First-round pick Justin Pugh out of Syracuse is the Giants’ future at right tackle. But the present remains 11-year veteran David Diehl.
“Right tackle is David Diehl with Justin Pugh working at right tackle,” offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said definitively yesterday.
Diehl, the longest-tenured Giant — who is coming off right knee surgery after last season — acknowledged the situation. Old versus new, veteran versus rookie. But Diehl, at 305 pounds after a new creative diet, is determined to keep his starting job. The future can wait.
“It’s all about competing and pushing yourself to the limit,” Diehl said. “Justin Pugh’s a great pick, great guy in the locker room. I’m not going to be around forever. I’m a guy who’s been able to play different positions on the run. Justin’s that guy. … He’s the future of our offensive line. He’s the guy who can play center, guard, tackle.”
Just don’t pencil the 6-foot-4, 301-pound Pugh in for the first team right tackle job just yet.
“David Diehl is a highly motivated person,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “And competition always brings out the best.”
So Diehl welcomes the challenge.
“I’m not giving anything away. I’m going to earn my position just like anybody,” Diehl said. “Bringing in somebody like that brings great competition and it not only makes him a better football player, but it’s making me a better football player, which in turns makes our team better.”
Pugh, working with the second team, has impressed with his versatility (he played left tackle in college and can play both guard spots).
“All you can do is go out there and work and learn from him,” Pugh said of Diehl. “Obviously, he’s been here 11 years. He knows the ropes. He knows how to play the game.
“I’ll just learn as much as I can from him.”
Pugh, Syracuse’s first offensive line All-America since 1990, stressed how comfortable he is moving to the right side.
“I feel good about it. I’m feeling comfortable,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting in there, learning the playbook then getting on the technique and mastering that technique.”
One guy with confidence in Pugh is quarterback Ryan Nassib, the Giants’ fourth-round pick and Pugh’s teammate at Syracuse.
“Justin’s game will translate to anywhere you put him,” Nassib said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed football player who will get after you. He’s smart. Every time I played with him in college I was confident he knew what he was doing.”
Nassib described Pugh as “a happy go-lucky guy” who “absolutely” has a mean streak.
“Watch his tape from college,” Nassib said. “You’ll see.”
Flaherty saw all that before the draft. It helped set Pugh apart. He admitted Pugh is the biggest challenge Diehl has faced yet, but…
“Most of us like to feel that little bit extra nudge,” Flaherty said. “It’s a big year for David.”
And for Pugh, whose most important trait, Flaherty said, is “his demeanor as an offensive lineman.”
“Football is important to him,” Flaherty said. “He wants to not only do it for an occupation but playing the game itself [means] something to him. His demeanor has some nastiness, physicalness.”
It forecasts a bright right tackle future for the Giants. Whenever it may be.