Ereck Flowers enjoying a strong preseason as run blocker

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)