Giants coach Pat Shurmur’s quest for the right offensive line combination continues.
Multiple sources told The Athletic that the Giants are planning to make the following changes for Monday night’s game against the Falcons: Patrick Omameh is headed to the bench; John Greco, who has started the past four games at center, will replace Omameh at right guard; and Spencer Pulley will take over at center.
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“We’re looking at really everything, trying to make sure we get the best combination of guys,” Shurmur said on Monday. “We like the group we have. Again, we will always continue to improve each group that we have, but we will try to find the right combination.”
Omameh, who started the first six games, has had a disastrous beginning to his Giants tenure after signing a three-year, $15 million contract in the offseason. Omameh’s 51.5 grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 67th out of 73 guards in the league. He has allowed 12 pressures in the past two games, according to PFF, and he surrendered a sack in the Giants’ 34-13 loss to the Eagles in Week 6.
Omameh was added to the injury report on Saturday and is listed as questionable with a knee injury. Sources said the decision on the lineup change had been made before the injury occurred during Friday’s practice.
Greco began the season as a backup at the interior positions on the line. The 11-year veteran took over as the starting center after Jon Halapio broke his ankle in Week 2. Greco will return to right guard, where he has made the majority of his 74 career starts.
The Giants claimed Pulley off of waivers on Sept. 2 after he was cut by the Chargers. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Pulley started all 16 games at center for the Chargers last season. The third-year pro signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2016. Pulley has played 10 offensive snaps as an extra lineman in jumbo packages this season. He will be the Giants’ third different center in seven games.
This is the Giants’ second offensive line shakeup in the first seven weeks of the season. Shurmur pulled the plug on right tackle Ereck Flowers after two games. Chad Wheeler replaced Flowers, who was cut by the Giants on Oct. 9 and signed with the Jaguars three days later. PFF has graded Wheeler as the worst tackle in the league.
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Left tackle Nate Solder and left guard Will Hernandez have started all six games. The Giants’ line is ranked 25th in the league by PFF. The Giants rank 27th in rushing, 26th in sacks allowed and 27th in scoring.
Omameh was expected to be an upgrade at right guard after starting 20 games for the Jaguars over the past two seasons. But the 29-year-old, who has been with five teams in his six-year career, has been a disappointment. The Giants gave Omameh $5.5 million guaranteed, but they would be left with just $3 million in dead money if they cut him after the season.
(Top photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)