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John Michael Schmitz had several issues as a rookie last season. He injured his shoulder on an ill-fated ‘tush push’ attempt and missed a month. Then, due to a rash of injuries along the line, he was teamed up with a rotation of guards who underperformed. There was no continuity and the line was a mess as a result.
This year, Schmitz will be flanked by two free agent additions (Runyan, Eluemunor) and there should be more consistency up the middle. He believes the upgrades along the line will help him become the leader the Giants need him to be.
“I think the biggest thing for me when times are tough, you really know who a true leader is when you hit adversity, you hit a tough time. All the guys look to someone, and I want to be that for our room and take charge,” he said.