The New York Giants easily handled the Miami Dolphins in a 26-3 preseason Week 2 victory, with their backup offensive line seeing extensive action. Marcus Mbow started at right tackle, while sixth-round rookie J.C. Davis got the nod at left tackle and played all 81 offensive snaps. Davis turned in the Giants’ highest overall offensive grade, as well as the team’s best run- and pass-blocking grades, according to Pro Football Focus.
The depth on the Giants offensive line should not be overstated. There are two day-three picks who are handling swing-tackle snaps, and doing so at an impressive level, albeit it’s against the Dolphins backups. Davis surrendered no pressures and neither did Mbow, but the swing tackle competition remains a topic of conversation, while cross-training for the interior is still a possibility.
Davis is 6’5, 335-pounds, and was selected in the sixth-round (_192nd_ _overall_) out of Illinois. He now has 102 snaps in the preseason with zero pressures allowed. Here’s some tape from his play against the Dolphins.
_J.C. Davis is No. 74 at left tackle_
Davis quickly locates Max Llewellyn (57) – who is a seventh-round rookie out of Iowa. Davis cuts off the angle with ease on the quick 45-set. Davis uses a forceful outside punch that readjusts to account for Llewellyn’s chop. Davis then attempts to swat the inside hand of Llewellyn downward; it ends up resulting in hand fighting, with Davis mirroring and framing his block perfectly against the rookie.
Davis quickly latches onto David Ojabo (50) with a strong outside punch to establish contact, followed closely with inside hand placement on the small of Ojabo’s back. Davis earns upper-body control and his feet shift with Ojabo’s momentum up the arc. Davis is controlled with low-hips and active feet; again, a very impressive, yet quick, rep.
Davis uses a quick jump-set to frame and attack Cam Rice (58) while out on an island. Rice stalemates with Davis and tries to find room around Davis’ edge, but the rookie locks him up until Jameis Winston (19) throws the ball.
Davis shows patience above on the high-side rush. He doesn’t get too eager and commit too early. His feet dictate his positioning, he stays square to target, and he attacks when appropriate with his hands.
Davis showed his anchor on the edge on this quick throw to Odell Beckham Jr. (3). Rice attempted to bull-rush Davis; while some ground was conceded, Davis does a phenomenal job just sitting back on his hips and maintaining great leverage to exhaust rice’s power on the bull-rush.
Davis matches Rice’s high-side rush and handles the inside spin well right into the guard. Davis had answers in pass-protection against these back-end Dolphin rushers.
I love to see Davis kick out against the wide defender but then effortlessly handle the original 4i-shade on the twist. Positioning and depth are key for a tackle with this assignment, and Davis executes well on both, while taking on the transition and repositioning himself well from a framing and leverage perspective. Again, a very good job by J.C. Davis.
Davis and the guard annihilate the Dolphins’ defensive tackle on this double-team block. Davis gets low and he drives through the opponent, causing a massive pile up of players. Davis’ lower-leg drive and how he gets low into contact allows him to land the block effectively.
Here’s another double-team where Davis must assume the block once the guard vacates to his secondary assignment. Davis is able to stay low into contact, and does get his hips more to the center of the defensive lineman, allowing him to turn the chest of the defensive lineman. Guard Aaron Stinnie didn’t transition cleanly, leaving Davis to handle two blockers. Still, the control displayed by Davis was impressive.
Davis is the point of attack tackle on this under-center, split-zone, run. Davis contacts Seth Coleman (90) and moves him off his spot, while using torque to control. Davis places his hips into the rushing lane, and controls Coleman to disallow access to the 3-Hole.
I’m not saying that J.C. Davis struggles with strength, per se, but there were several plays on tape where he executes his assignment, but the strength doesn’t pop, and that is noteworthy against the Dolphins’ third team.
I love how low Davis gets into contact here, and we see him explode low-to-high, but Keith Cooper Jr. (97) sinks down and sets the edge, while conceding little to no space to Davis. Plays like this came up a few times against the Dolphins:
Again, not terrible positioning, but little push, which allows Cameron Goode (53) to set the edge and eventually curl around Davis to assist with the tackle. Goode gets low and it doesn’t appear like Davis threatened him much with his power to create any space, despite winning the initial leverage battle. Perhaps Davis’ angle into the wide contact – when attacking – is an area in which he can be more controlled, which can allow him to unlock his power potential.
Run game power from an angle wasn’t the only time power came up as a possible concern. Here are two pass protection reps where Davis’ anchor was challenged. While he did handle his business, with some help, there was space conceded and that should be acknowledged if we’re honestly evaluating the young player. Still, I’m not concerned about Davis’ overall power. He is a young player who has put very good tape on film so far. I am encouraged about his ability and hope to see him become an asset for the New York Giants.
Davis has handled himself well in preseason. He played all 81 snaps against the Dolphins and he appeared confident, competent, and controlled. His feet, hips, hands, and eyes are all aligned, and he’s flashed power. The question becomes – can he do this against starting NFL talent? That remains to be seen. We’ve witnessed some power questions in the run game; but at the end of the day, these are positive developments for a day three pick who keeps ascending. The Giants’ offensive line is in a much better position now than it was the last decade plus.
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* [New York Giants analysis](/new-york-giants-analysis)
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