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New York Giants News: Brett Jones Of CFL Signed

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Giants News: NYG Address OL

The offensive line has been a problem spot for the New York Giants for multiple seasons now. The veteran-laden lines of their Super Bowl winning teams eventually needed replacing, and the Giants didn’t do a good job at doing it. Draft offensive lineman late in the NFL Draft that never panned out caused the Giants offensive line to deteriorate, which has placed it where it is today. They have started to revamp the line in recent seasons, selecting offensive lineman in the first two rounds of the draft, and signing players that when healthy are big upgrades. They continued that reshaping of the offensive line this week, taking a somewhat untraditional way to do it, signing center Brett Jones from the Canadian Football League.

Jones has been an outstanding performer in Canada in his two seasons in the league, taking home Rookie of the Year and Best Lineman of the Year in consecutive seasons. The 6-foot-2 inch, 318 pound center played for the Calgary Stampeders and helped lead them to a Grey Cup title this past November. As the top offensive lineman in the CFL, he became a name to remember once he let it be known that he was willing to pass up on what could be a significant payday in the CFL to try his hand in the NFL.

The Giants had some competition to sign Jones, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals all held workouts for Jones, but the Giants were the ones to take a leap and offer him a contract.

Taking a look at some scouting reports, one from when he was leaving the University of Regina and one after these past two seasons, they are very familiar. Both point out to his limited size, but praise his athletic ability and strength. He has good form and fundamentals, helping in making him an extremely physical player.

The scout who looked at him goes a step further, touching on his potential as an NFL player. He says that Jones is more than likely a fringe NFL player, but an excellent CFL player. He will more than likely be an end of the roster type of player, which is okay with the Giants.

Having a player with the achievements Jones already has at the end of your roster is better than what most teams have as reserves. He also may not be versatile in his ability to play multiple positions, but he would give the Giants plenty of options.

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Weston Richburg, the Giants second round draft pick from 2014, is expected to have every chance to start at center in 2015 after playing guard his rookie year. That would open up a spot at guard, which could be filled by a draft pick, free agent or potentially Justin Pugh.

The Giants were happy more or less with their pass protection last season, but the blocking in the run game was lacking. The Giants could use a big, mauling right tackle to make that happen. Albeit in free agency or through the draft, the Giants will more than likely add a player of that nature.

That would give the Giants a ton of flexibility along the line, as Richburg, Pugh and last season’s free agent acquisition Geoff Schwartz all can play multiple positions across the line. The Giants are building a unique situation along their defensive line, it is just a matter of putting the pieces together in the right formation now.

Jones may never see the field or the Giants, or even make it through training camp, but his signing shows the Giants are trying to improve in any way possible.

Next: New York Giants Offseason Outlook

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