NFL 2015 First-Round Preseason Progress Reports
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/93029ab1a4ecaaf776770249e24bfce436279a61ebb6a6c11890dd10f7b64d59.jpg)
Aug 22, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (76) during first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
<p>Running the ball and especially protecting quarterback Eli Manning are to things New York Giants must do. When they do those two things, Manning plays well and the Giants are Super Bowl contenders. And watching tackle Eric Flowers at LSU made the team believe he could help them in both areas.</p> <p>So the Giants went ahead and took the 6’6″, 329-pounder with the No. 9 overall pick. They already had Will Beatty, who’s a dominant run-blocker and good pass protector except for in 2013, at left tackle. The plan was to put Flowers on the right side until Beatty tore a pectoral muscle back in May.</p><div class=. OT. New York Giants. ERIC FLOWERS. B
Flowers struggled in camp with a hip-flexor injury, and wasn’t impressive in the preseason opener. Then Saturday, Flowers was better, back to road-grading and more comfortable in pass-pro. He may not yet be all the way back from his injury but he has made good progress so he and the Giants get a B.
" >
B
Running the ball and especially protecting quarterback Eli Manning are to things New York Giants must do. When they do those two things, Manning plays well and the Giants are Super Bowl contenders. And watching tackle Eric Flowers at LSU made the team believe he could help them in both areas.
So the Giants went ahead and took the 6’6″, 329-pounder with the No. 9 overall pick. They already had Will Beatty, who’s a dominant run-blocker and good pass protector except for in 2013, at left tackle. The plan was to put Flowers on the right side until Beatty tore a pectoral muscle back in May.
Flowers struggled in camp with a hip-flexor injury, and wasn’t impressive in the preseason opener. Then Saturday, Flowers was better, back to road-grading and more comfortable in pass-pro. He may not yet be all the way back from his injury but he has made good progress so he and the Giants get a B.
Next: St. Louis Rams