The New York Giants need help inside their offensive line. There are many potential options in-house, but it’s also possible that an upgrade will come from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kentucky’s Tashaun Manning is a big, strong, athletic and smart guard who happens to play a good guard position. He has also appeared in his 42 games between Auburn and Kentucky and is already very experienced. We also know that the Giants scouted Kentucky earlier this year and Joe Shane was in the game against Florida. Maybe the Wildcats’ big right guard caught Shane’s eye?
Expected: Tashaun Manning (79)
Games seen: v Florida (2022) v Mississippi (2022) v Tennessee (2022) v Georgia (2022)
Red flag: Knee (2022)
measurable
height: 6 foot 3
weight: 330 pounds
(stated measurements)
statistics
Games played: 42 (12 in 2022)
Quick summary
number one: size, athleticism, strength of play, soccer IQ
terrible: Hand Placement, Leverage Consistency
projection: Guards with versatility in positioning and schemes turned upwards in development
game tape
(Manning is RG number 79)
full report
Kentucky right guard Tashaun Manning is a big, powerful and surprisingly athletic guard.
Manning is an experienced interior offensive lineman who moved to Kentucky in 2022 as a “super senior” after spending five years at Auburn. He has experience at both guard positions and has started all 12 games he has played at right guard for Kentucky.
Manning’s size is readily apparent even next to fellow aggressive linemen. He looks at every inch of his 6-foot-3, 330-pound listed and has obvious strength in his upper and lower body. He also seems to have long arms that can control pass rushers or run defenders. Excellent athlete. He can easily pull across his formation offensively, keep phase with his out-of-zone blocking scheme, or screen his play position.
Manning has also shown impressive strength and competitive toughness as a blocker. He can force and hold onto blocks, immobilize them against force, and hold them through the reverberation of his whistle. He’s a strong downhill blocker and man he holes gaps his block his schemes and seals the edge with his off tackle runs.
He’s a smooth, dependable pass protector with the power to stop bull rushes and enough agility to reflect his speed inside. Manning has shown great football IQ in handling stunts, twists and blitzes. He is rarely surprised by the pressure package and responds well to pressure in the second half. He identifies pass rushers well and does a good job passing off defenders to pick up the pressure.
Manning shows a particularly poor use of technique and hands. His hands are often slow and wide, often landing outside the framework of his opponents.His placement allows him to control defenders inside, which not only denies his leverage, but also gives him a length advantage. and allow defenders to enter the chestplate. Not only does Manning’s poor hand placement make him vulnerable to NFL-level technicians, he also tends to put calls from officials on hold.
Manning can also play with inconsistent base width and leverage. He has the athleticism to be a true knee bender, sits down and plays at his level with proper padding. However, his padding his level is inconsistent, which can undermine his playing strength. He also has a slight tendency to make contact with his head down, exacerbating problems with his hand placement.
Overall grade: 6.3
projection
Kentucky guard Tashawn Manning is a big, athletic, and versatile guard prospect. He has the physical tools needed to be his NFL-level starter, and is able to blend his physique and athleticism well to be a versatile player. Not only does he have the power to play in downhill mangap block schemes, he also has plenty of athleticism to play in pin-and-pull or outzone block schemes. Not at all, but works very well as a guard for his height.
That said, Manning is unlikely to become a starter anytime soon. He now has inconsistent leverage, sometimes narrowing the base and straightening his knees, forcing him to lunge at defenders. am. Manning has long arms and powerful hands, but rather than launching punches to his opponent’s chest plate, Manning tends to let his hands drift wildly. He has the power to create movement along the , but his poor placement renders many of his tools ineffective.
Manning could be a great starter for left or right guards in various schemes, but it could take a year of development to realize his advantage.
