Jermaine Eluemunor, the New York Giants' newest offensive lineman, is, by all accounts, an open book on just about every topic. So when asked for a scouting report on new Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, with whom Eluemunor has been with all but one season in his career, the big offensive lineman couldn't help but gush.
“If you look at my production, my best two years came under Carm," he said. "To have someone like Carm who just believes in you, is gonna go to war for you, and gonna go to bat for you, and is gonna give you tough love but also do what needs to be done and help you in ways that you need to be helped, that goes a long way.”
Tough love is certainly needed on a Giants offensive line that has been a disappointment for most of the last decade. After seeing what Bricillo did with the Las Vegas Raiders offensive line, the Giants hope that he can come into East Rutherford and work similar magic for the Giants' line.
Eluemunor hopes to be a part of that solution.
"I think it takes hard work, determination, and just grit," he said when asked what it takes to have a successful line. "You have to be able to put your hand in the dirt and just hit someone in the mouth and come back and do it again and again. No offensive line is perfect.
"You're always going to have that play where you know you could have done better. You have to have the mentality of next play, next play, next play, and I think that when you have that type of mentality, but then also you are determined and know what's coming, you prepared the entire week for the one game, one play, you know they're going to give you their everything. When you stop that, that's when you can become a really good offensive line."
Even though Bricillo is familiar with what Eluemunor brings to the table, the veteran offensive lineman understands that it doesn't mean he's automatically assured a starting role.
Besides, Bricillo, who believes in competition, probably wouldn't allow it, which is fine with Eluemunor.
"I want to mesh into the group and add to whatever they're doing. As I said, I want to be that positive person, bring the energy, be a leader in that room, and continue to add to what we're doing and keep improving," he said.
Eluemunor certainly has a chance at being part of the solution. In 905 offensive snaps last season, he surrendered six sacks and five penalties. Pro Football Focus said he had seven games with zero pressures and sacks allowed last season.
Eluemunor, who has guard/tackle flexibility, has primarily played tackle the last two seasons. He'll likely have a spot on the starting offensive line, possibly even at right tackle if Bricillo believes that Evan Neal, the incumbent, might benefit from a move inside to left guard.
Wherever he plays is fine with the Lodon-born Eluemunor, who wants to help the Giants win and continue to grow under Bricillo.
"It's just having that trust in him and that belief that if I give him everything I have, he's gonna give me everything he has, and he's gonna coach me hard, but he's gonna love me harder," he said. "I'm gonna go out there and do everything I can to just show how good of a coach Carm is.”
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