National Football League

Weston Richburg: Ready to play wherever Giants need me

Published Apr. 28, 2015 8:52 a.m. ET

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When the New York Giants made Colorado State's Weston Richburg the 43rd player selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, expectations were set high. Although not every selection in this range is expected to contribute right away, when an interior offensive lineman is taken here, expectations are that he can come in and start on day one.

Richburg, who played center his entire collegiate career, was asked to come in as a starter at left guard when Geoff Schwartz went down with an injury in the preseason. Richburg had never played guard before, and the transition was not necessarily a smooth one. Richburg as the 62nd-best guard overall, out of 78 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. He also found himself benched at one point for his poor play before resuming his role at guard again before the season ended.

But the Giants drafted him to play center. With last year's failed center experiment J.D. Walton no longer with the team, the path for Richburg to assume that real is clear. But don't expect the Giants to hand it to him. Richburg hasn't even been assured that he will be indeed moving back to center.

"I didn't really know I was a guard until half way through the season last year, so, whatever happens, happens," Richburg said to reporters on Thursday. "The offensive line we need to be ready to play where ever, and right now I'm ready to play guard or center."

"Whenever I'm on the field, wherever that is I'm good with that. I did play center in college, obviously, so there may be some comfort there, but ultimately it's wherever I'm needed."

Part of the reason why Richburg would be fine playing at either spot along the line is because he feels that he can apply what he learned last season at guard to any position.

"There's different things in each aspect of the game—run, pass—that I need to work on. A lot of footwork things. Some of it was being at guard, which was different from center, so it took a little adjustment, but I think just those little things, pass game and run game, that I found is going to be something that I'm going to work on for sure."

Richburg finished as one Pro Football Focus' 15 worst run-blocking guards in 2014. A transition to center is exactly needs to be done, and the Giants will most likely be headed in this direction. Geoff Schwartz is healthy again and set to assume Richburg's role at left guard. At right guard, the Giants currently have subpar 2014 starter John Jerry slated to start, but that could all change during this weekend's draft. The Giants have flexibility with Justin Pugh on the roster—some analysts believe that Pugh would be best inside at guard. They can draft a pro-ready offensive guard or an offensive tackle. 

In this scenario, Richburg would be competing with free agent Brett Jones for the starting center spot. Jones was signed from the CFL where he won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award in 2013 and then its Most Outstanding Lineman award in 2014. However, transitioning from the CFL, where defensive linemen line up off the ball, will take some time for Jones. Richburg is the heavy favorite to start at his natural position, and he will have every opportunity to prove why the Giants invested a premium draft selection in him.

(h/t Giants 101)

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports 

For more on the Giants and the entire NFC East, you can find Dan on Twitter @DanSchneierNFL orGoogle +. 

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