Ex-NFL lineman: Giants' Justin Pugh has outplayed NFL Draft's top picks
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Being the fifth offensive tackle taken in this year's NFL Draft hasn't precluded the Giants' Justin Pugh from being the best to date.
At least that is former NFL offensive lineman and current NBC Sports analyst Ross Tucker's assessment.
Tucker hasn't been been overly impressed by any of the young linemen selected in April's draft, but does see Pugh, the 19th overall pick out of Syracuse, playing better than his rookie counterparts, including No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher and No. 4 overall pick Lane Johnson.
"Eric Fisher has been terrible in Kansas City. Lane Johnson has been a little bit better than that in Philly. [No. 2 pick] Luke Joeckel was OK in Jacksonville before he got hurt," Tucker said. "Justin has been fine, but fine compared to his draft class is pretty darn good. … He's been the best of the bunch, probably even better than [No. 11 pick] D.J. Fluker, who struggles in pass protection as well."
Pugh started the season slowly as the Giants' right tackle. He struggled badly against the Panthers and Chiefs in Weeks 3 and 4 when the Giants were chasing huge deficits, and the threat of running the football was nonexistent.
But the No. 19 overall pick out of Syracuse has made adjustments. He's played better in recent weeks. Tucker credits his mental approach.
"Pugh has probably been more solid than any of those [other rookies]. It's really been because of his feet, and he's playing smarter," Tucker said. "Those guys are lunging. Those guys are whiffing. You don't really see that from Pugh. He'll get beat late sometimes, but you don't see him outright whiffing.
"I think he's figured it out that if you really try to be too aggressive and try to do the same thing every time, like Fisher and Lane Johnson do, you're gonna get beat. You have to change it up."
Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty believes Pugh's technique and fundamentals have improved each week. He hasn't allowed a sack since Week 3 in Carolina, and has only allowed five pressures in the past three games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Most importantly, he's kept it all together mentally at a very difficult position.
"When he gets beat, he doesn't go into a frenzy. I've seen offensive line coaches in this league have psychiatrists on the sideline for these guys," former NFL lineman and current FOX analyst Brian Baldinger said. "But he doesn't look like he needs that."
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