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I don’t get it. Well actually I do get it, but I’m disturbed by it. I guess when you never have to face the people you are attacking, it can make you pretty courageous.
Check out this New York Post headline on Jets right tackle Breno Giacomini . . .
“Jets’ faith in disastrous $5 million lineman is wobbling.”
The headline writer clearly has character issues.
I will get to how Breno played last year in a minute, but to call a football player “disastrous” is a tad lowbrow, don’t you think?
Especially a really good guy like Giacomini. And he’s very available to the media in a locker room that is often empty. He also does a ton of charity work for the poor.
Look, I’m not saying media cooperation should make a player immune from criticism for his play. Not at all.
But to call him a “disastrous” player is way over the top.
And here is the odd thing about this headline. It was above a story ranking him as the 19th best player on the Jets. Not bad for a “disastrous” player.
Look, I’m not going to sit here and say Giacomini had a good season last year.
But in describing his season, I might go with “inconsistent” over “disastrous.”
Looking back over my film study of the games from last year, I would sum up Giacomini’s 2015 campaign this way – he did some very good run blocking, but struggled at times with speed rushers leading to sacks and penalties.
I’m not making excuses for him, but he was very banged up. There were games last year where it was unclear whether he would play until game day. He had a number of different things wrong with him.
However, I don’t think he’s ever going to be great against speed rushers, with top-shelf short-area quickness, who can dip their shoulders and take the corner. Breno is a little stiff athletically. It’s not his fault. It’s the way he’s built.
But I will say, for a “disastrous” player, he did some tremendous run blocking last year. Here are some highlights . . .
Against Dallas on a 12-yard TD run by Bilal Powell, Giacomini had a key block on DE DeMarcus Lawrence.
Against Tennessee, Chris Ivory had a 32-yard run off right tackle behind Giacomini who locked up DE David Bass.
Against Miami on November 29, Ivory ran for a 31-yard touchdown to the right side. Giacomini had a pancake block on DE Earl Mitchell.
There are plenty more.
Like I said, the problem is in pass protection against speed rushers, like in the late-season Patriots’ game. He had issues with edge-rusher Jabaal Sheard.
In the third quarter, Sheard beat Giacomini off the right edge and sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick who fumbled and the ball was recovered by LB Jamie Collins who returned it for a touchdown.
So there are issues with edge speed. I’m not going to deny that.
Aside from being hurt, I do think the loss of Willie Colon at right guard did hurt Giacomini a little. Brian
Winters isn’t as instinctive on switch-off blocks on blitzes and stunts as Colon, and there were some miscommunications at times on the right side on who was taking who.
Look, I don’t think Breno is a lock to make the roster. It is entirely possible he could be a cap casualty if the Jets up their offer to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Or in training camp, he could get beat out by the much-cheaper Brent Qvale.
But to call him “disastrous” is a low blow and the player deserves better.
July 1, 2016
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