecting to be first rounders?

McShay has linebacker Denzel Perryman going No.24 to the Arizona Cardinals and offensive tackle Ereck Flowers No. 25 to the Carolina Panthers.

McShay also listed his "top five prospects still available,'' which means, basically, No. 33 through 37 in the draft -- the top five spots in the second round.

A Cane was also included in that list, with McShay listing wide receiver Phillip Dorsett as the No. 2 among those five -- or the No. 34 overall draft pick.

Eight future proCanes received invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine, the Post learned.

Among them are six seniors – defensive end Anthony Chickillo, wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, offensive lineman Jon Feliciano, cornerback Ladarius Gunter, linebacker Denzel Perryman and tight end Clive Walford of Glades Central High – and two underclassmen who declared for the NFL draft.

Running back Duke Johnson and offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, both juniors, will be in Indianapolis from Feb. 17-23.


(palmbeachpost.com)

According to PalmBeach Post writer Matt Porter, Mel Kiper had the following things to say about this year’s potential proCane draft picks. Follow Matt on twitter here and read his blog here.

Kiper said Flowers is “solidly in round one,” and has him slotted 19th overall to Cleveland.  “Flowers leaving early, people maybe didn’t expect that during the season,” Kiper said (note: outsiders, perhaps; within the program, Flowers was long seen as a three-year guy). “But he’s a kid who’s got enormous talent, decent feet, versatility to play left tackle or right tackle.”

Kiper’s top two running backs are Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, but he has Johnson right behind them. “Duke can run outside, he’s got that burst,” Kiper said. “He can catch the ball. A heck of a player. I think he’s a second-round talent you might be able to get in the fourth round.”

Dorsett will be a a second- or third-round pick because he “can fly,” Kiper said. “He’s a vertical stretch receiver.” He said he thinks Perryman will be a second-round pick.

Kiper on tight end Clive Walford: “I have him as the fourth highest-rated tight end. He can get down and stretch that deep middle area, which he showed in some games this year. Caught the ball well. He’s not going to have the great, great 40 time that some of these other guys will, but he plays faster and he’ll test [well].

“I think he’s a guy you get into … early- to mid-day three, he’ll make somebody look good at that point, I believe. I think he can be a No. 2 tight end. He’ll contribute. I think Walford’s got a chance to play in this league.”

Asked if cornerback Ladarius Gunter, center Shane McDermott and offensive guard Jon Feliciano could sneak into the late rounds, Kiper said: “Those are some of the names. McDermott right now I have as the seventh or eighth center. That’s a late-round, free-agency guy. Feliciano, same thing.”


(caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com)

Miami junior OT Ereck Flowers is now the No. 12 prospect on Todd McShay's Big Board.

He was previously ranked No. 17. "Flowers has a massive frame that allows him to recover in pass protection and open up lanes in the running game, along with above-average agility and a quick first step for his size," McShay wrote. "His football instincts are good overall, he takes good angles, he plays with an edge and has excellent intangibles." The 6-foot-6, 324-pound Flowers missed some time due to injuries this year, but he was outstanding whenever he stepped between the hashes. McShay is the highest analyst on Flowers that we've seen.


(rotoworld.com)

Quarterback Marcus Mariota announced he's leaving Oregon for the NFL Draft.

That's great timing for SI.com's Chris Burke — he has Mariota going No.1 to Tampa Bay in his Mock Draft 3.0 released Wednesday.

It's also good for the Lions, who again have just the draft, mock or otherwise, to look forward to. The more underclassmen who come out, the more talent is pushed down to them at the No.23 spot.

Burke has the Lions taking Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, "who could develop into a long-term starter on the line. Detroit could consider him at left tackle."

But Burke adds: "Much of Detroit's offseason hinges on where Ndamukong Suh signs. But we've also seen enough from Martin Mayhew to know that he will not take a player just because his team appears thin at a position."

So he kind of qualifies it both ways.


(freep.com)

The 2015 NFL Draft is still several months away, but with the Miami Hurricanes’ season complete it can’t hurt to take a peek at some of their intriguing pro prospects.

The Canes might’ve finished the season with a subpar 6-7 record, but it appears there’s a solid crop of incoming NFL talent coming out of Coral Gables. Six players are projected to go in the first four rounds, according to CBS Sports rankings, which is run by NFL Draft Scout.

Rounds 1-2: Ereck Flowers, Offensive Tackle
Round 2: Duke Johnson, Running Back
Rounds 2-3: Denzel Perryman, Linebacker
Rounds 2-3: Clive Walford, Tight End
Rounds 3-4: Phillip Dorsett, Receiver
Round 4: Ladarius Gunter, Defensive Back

It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a player like Dorsett, blessed with superhuman speed, climb up the draft boards after what should be a dynamic performance at the NFL Combine or Miami’s Pro Day.

Defensive end Anthony Chickillo, center Shane McDermott, and offensive guard Jon Feliciano are projected to go in the sixth round or later, while many scouting services expect 9-10 Canes to get drafted overall. In Todd McShay’s first mock draft on ESPN, he projected both Flowers and Perryman to go in the first round.

For comparison’s sake, projections were pulled for in-state ACC rival and powerhouse, Florida State. They’re expected to have 10 players go in the first four rounds, but this figure assumes undecided underclassman Eddie Goldman, Ronald Darby, and Roberto Aguayo declare for the draft.

So although the Canes aren’t expected to churn out quite the same quality and quantity of NFL players this season as the Noles, talent is not as much of a scarcity as Miami’s 6-7 record would seemingly indicate.


(miami.cbslocal.com)