ALBANY — If there is a shuffle on the Giants’ offensive line, the logical moves are David Diehl inside to left guard, Will Beatty off the bench into the vacated left-tackle spot and longtime left guard Rich Seubert to the bench or else to the curb.
For this scenario to take hold, Beatty in his second season will have to take a quantum step forward and prove he’s a better left tackle than Diehl, and Seubert will have to show that his battered body has no more to give.
This would constitute a major refurbishing of a unit that has thrived on uncommon continuity and a fraternal attitude based on sarcasm, inside jokes and the classic underappreciated mindset that fits so well with big guys heaped with little glory. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride back in the spring set the groundwork for a possible changing of the guard (and tackle) by lauding Beatty’s athletic potential and the onrush of “Father Time” catching up to the older linemen.
“I can say a lot of things,” Seubert said yesterday about a retort to Gilbride.
Such as?
“Look in the mirror,” Seubert said, his goateed chin holding up a wide smile.
Suggest these moves at your own risk. Diehl, who breezed through the conditioning test, has never missed a game in his seven-year career, starting at right guard, right tackle and left guard before, he believes, finding a home three years ago at left tackle. His versatility could come back to hurt him. The Giants braintrust views him as a quality left tackle but possibly a Pro Bowl fixture at guard.
“I’ve always been a guy who put the team first,” Diehl said. “Having said that, I think I’m the best left tackle on this team and I’m one of the best ones in our division and I’m going to go out there and prove it.”
There is a financial consideration here, as Diehl — who is set earn $3.75 million this season — has a two-tiered contract. If he’s moved from tackle to guard he’ll make about $1 million less per season.
“That has nothing to do with it,” he insisted. “I don’t care about that. I want to be in the best position for me playing and where I feel the best, and that’s at left tackle.”
Seubert at 31 is not old by offensive-line standards. He has essentially carved out three separate careers. He was a surprise as an undrafted free agent who quickly worked his way into a starting role. He somehow recovered from a devastating and harrowing shattered leg to fill a reserve role and then he made it all the way back, reclaiming a starting position and winning a Super Bowl as part of what was generally accepted as the best offensive line in the league.
As much as he engages in self-deprecating humor, no one undersells Seubert’s competitive fire.
“The best five guys are going to be out there playing, and I know if I work hard I’ll be one of those guys,” he said. “I don’t care what they’re saying.”
It doesn’t sound as if this shakeup is going to transpire unless Seubert totally breaks down. He struggled last season with a bum shoulder that required clean-up surgery. “I’m not that old,” he said. “Guys can play this game for a long time. I know I’ve been through some stuff, might have taken a few years off but I feel great.”
Beatty, in his second year out of UConn, could force the issue if he bursts through with a huge summer. That’s a long shot.
“He’s a young player, there’s a lot of things he hasn’t seen yet,” offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said.
Beatty is the future. Diehl at left tackle and Seubert at left guard are trying to maintain the present.