The New York Giants are bringing on adding some more Dallas Cowboys influence as head coach Joe Judge completes his staff.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday morning that the Giants have hired former Cowboys offensive line coach, Marc Colombo, to the same position.
Colombo, 41, played nine seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle. Six of those came with the Cowboys.
Following his playing days, he became Dallas’ assistant offensive line coach from 2016-18 under Jason Garrett, who is now the Giants’ offensive coordinator following a decade-long stint as the Cowboys’ head coach.
Leading Garrett’s and Dallas’ offensive line from 2018-19, Colombo continued the newer tradition of the Cowboys’ offensive line being one of the top units in the NFL.
This season, noted analytics site Pro Football Focus ranked the Cowboys’ O-line fifth in pass-blocking and third in run-blocking.
It’s that strong connection working under Garrett that is believed to have landed Colombo the job at MetLife Stadium.
He will have his hands full, however.
The Giants’ offensive line has been a liability in recent years. PFF ranked New York’s protection at No. 17 in the NFL in 2019, which is a considerable improvement from the previous two seasons.
Their inability to protect Eli Manning only accelerated his demise and dethronement from the starting job. Manning will officially announce his retirement after 16 seasons on Friday following a 2019 campaign in which he lost his starting job to rookie Daniel Jones.
New York’s offense looked more potent with Jones under center, but much of it had to do with an ability to extend the play with his athleticism, thus bailing out the offensive line.
Still, Jones was sacked 38 times in 13 games while losing 11 fumbles.
General manager Dave Gettleman has made it known over the years that he wants to build the Giants through a strong offensive line.
“We’ve got to fix the o-line, let’s be honest,” Gettleman said when he took over in 2017. “Let’s not kid each other. I told you at the top, big men allow you to compete and that’s what we’ve got to fix.”
It’s 2020 and things still aren’t fixed.
Expect the Giants to address that need at the 2020 NFL Draft, but maybe not with their first selection. Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons has proven to be the kind of defensive playmaker the Giants have been starving for.
Regardless, Colombo is going to be tasked with not only protecting Jones moving forward but ensuring star running back Saquon Barkley has plenty of lanes to run through.
