The New York Giants started Bryan Hudson at center in their 36-24 Week 4 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Incumbent starter John Michael Schmitz
had a newborn and missed practices on Friday and Saturday. After the game, head coach John Harbaugh said the Giants were trying to get Hudson on the field, and it made sense to start him given the circumstances.Harbaugh said he likes both centers and did not insinuate that Hudson would be the starter moving forward. Hudson’s play suggests there should
be a serious conversation about that.
Hudson played 67 pressure-less snaps against Arizona; he looked technically sound in his first NFL start. Hudson was a 2024 UDFA out of Louisville. He beat veteran Lucas Patrick for the backup center job. The young 6-foot-5, 305-pound center was solid in college; here are his collegiate Pro Football Focus grades:
Hudson has right guard experience, which makes him a valuable depth piece, but Hudson’s Week 4 PFF grades are better than all but four of Schmitz’s grades from his entire career.
Schmitz is a free agent at the end of the season. New York spent the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on the former Minnesota Golden Gopher, and he never lived up to that high draft capital. He’s not bad, per se, but his impact doesn’t match a top-60 pick — it’s replacement-level play.
Hudson was not overmatched in this matchup. You could argue Hudson was the Giants’ best offensive lineman in Week 4; that doesn’t mean he IS the best, but it was a quality performance. Let’s get into the tape.
Run game
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Francis Mauigoa (65) was beaten badly by Roy Lopez (51), who had an excellent game, but watch Hudson (60) help Jon Runyan (76) on the double-team; Hudson snaps and looks at Mack Wilson (1) and Budda Baker (3) to see if they’re penetrating the A-Gap — they weren’t. He then lowers his hips into contact and drives off his left leg, uncoiling his hips and generating force into L.J. Collier (91). Hudson got hip-to-hip with Runyan and helped push Collier three yards downfield, with good square technique.
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The Giants are under center in single-back, 21-personnel, with Patrick Ricard (45) as a tight end between Chris Manhertz (85) and Theo-Johnson, but Cam Skattebo (44) run opens to the strong-side A-Gap, initially (2-Hole). Again, watch how Hudson flashes his eyes to the linebackers and then dips low, showing good overall flexibility in his attack, while delivering quality pop on contact to help Runyan move the three-technique, Collier, who overcompensated back inward once Hudson climbed and located the linebacker Jack Gibbens (50). That was a smooth transition for Hudson, including a low hat, power, square shoulders, and synchronized, efficient movement.
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Hudson attacks the nose tackle with another smooth transition, this time against a penetrating linebacker trying to attack the 1-hole. Hudson contacts Lopez and gives Mauigoa a good target to hit and control, while transitioning himself at the very last moment to contact enough of Gibbens to allow Najee Harris (23) to cut back into a less occupied 2-Hole. Hudson’s feet are active the entire time, as are his eyes, and he threw the key block that allowed for a positive gain (4-yard rush).
Hudson on the move
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The Giants run stretch out of I-formation to the field side, toward Manhertz and Malachi Fields (88) against a TITE Mint front. Hudson executes excellent position against the nose-tackle; he engages and stays on the play-side of the nose, maintaining contact with his right arm and allowing Mauigoa to make enough contact for Skattebo to find a crease in the defense. Hudson then climbed up and sealed Gibbens away from the rushing lane.
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22 Personnel I-Formation with Hudson over the defensive bubble, giving him a free release up to linebacker Jack Gibbens. Hudson sees the advantage and positions himself well between Gibbens and Skattebo’s rushing lane in the 5-hole. Hudson punched with his right hand, grabbed Gibbens, and didn’t let go until the whistle, effectively eliminating him from the play.
Below are two more examples that are consistent with the points made on the previous two plays:
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Matt Nagy has pulled the center a frequent amount this season. New York runs some G-Lead and crack-toss, and other pin-pull plays where the center snaps and gets outside to create extra gaps for the defense to account for; Hudson pulled a couple of times in the game and did a solid job reorienting himself and locating contact.
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Pass protection
Hudson did not surrender a pressure against the Cardinals. He kept his eyes and feet active, with tight elbows and solid overall play strength. Here is one play that showcases that:
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Quick hands and engagement, with his eyes on his assignment to see the looper. The rep may not jump out, but it’s a quality play by the former UDFA. Combine the awareness and tight technique with the low hips and active feet we see below, and one can see why the Giants like him so much:
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Eyes remain active, handling a slanting Cardinals’ defender on the play below:
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Here we see a solid anchor from Hudson; Lopez attempted to use the bull-rush as the nose tackle, and Hudson did an excellent job keeping his base wide and staying square to contact, while keeping his hips low and coiled. Hudson gave a quality double-hand punch after Lopez worked the half-man, but it was to no avail for the Cardinals’ defensive lineman.
Hudson’s anchor wasn’t always perfect, though. There were a few plays where he didn’t lose, but a struggle was evident. Here are a couple of plays that show that:
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Final thoughts
Hudson played well against the Cardinals, though it wasn’t Quinnen Williams, Aaron Donald, or Jeffrey Simmons that he was blocking. That said, Hudson looked fine in his one start and made fewer mistakes than we’ve been accustomed to seeing from Schmitz. I do believe he outplayed the former second-round pick, although it wasn’t a night-and-day difference.
As John Harbaugh said on Monday, this is a good problem to have. There should be a real competition between Schmitz and Hudson. If Harbaugh and the Giants chose the veteran starter, then that leash should be short. Hudson performed well and should be rewarded for his play.
