ESPN's TMQ names David Diehl its MVP

[Sect122Mike]

Gregg Easterbrook, whom I am not a big fan of, names a non-QB/RB MVP each year.  This year he picked Diehl over Gronk.  Its an interesting article.  While I respect Diehl's contributions, I think of him as one to replace very soon.  I am hoping we grab an OT in the first 2 rounds this year. 

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7520525/time-present-tuesday-morning-quarterback-non-quarterback-non-running-back-nfl-mvp

Here is some of what was said about Diehl:

On his best days Diehl is not the NFL's best left tackle, or even as good, athletically, as Matt Light, who will start at left tackle for the Patriots. (Light was the 2007 TMQ NQB NRB MVP, and my award does not allow repeat recipients.) What Diehl brings to the table is consistently high-level performance. He rarely allows sacks, rarely misses run blocks and never takes downs off. Watch tape and you'll see that even in NFL big games, there are an amazing number of downs on which at least one lineman simply brushes his man and then stands there doing nothing. Diehl never stands there doing nothing. He's always working.

Drafted by the Giants in the fifth round out of Illinois, Diehl became an immediate starter at left tackle, and has remained the team's left tackle starter for nine seasons. He has missed only four games to injuries in his career, starting 150 of a possible 154 games. Thus he's not just a good player -- he has been a good player for almost every game for nine years.

***

Offensive linemen tend to be noticed mainly when they blow their assignments. Diehl has started for nine seasons for one of the NFL's highest-profile clubs and drawn hardly any notice: The reason is that he doesn't blow his assignments. Diehl is the kind of player who will never hear the crowd chant his name -- but with him at the most important line position in football, the Giants have won the Super Bowl once, won their division thrice, and take the field for the Super Bowl again this coming Sunday.   

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[vette]

Isn't it something how according to some publications DD is washed up and grades out poorly. I never agreed with those observations. Oh the dichotomy of it all!

[todge]

vette:

Do you think the Giants are going to start Diehl at OLT next year? or start him at OLG next year?

I would suspect you will say yes.  OK - so that would mean that the only position that will be replaced will be ORT if Diehl is put back at OLG.

So - the Giants were dead last in the NFL in rushing.  Will just replacing McKenzie be the solution and suddenly catapult the Giants back into one of the league's best rushing teams?

[JimboWHO]

Diehl is an affable, media-friendly guy off the field.  It's the ONLY reason I can see him getting this.

This is ridiculous to me.  I've watched Dielhl get beat inside and out, pull and lead with 'vapor' blocks, etc.  PFF had him graded out as about the worst guard in the league.  That is before he switched to tackle - which wasn't his original position as Easterbrook says.  Diehl began as a guard and took over LT when Pettigout left.


JJM

[Sect122Mike]

vette:

Do you think the Giants are going to start Diehl at OLT next year? or start him at OLG next year?

I would suspect you will say yes.  OK - so that would mean that the only position that will be replaced will be ORT if Diehl is put back at OLG.

So - the Giants were dead last in the NFL in rushing.  Will just replacing McKenzie be the solution and suddenly catapult the Giants back into one of the league's best rushing teams?

Diehl has been valuable because he could do a lot, but he never did a lot really well.  I would love two new tackles.  Both he and McK are near the end of their rope. McK will probably be back on a one-year deal.  Diehl, well we will see.  I just thought it funny he was an MVP over Gronk.

[babywhales]

So - the Giants were dead last in the NFL in rushing.  Will just replacing McKenzie be the solution and suddenly catapult the Giants back into one of the league's best rushing teams?

Hardly the Giants were almost dead last in the league in effectiveness running off LT or RT. 

Im not going to pretend I know what will fix the run blocking but I doubt doing little (replacing just  MCKenzie) to nothing will will help.

I hope Diehl is restructured and resigned as a back up.  He is second to none for his ability to provide depth at a wealth of positions, his work ethic and leadership.   After losing the lines leadership in Ohara and Suey, losing Diehl would be a huge blow for this unit two years in a row.

