5 Under-the-radar Giants to watch against Cleveland Browns in Week 15

1.  Former Browns guard Kevin Zeitler

Fans sometimes forget that the Browns and Giants actually made two major deals in 2019. In addition to the OBJ deal, the Browns traded right guard Kevin Zeitler for Olivier Vernon. Both were very good players with major league price tags, and the Browns needed defensive line help more than offensive line help, or so they thought, and the Giants were in the opposite situation. The deal worked well for both teams.

Zeitler will normally square off against Sheldon Richardson and will re-acquaint himself with old friend Myles Garrett on occasion as well.

The right guard began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals back when they were winning under Marvin Lewis, so he knows what it is like to be a winner. Then he followed Hue Jackson to Cleveland. Now in New York, he’s a valued member of a team that seems to be on the rise (depending on who you ask, of course). It’s not far-fetched at all that they might make the playoffs even if they lose to the Browns.

Zeitler is still a very competent offensive lineman, though he is not necessarily surrounded by superstars elsewhere on the offensive line. The Giants were not able to develop Combine superstar Will Hernandez, and their top pick, left tackle Andrew Thomas is struggling. The team gave up eight sacks last week, six for a hurting Daniel Jones (that did not help him feel better), and two for backup Colt McCoy.

It will be interesting to see how this line will handle Olivier Vernon and Myles Garrett. Usually, Olivier Vernon operates against a single defender, which might be underachieving Thomas. Very likely New York will find it necessary to double-team Garrett much of the time.  Joe Woods likes to move Garrett around to cause traffic jams in different parts of the field because the double team tends to follow him.