Jets rookie Armand Membou got exposed by Giants in rough preseason outing

The transition to the NFL for rookie offensive linemen is oftentimes challenging, especially when facing top-level competition. New York Jets rookie right tackle Armand Membou found that out the hard way in his team's 31-12 preseason loss to the New York Giants this past Saturday.

Membou had his share of ups and downs in his debut performance the week prior against the Green Bay Packers, but Jets fans came out of that game feeling overwhelmingly positive about their first-round pick this year.

But Saturday's loss to the Giants posed a bit more of a challenge for the Missouri product. Membou struggled against a stout Giants pass rush that included rookie Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux (Dexter Lawrence didn't play), and experienced his first true "welcome to the NFL" moment.

While his performance left plenty to be desired, it’s far too early for Jets fans to panic. Not only was it a small sample size following an encouraging debut, but it also came against one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

Rookie struggles are to be expected, but the Jets will still be looking for a bounce-back performance from their young tackle in this weekend’s preseason finale.

Jets fans shouldn't panic about Armand Membou's preseason struggles

Membou played a total of 24 offensive snaps in Saturday's loss, playing two series with the starting offense and one with the second-stringers. He allowed only one pressure on nine pass-block snaps, but Pro Football Focus had a different interpretation of his performance.

Membou finished the game with an abysmal 29.9 PFF grade, including a disastrous 4.2 pass-block grade. On the surface, one pressure allowed on nine pass-block opportunities seems encouraging, but it's important to remember that you can lose reps without allowing a pressure.

The 21-year-old was notably obliterated by Thibodeaux early in the first quarter, a play that resulted in an incomplete Justin Fields pass intended for Breece Hall. He also had issues in the run game, as shown in the lowlight reel linked here.

Membou's second taste of NFL preseason action wasn't all lowlights. There were a few dominant reps from the first-round pick, including this one linked here, where he stonewalls Thibodeaux a few plays after he was beaten.

The Jets have lofty expectations for Membou in his rookie year. The seventh overall pick is being thrust into a starting role right away, tasked with anchoring the right side of an offensive line that the team hopes will finally live up to its billing.

That’s a massive responsibility for any rookie, let alone one still adjusting to the speed and power of NFL defenses. The Jets believe Membou has the talent to handle it, but his development will be closely scrutinized from the very start.

His inauspicious start to the preseason should raise a few eyebrows, but exhibition games rarely provide full context, and PFF grades aren't everything. There have still been plenty of encouraging signs from the rookie tackle throughout the summer.

Jets fans will be watching Membou’s development closely in the coming months. Rookie growing pains were inevitable, and Saturday’s loss gave him his first real taste of NFL adversity.

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