Evan Neal explains familiarity with Brian Daboll’s scheme, compares Giants to Alabama
Adjustment is overrated. Evan Neal is taking to the Giants like a fish to water, as he revealed the team’s offensive scheme is similar enough to Alabama‘s offense that there hasn’t been much of a learning curve.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise. It’s been highly-publicized that the new leader of the Giants — former Alabama and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll — spent some time in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban. Heck, the 47-year old coach even possesses a national championship ring from his time there, as he led the Crimson Tide’s offense in victory over Georgia during the thrilling 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Evidently, the one season Daboll spent at the program had an impact, as Neal explained his familiarity with many of the concepts the Giants deploy.
“Being that Coach Dabs is from Alabama, it’s pretty similar schematically,” Neal said of learning a new offense, via Matt Citak of Giants.com. “There are a few nuances as far as verbiage and terminology and things like that, but from a technical standpoint, it’s pretty much what I’ve done.”
There wasn’t expected to be much of a challenge for Evan Neal as far as adjusting to the NFL anyways, as the former Alabama star is a classic plug-and-play prospect. Still, it never hurts to already be affluent in your team’s offense as a rookie — especially right out of the starting gate.
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Furthermore, the Giants are banking on Alabama product Evan Neal to come in and deliver stability immediately along the offensive line. He did it for three years in Tuscaloosa, and he’ll be expected to do the same in his NFL career. That’s why New York took him off the board early in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, picking him No. 7 overall.
In his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Neal helped guide the Alabama offense to two College Football Playoff berths, including a national title in 2020. This past season, the hulking offensive lineman earned first-team All-American honors, as he protected quarterback Bryce Young on the way to capturing the first Heisman Trophy for a quarterback in Alabama history.
Most importantly to the Giants, Neal can be used along the offensive line. He has played at both the guard and tackle position in college, and is open to moving around if needed.
“You can pretty much plug me in anywhere other than center and I’ll be able to come in and make an impact,” he said after his Pro Day.
Along with his ability to lead on the line, he brings a track record of dependability to New York. The 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive tackle started in 40 games across his college career, including 15 games last season.
A former five-star plus recruit in the class of 2019, he was the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. After playing his freshman season in his hometown at Okeechobee, Florida, he transferred to IMG Academy. Evan Neal was the second-ranked recruit coming out of Florida in his class.