Giants may have no other choice but to stick with Joshua Ezeudu at left tackle

Brian Daboll was unequivocal: There won’t be a quarterback controversy at 1925 Giants Drive. At least for this week.

That doesn’t mean, however, Daboll is particularly averse to making offensive player personnel changes, in this instance at left tackle. But due to circumstances out of his control, he may not have the opportunity to explore potential modifications.

“We'll have that discussion,” Daboll said when asked if he was comfortable with Joshua Ezeudu retaining his spot in the starting lineup after struggling in Sunday’s 28-3 loss to the Eagles.

Ezeudu started in place of Andrew Thomas, who was lost for the season following a Lisfranc (foot) surgery. Ezeudu was charged with two sacks allowed, three quarterback pressures and one hurry, according to Pro Football Focus.

Moreover, the analytics site also calculated Ezeudu with a 59.2% run-and-pass blocking success rate overall — 65.6% on pass blocking and 46.9% on run blocking.

“We've watched the tape,” Daboll said. “We're not there yet. I thought that early on there [were] a couple plays in there. One off of a jam and another one that could have been better. I think he settled in. It was his first time playing. So, there's some things he did better as the game went on and made some improvements. And we'll see where we're at here.”

Which is where he, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo may find themselves with minimal options to improve an offensive line that surrendered eight sacks to an Eagles defense that entered the contest with 11 sacks in five games.

“Giving up eight sacks is too much. It is tough. All we have to do is go back to the film room and see what went wrong and just get better at it,” Ezeudu said.

These Eagles are not exactly the linear descendants of the Monsters of the Midway, but they limited the Giants to 119 total yards — 76 rushing on 18 carries and 43 passing — and only six plays of 10 yards or more, which Daboll bemoaned.

“Obviously, the results aren't what we want them to be. But we're working hard to fix the things we need to fix to get different results,” Daboll said. “You never accept where we're at. Whether you're on top or obviously where we're at right now — which is not good enough. I've clearly stated that. We'll do everything we can do to improve the things we need to improve on to correct some of those issues that we're having and ultimately score points. That's the job. And we’re not getting that done. Again, two of the big things we need to keep working on to correct to help those things are explosives and third down. And going back and evaluating those things. We're just off a little bit here.”

Scoring points — specifically at home — has been a season-long issue for the Giants, who are tied with the Patriots for second-fewest  points scored with 99. Only the Dolphins, who have played one less game, have scored fewer points (70) than the Giants.

“It wasn't just one person or two people. It was kind of spread out and everybody had their hand in it," Daboll said. "There were some good things. At the end of the day, our job is to score points. We've got to work to continue to do that.”

Daboll did not express an appetite to experiment with Evan Neal when asked if he considered having the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft play in the fourth quarter.

“I just wanted to go with the guys that we had,” Daboll said.

Therefore, it seems like Ezeudu will be the starting left tackle for the foreseeable future.

“I was just overthinking and self-doubting myself but I think as the day went on I just had to get out of my own head," Ezeudu said. "I know I’m better. I know I’ve gotten way better. Just have to go out there and play,”

Ezeudu played 58 snaps in Sunday's loss that dropped the Giants to 2-5.

“I just know I just have to start off better, really," he said. “All my coaches have faith in me, all my teammates have faith in me and I have faith in myself. Just have to continue to have faith in myself and not overthink stuff."