Here is Schoen's 7th overall pick

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/ThisIsNotZain/status/1871012921565950183




While that is perhaps one of the worst plays I have ever witnessed by an offensive linemen, he at least had one good play

https://x.com/nickfalato/status/1871201312836063641

[H-Town G-Fan]

I actually find the attention paid to Neal's cut block kind of funny. It's clearly a designed throw to the right and his job is to cut the EDGE to get his hands down to allow a passing lane. It's certainly not the best executed cut, but actually accomplishes the job--the ball just doesn't come out. Neal is plenty terrible, this is just not the play I'd use to establish that... but it's fun for the media-types to go "look he fell down!"

[MightyGiants]

I actually find the attention paid to Neal's cut block kind of funny. It's clearly a designed throw to the right and his job is to cut the EDGE to get his hands down to allow a passing lane. It's certainly not the best executed cut, but actually accomplishes the job--the ball just doesn't come out. Neal is plenty terrible, this is just not the play I'd use to establish that... but it's fun for the media-types to go "look he fell down!"

Neal should have simply engaged and not tried that embarrassingly bad-cut block.  That block demonstrated Neal's biggest weakness, an appalling lack of balance.

[H-Town G-Fan]

Neal should have simply engaged and not tried that embarrassingly bad-cut block.  That block demonstrated Neal's biggest weakness, an appalling lack of balance.

Sure looks like the as-designed block is a cut given the route the WR is running and where the QB's eyes immediately go. Like I said, plenty of film to say Neal is bad or has balance issues--I just don't get the hyper-focus on this play other than it's fun to sh*t on him.

[MightyGiants]

Sure looks like the as-designed block is a cut given the route the WR is running and where the QB's eyes immediately go. Like I said, plenty of film to say Neal is bad or has balance issues--I just don't get the hyper-focus on this play other than it's fun to sh*t on him.

Did they design a play that is illegal?  Neal would have been flagged had he actually hit the defender, as cut blocks need to be made within the tackle box (he clearly was outside the box).

[spiderblue43]

He's no Bear on ice skates, for sure, or a dancing one. Just a complete bust, as we know. Making ight of him is too bad, also. He's not good in any respect and pfft. That's it.

[MightyGiants]

He's no Bear on ice skates, for sure, or a dancing one. Just a complete bust, as we know. Making ight of him is too bad, also. He's not good in any respect and pfft. That's it.

He might make a serviceable guard.  If NYG had a proper swing tackle, they could have tried that (since they were so short at OG they needed to make a training camp hire of Van Roten)

[Gmo11]

I tend to agree that this is designed and not the best example of Neal being terrible, of which there are many.  I do think it's criminal that they haven't at least tried him at guard.  I read that he was taking reps in practice there because all the other guards are injured which is the first time I can recall that happening but they should seriously be doing this all of training camp next year to at least SEE what it looks like. 

[MightyGiants]

I tend to agree that this is designed and not the best example of Neal being terrible, of which there are many.  I do think it's criminal that they haven't at least tried him at guard.  I read that he was taking reps in practice there because all the other guards are injured which is the first time I can recall that happening but they should seriously be doing this all of training camp next year to at least SEE what it looks like. 

Again, it's against the rules

The approved proposal illegalizes blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-expanded-rule-on-low-blocks-90-man-rosters-to-start-training-#:~:text=The%20approved%20proposal%20illegalizes%20blocking,outside%20of%20either%20offensive%20tackle.

Don't even get me started that O-line cut blocks are rare on passing plays

[Gmo11]

Again, it's against the rules

The approved proposal illegalizes blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-expanded-rule-on-low-blocks-90-man-rosters-to-start-training-#:~:text=The%20approved%20proposal%20illegalizes%20blocking,outside%20of%20either%20offensive%20tackle.

Don't even get me started that O-line cut blocks are rare on passing plays

I don't think he's supposed to take 3 steps and then cut block.  I think the idea is the defender should be rushing the passer so he stands there and cut blocks. That concept has been used hundreds of times across the NFL I'm surprised you haven't noticed.  His job is to get the defenders hands down so the QB can throw over him immediately.  He probably panicked when the guy didn't rush and just executed what he was told to do in a space where he probably shouldn't have done it.

[babywhales]

Again, it's against the rules

The approved proposal illegalizes blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-expanded-rule-on-low-blocks-90-man-rosters-to-start-training-#:~:text=The%20approved%20proposal%20illegalizes%20blocking,outside%20of%20either%20offensive%20tackle.

Don't even get me started that O-line cut blocks are rare on passing plays

I agree in the general sense

That being said OC's run routes to set picks for other WR's all the time and those are illegal.  Those present more as an accidently on purpose situation; nevertheless, both are illegal.

Neal is playing his best ball of his career and he still stinks. 



 

[MightyGiants]

I don't think he's supposed to take 3 steps and then cut block.  I think the idea is the defender should be rushing the passer so he stands there and cut blocks. That concept has been used hundreds of times across the NFL I'm surprised you haven't noticed.  His job is to get the defenders hands down so the QB can throw over him immediately.  He probably panicked when the guy didn't rush and just executed what he was told to do in a space where he probably shouldn't have done it.

The only surprise, is that you don't know the rules.  I certainly "notice" that some teams engage in cut blocks (usually on running plays).

[MightyGiants]

I agree in the general sense

That being said OC's run routes to set picks for other WR's all the time and those are illegal.  Those present more as an accidently on purpose situation; nevertheless, both are illegal.

Neal is playing his best ball of his career and he still stinks.

NYG has Phillips available.  They really should put Neal at guard to see if he can even cut it at guard.

[Gmo11]

The only surprise, is that you don't know the rules.  I certainly "notice" that some teams engage in cut blocks (usually on running plays).

In fact I do  Which is why i said "he probably wasn't supposed to take 3 steps and do that". He was supposed to stand there wait for the defender to come at him and then cut which I've seen countless times across the NFL.  If the defender doesn't rush he most certainly should not move towards him and dive at his legs which is, as you mentioned, illegal.  If he stands there and does it, totally legal, and has happened quite often.

[MightyGiants]

In fact I do  Which is why i said "he probably wasn't supposed to take 3 steps and do that". He was supposed to stand there wait for the defender to come at him and then cut which I've seen countless times across the NFL.  If the defender doesn't rush he most certainly should not move towards him and dive at his legs which is, as you mentioned, illegal.  If he stands there and does it, totally legal, and has happened quite often.

@H-Town G-Fan @Gmo11

Well, credit to you.  According to Neal he was supposed to throw a cut block

"Yeah, that specific play design, it's my responsibility to cut my defensive end when he's rushing, so I threw a cut" Neal said. "It didn't look that good. But yeah, I just threw the cut on him."

When asked what he should do differently on that play, Neal said, "I probably could have threw a better cut."

Neal, who has been a massive bust since the Giants took him seventh overall in 2022, also had two false start penalties in the red zone on the offense's final offensive drive. Asked about these headscratching mistakes, Neal again put the blame on himself.

"Just with the snap count and the cadence, it's tough," Neal said. "Whenever you're on the road and the silent cadence. But that's just on me. I've got to do a better job being locked in."

https://www.nj.com/giants/2024/12/giants-evan-neal-explains-comically-bad-pass-block-attempt-in-loss-at-falcons.html