[vette]

Todge, isn't Mac an unrestricted FA next year? I thought that DD might just slide in at RT until James Brewer gets up to speed. It could be a competition with Ugoh at RT. I see Mitch Petrus or Kevin Boothe at LG. The thing that I am concerned about based on this season's observation is Beatty's ability to run block.



 

[Gmo11]

Diehl outplayed Beatty at Left Tackle this year.  Whether or not he deserves to win this meaningless award is arbitrary to the point.  The point being he's the best left tackle currently on the roster.  Do I think he will start at guard next year?  Absolutely not.  He was a disaster inside this year, and to be fair so was Snee for most of the season.  But I want no part of him going inside.  However if you told me that Diehl was the starter at Left Tackle next season, because as usual the Giants neglected the position in the first 3 rounds, then I'd be happier about that than if anybody else was manning the position.  And even if the Giants did spend a 1st rounder on a LT, as a rookie, there's no guarantee that kid is any better than Diehl either.  He's not a disaster as a LT.  He could be better, he could be worse, but he's the best this team has and they are currently in the Super Bowl so he has to be doing something right.

[Painter]

This is just another silliness that works like magic in drawing attention. Forget the most valuable stuff. But don't diminish Dave Diehl's importance to this team. The article is more right about than him than some observers here are willing to admit. Indeed, there are those here who seem anxious to find fault in him even to the point of distorting fact.

The Giants ranked 6th in NFL in pass protection according to Football Outsiders, and 8th in the NYL Protection Index. Not too shabby. And if you think guys like Demarcus Ware are an overmatch for Diehl, I don't know that it was borne out by 1 sack in 2 games. And if you think Diehl's shortcoming were responsible for Eli being harried by the Niners a week ago, go look again. The pressure was coming much more up the middle from Willis and from McDonald and Bowman on the other side.

Yeah, the Giants running game was pretty lousy most of the time, but directionally it was 0.5 Y/A worse when running to the right side than to the left. 

Yes indeed, there are good reasons for the Giant to look to upgrade the talent in the Oline but we ought not to downgrade Dave Diehl to make the case.

Cheers!
   

[Jaime]

Gmo, beg to differ with u re; DD outplaying Beatty. I realize some think of Beatty as a soft drive blocker. Early on he might have deserved that Rep. But not this year. U recall all the Pre-season buzz re; weather Beatty could hold up @ LT? A few games into the season, all that talk was in the rear view. Beatty graded out well this season, right up to his eye injury. No doubt DD is an asset as a backup LT, but he would not be able to unseat Beatty as the starter. Beatty is clearly a better LT than DD. Frankly, Boothe is clearly a better G than DD as well. I believe Petrus is also superior to DD @ LG.

Last I heard, Beatty's eye surgery went well. Of course he has yet to take repeated smacks to his face behind a facemask. Apparently, the Medical Staff thought it wise to not rush his surgically repaired retina back into action, hence the IR status. Thinkin' the only need for attention next season @ LT, will be if Beatty's eye can't hold up.
Otherwise, look for Beatty to man our LT next season, & hopefully for several seasons to come.

[Gmo11]

I strongly disagree on the Beatty point.  The offense improved drastically, particuarly in the run game, when Diehl was moved to LT.  Beatty may have graded out fine, but he at no point played better than Diehl has played these last few weeks.  I've watched these games and I saw more of Beatty giving his turnstile block than I have of Diehl.  I imagine it will be an open competition next year for the spot, and I would be surprised if a healthy David Diehl didn't win the job.

[todge]

I am with Jaime on this one.  Diehl was a human turnstile with the agility of a tackling dummy in the SF game. He and Boothe were so totally overmatched, it was almost embarassing.  The job will be Beatty's next year as he was very effective as a pass blocker but was no better than Diehl in the running game.  If the running game did improve later in the year, it had very little to with Diehl's insertion to OLT.
 
Unless you have game tape access, it is difficult for fans to break down player performances.  This is where game-tape review services like Inside Football and Football Focus help put things into perspective.  According to them, Diehl has been the weak link in the offensive line hands-down.  He no longer has any punch or drive in his run blocking and his lateral agility is worsening by the year (it was never good to begin with).  Moving him to ORT?  Why?  He couldn't handle the less demanding OLG and now you are asking an aging offensive lineman to play a more demanding position?

