Flowers High On New OL Coach Solari, Glad Flaherty Is Gone

[Gman329]

So apparently, Flowers was not a fan of Pat Flaherty but thinks new OL Coach Solari is a "great coach". Interesting and optimistic article from today's Post. Schwartz also sees top three picks as major contributors.

 

 

http://nypost.com/2016/06/16/giants-ereck-flowers-sounds-thrilled-his-old-coach-is-gone/

Giants’ Ereck Flowers sounds thrilled his old coach is gone

By Paul Schwartz

June 16, 2016 | 11:28pm

It is easy to rustle up great words and the utmost respect for Pat Flaherty, the former Giants offensive line coach for two Super Bowl winning teams. Check in with Chris Snee, Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert or David Diehl. They will sing the praises of the assistant they affectionately call “Flats.’’

When Ben McAdoo replaced Tom Coughlin as head coach, about half of Coughlin’s staff was re-interviewed and retained, but Flaherty was not. He currently is coaching the 49ers offensive line, hired by Chip Kelly. McAdoo opted to go with Mike Solari, a longtime NFL coach who has worked with offensive lines for the Packers, 49ers, Seahawks, Chiefs and Cowboys.

Clearly, at least one member of the Giants’ offensive line is happy about the change. It is no secret Ereck Flowers, as a rookie, did not always appreciate Flaherty’s style and motivational techniques.

“It is a good adjustment, in every way,’’ Flowers said of Solari. “All of his techniques and different drills and everything he does. He is a great coach.’’

Flowers had plenty of technical issues to clean up coming out of Miami, and the 2015 first-round pick had an uneven first NFL season, showing exceptional toughness battling through a nagging ankle injury. His hand placement, though, was a mess.

Perhaps Solari holds the key to taking Flowers’ development. There are those who believe this move is more than cosmetic, and that Solari, 61, will be a difference-maker.

“They’ve got a great offensive line coach there in Mike Solari,’’ said Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services. Shonka worked with Solari with the Chiefs and feels he might be the most important addition the Giants made all offseason.

“This guy is great,’’ Shonka said. “If these guys can play, he’s gonna squeeze every bit of the talent and technique out of these guys. He’s one of the top five offensive line coaches, very technique oriented, very detailed guy. If these guys have some talent he’s gonna get it.’’

Flowers has talent. Asked if it is fair to say Flowers seems happier working under Solari than he did with Flaherty, one player said, simply, “That’s fair.’’

Giants’ picks set for success

 

It takes a few years to properly evaluate a draft class, so it is silly to make any pronouncement after six or seven weeks.

But (you knew there would be a “but”) it is not too early to offer an admittedly hot-take prediction for the 2016 draft picks.

It would be shocking if the Giants’ top three picks do not have a major impact this season. Darian Thompson (third round) has the inside track to start at free safety.

Sterling Shepard (second round) is a remarkably savvy and well-schooled receiver.

Eli Apple (first round) is clearly a top athlete, and he will not be forced in too quickly as a first-team cornerback.

There are many dots to connect before the Sept. 11 date with the Cowboys, but the signs are pointed in the right direction for the Giants.

[Bigblue25]

How does he see the "top three picks has contributors" and then writes this "Eli Apple (first round) is clearly a top athlete, and he will not be forced in too quickly as a first-team cornerback."

[Gman329]

I knew you'd go straight there! Means he won't be thrown in the deep end before he's ready, ala Flowers last year (though he held his own). As we've been saying, you need at least 3 solid corners these days and we had little/no depth behind Jenkins and R-Cromartie. He'll be on the field a lot and eventually, he'll be a starting corner, a contributor for many years.

[Dragon]

Graziano was on ESPN Radio yesterday and said that Apple looks exactly how a 20 year old rookie should look. Some plays he's incredible and others he's incredibly lost. He does believe that once he gets it, we're going to have a very very good player for years.

[Mr. P]

Graziano was on ESPN Radio yesterday and said that Apple looks exactly how a 20 year old rookie should look. Some plays he's incredible and others he's incredibly lost. He does believe that once he gets it, we're going to have a very very good player for years.

Sounds good to me.

[Sephiroth]

I'm happy Flaherty is gone just so I don't have to hear the Big Blue Kickoff Live team fellate him every week.

 

"Did you know Pat Flaherty developed free agents and late round picks like David Deihl, Rich Seubert, and Shaun O'Hara? Don't count out Jim Hermann and Marshall Newhouse when Flaherty is the coach!"

 

Those fucking guys played ten years ago.

[Bigblue25]

I knew you'd go straight there! Means he won't be thrown in the deep end before he's ready, ala Flowers last year (though he held his own). As we've been saying, you need at least 3 solid corners these days and we had little/no depth behind Jenkins and R-Cromartie. He'll be on the field a lot and eventually, he'll be a starting corner, a contributor for many years.

I do agree that Shepard and Thompson and maybe even Goodson will play early

[Tempest]

We did have some success with Flaherty so there is a level respect for his work. I think the change to Solari will be a good one for the team and hope he comes down on Flowers twice as hard as Flaherty did. Flowers is a big talented man with an important job and has to make a significant improvement that will only come from hard work. Opponents have had a year of footage and experience to learn his weaknesses.