http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/11/offensive_line_shuffle_doesnt.html

Offensive line shuffle doesn't bother Giants during 41-7 win over SeahawksPublished: Sunday, November 07, 2010, 11:02 PM Star-Ledger Staff

SEATTLE — Sleeping was a challenge for Giants left tackle Shawn Andrews on Saturday night.

Instead of counting sheep, Andrews went over plays in his head while he tossed and turned.
Restless for five hours, he worried about protecting quarterback Eli Manning in his first start in two years.

He didn’t throw up pregame, though his nerves were at an all-time high. Andrews wasn’t settled until after the first series. The Giants’ offensive line wasn’t settled throughout the game.

The Giants used five offensive line variations today in Seattle during their 41-7 trouncing of the Seahawks. After taking over for injured Shaun O’Hara, Adam Koets was removed from his starting center spot this week. Giants coach Tom Coughlin, fearing communication problems from the renowned noise of Qwest Field, opted to bring Koets on as a substitute tight end instead of giving him his second career start at center on the road.

Coughlin wanted to load the line with veterans. Left to right, Andrews, David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie were on the field to open the game.

“We just felt like we would have a better handle of what was going on in terms of veterans on the field,” Coughlin said. “The other thing is that Adam gives us total flexibility. He played tackle on Wednesday, center and guard on Thursday and Friday.”

Koets was surprised to learn of the lineup change on Wednesday.

“I wasn’t happy about it,” Koets said. “We’re all going to play, so you’ve got to keep prepared.”

They were. Manning wasn’t sacked, no lineman had a false start and the Giants scored 41 points for the second consecutive game.

“This is a special team, and if we play together as a team, we can do good things,” Seubert said.

Seubert moved as much as anyone. The right side of the line remained stable save one play on Sunday, with Snee at right guard and McKenzie outside of him. Seubert played center, then moved to left guard when Diehl got injured (sprained hip joint, MRI Monday), then back to center to close the game when Koets sprained his knee at the start of the fourth quarter.

Seubert insisted the fluctuation is not as difficult as it seems.

“On the offensive line, if you don’t know what the guy is doing next to you, you’re not going to do a good job at what you’re doing,” Seubert said. “So, you’ve got to know what everybody’s doing. When this happens, you can just step in there and play.”

Coughlin was vague when asked if the starters will be the same Sunday against the Cowboys. For his part, Andrews was thrilled with the outcome. No matter how it comes together.

“Whatever works, and it worked today,” Andrews said.

Seubert is a key piece to the puzzle.
I think he gets undervalued sometimes with Giants fans.

56 Crazed Dogs wrote:Seubert is a key piece to the puzzle.
I think he gets undervalued sometimes with Giants fans.

What I like about Seubert is he is a fighter

Many people had him losing his starting spot firstly to Diehl (with Beatty moving to LT), then to Andrews, but he is tenacious and a real battler and he earned the starting gig. He is a guy you can never count out, he will give you everything he has.

I think Andrews could be a long term answer at LT as well. He is more mobile and athletic than Diehl.

The Oline depth is in very good shape.