Sorry guys - but I just can't see the Giants bringing this entire offensive line back next year.  The Giants were dead last in rushing in the entire NFL.  How is that even remotely acceptable?  Sure, San Francisco has a good defensive line.  But that good where Eli was hurried, hit, harassed and sacked virtually every passing play?  A few of those are acceptable ... but just about every passing play?  Totally unacceptable.

So keeping Diehl and starting Boothe would, in my opinion, be a huge mistake.  I really believe the Giants will move on just as they did last year, recognize that this offensive line is one of the league's worst and restructure it to become younger, more athletic and better.  I believe the Giants will cut Diehl and McKenzie, reinstate Beatty at OLT, Baas at Center, Snee at ORG and then draft and/or sign via Free Ageny a OLG and an ORT. 

[gregf]

Todge, isn't Mac an unrestricted FA next year? I thought that DD might just slide in at RT until James Brewer gets up to speed. It could be a competition with Ugoh at RT. I see Mitch Petrus or Kevin Boothe at LG. The thing that I am concerned about based on this season's observation is Beatty's ability to run block.

I totally agree with Vette on this. Somewhere in the mix will be a low draft pick as well. Would be nice to get a tackle in the end of the first rd that could be groomed to play both sides.

[Sect122Mike]

I am with Jaime on this one.  Diehl was a human turnstile with the agility of a tackling dummy in the SF game. He and Boothe were so totally overmatched, it was almost embarassing.  The job will be Beatty's next year as he was very effective as a pass blocker but was no better than Diehl in the running game.  If the running game did improve later in the year, it had very little to with Diehl's insertion to OLT.
 
Unless you have game tape access, it is difficult for fans to break down player performances.  This is where game-tape review services like Inside Football and Football Focus help put things into perspective.  According to them, Diehl has been the weak link in the offensive line hands-down.  He no longer has any punch or drive in his run blocking and his lateral agility is worsening by the year (it was never good to begin with).  Moving him to ORT?  Why?  He couldn't handle the less demanding OLG and now you are asking an aging offensive lineman to play a more demanding position?

Sorry guys - but I just can't see the Giants bringing this entire offensive line back next year.  The Giants were dead last in rushing in the entire NFL.  How is that even remotely acceptable?  Sure, San Francisco has a good defensive line.  But that good where Eli was hurried, hit, harassed and sacked virtually every passing play?  A few of those are acceptable ... but just about every passing play?  Totally unacceptable.

So keeping Diehl and starting Boothe would, in my opinion, be a huge mistake.  I really believe the Giants will move on just as they did last year, recognize that this offensive line is one of the league's worst and restructure it to become younger, more athletic and better.  I believe the Giants will cut Diehl and McKenzie, reinstate Beatty at OLT, Baas at Center, Snee at ORG and then draft and/or sign via Free Ageny a OLG and an ORT.

McK is a FA and Diehl has no bonus money to deal with, so cutting him has no cap issues.  Between them they made over $10M this season, so cutting those two certainly gives the Giants a lot of money to replace them.  The only FA tackle of note is Demetrius Bell from the Bills.  The Bills have cap issues and several FAs to deal with, so its a possibility.  Otherwise, there is not a lot out there.  I think they bring back McK cheap. 

There are some great Guard FAs.  Carl Nicks from the Sinits pushed us around and Ben Grubbs from the Ravens is great at opening holes.  Jeff Saturday is probably not going back to the rebuilding Indy, and he may have some good years left in him.  He might like to protect another Manning.  I think the Giants see Baas as the Center, but I don't see it. I'd like to see him and Snee as the Guards and bring in another Center.  They won't do it, but I like to think about it.  I can see the Giants signing a FA guard and bringing back McK and Beatty, while drafting the RT of the future. 

[babywhales]

Is there any chance Brewer gets a chance at LT?  What is the deal with Stacey Andrews?