The New York Giants have finally landed on a center in rookie John Michael Schmitz, but who will play next to him at guard is still very much in flux.
On Monday at practice, Mark Glowinski, who played right guard in the 16 meaningful regular season games and the two postseason contests last year, was flipped over to the left side in an effort to find the team’s best mixture.
Guard rotation has hit a new level today. Mark Glowinski has gotten a few first-team reps at LG. He hasn’t taken a rep there in a game since 2017. He made 16 starts there in 2016.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 21, 2023
Head coach Brian Daboll was asked before practice if he is considering rotating at both guard spots in a regular season game as he has done all camp.
“I’d consider whatever we think, whatever is going to work best for us,” he said.
It’s likely that the Giants keep Glowinski at right guard in between Schmitz and second-year right tackle Evan Neal for stability purposes. The left side is still wide open, hence the decision to try Glowinski there.
The favorite for the job is Ben Bredeson, who has been flopped all over the interior of the line since he’s gotten here two summers ago.
“He’s got good position flex,” Daboll said of Bredeson. “He’s done a nice job really at all three spots of the snaps that he’s had, which have been quite a few. He’s got good leadership, so he’s done a good job with the things we have asked him to do.”
Daboll went on to say that Bredeson would still be listed on the depth chart at all three positions. He began camp as the starting center while Schmitz got acclimated.
“Well, he’s going to have to play some center, too,” continued Daboll. “He’s really going to have to play; you never know what could happen, but the one thing that is valuable for a guy like Ben is that he’s played all three spots. He hasn’t just been at one spot. He can play all three spots, he’s worked in camp at all three spots, in OTAs. Again, that flexibility is important I’d say particularly at that position.”
Bredeson is likely to win the starting job at left guard but his backup will become equally important to the Giants if the veteran is forced to move around due to injuries elsewhere along the line.
