The Giants offense has had a pair of ugly performances in the preseason but center Weston Richburg has a message for any fans that are on a ledge.
“It is the second week of the preseason.”
There are still a pair of preseason games to play and then comes the regular season opener in Dallas. By that time the personality of the offensive line will rear its head. “It needs to be to finish,” Richburg said. “We want to finish each play and from there finish each game and that consists of being physical, having a mean attitude and really getting after people.”
Linebacker Jonathan Casillas noticed that as center, Richburg is a leader of the Big Blue offense. “I feel like he’s done a tremendous job in leading those guys and being that captain up there besides Eli,” Casillas said. “Eli does everything but sometimes when he’s not with Eli, when Nassib is in, Nassib just doesn’t have as much experience as Eli numbers wise. Weston does a great job in getting guys, pointing out different fronts, pointing out linebackers, safety’s and DB’s that are blitzing and involved in the front.”
The plan, as it would be with all teams, is to improve as the preseason games go along and be clicking on all cylinders when the games that matter begin. “Each game, you’re getting better,” Jason Pierre-Paul said of the difference between the first two exhibition games. “As a football player, you have to get yourself in the right state of mind and condition has to be on point.”
While most of the attention, or criticism, has been on the offense, the defensive line has room for improvement. “We’ve still got work to do,” Pierre-Paul said. “We have to build chemistry with some guys. All of us are new, friends with each other.”
Casillas appreciates having this defensive line in front of him, a d-line that should be able to keep the opposing offensive line away from the linebackers. “This defensive line is a linebacker’s dream,” Casillas said. “You have two of the best defensive ends in the game and the best run-stopper in the game in Hankins. He’s a better player than he was last year. It’s a dream to play behind these guys and we just have to continue to get on the same page and continue to build and put these blocks together.”
JPP has high expectations for the defensive line. “There is no limit,” the two-time Pro Bowler said. “We’re striving to be the best at each and every position. Each guy knows what they’ve got to do and what it takes to get better. So, individually you have to work hard and prepare yourself and try to strive yourself to the next level. I think that’s what everybody is doing right now.”