O-line coach: Run blocking must improve

He likes it.

No, not the performance. Not the production. Certainly not the results.

But at least Marc Colombo, the Giants’ offensive line coach, likes the attitude of his group amid all the losing.

“I love that they’re pissed off,’’ Colombo said Tuesday. “That’s the type of group we want. They came out and played physical. Again, it’s tough to play really physical in the passing game. We have to do better in the run. Period. That’s where we’re falling short right now. It’s going to alleviate a lot of stuff in the passing game. That’s something we have to do. We have to do it early. We can’t wait to crank it up.’’

That about sums it up. The Giants are last in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 56.7 yards per game. Until they solve this glaring issue, they will never be a competent offensive unit. It was more of the same in the 36-9 loss to the 49ers. The Giants had 66 rushing yards, but 49 of them were from Daniel Jones. Their three running backs got 17 yards on 10 attempts.

Nick Gates has not played well at center. Cam Fleming has not done much at right tackle. Fans are interested in seeing Matt Peart (for Fleming) and Shane Lemieux, a guard at Oregon who is learning how to play center, for Gates.

“Well, we give these guys opportunities every week in practice and the starting five had a really good week of practice last week,’’ Colombo said. “Obviously it didn’t translate to the game. These guys are young. We didn’t have an offseason. To them it’s really like the third friggin’ preseason game. They just have to keep developing. We’re going to keep giving them shots in practice and it all comes down to how you practice. If a guy is going to practice hard, it’s a balance between continuity and playing the best five, so we’re going to keep pushing in practice, create competition, and see where it shakes out.’’

➤ Starting strong safety Jabrill Peppers lasted only nine snaps on defense against the 49ers before he was forced out with an ankle injury that occurred on the extra-point block team. Joe Judge said a day later Peppers was going to be evaluated “day by day.’’ Peppers escaped serious injury, but he likely will not be able to make it back for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Rams.

➤ The Giants made moves on their practice squad Tuesday that reveal how unusual this season is. They signed Alfred Morris, a 31year-old running back in his ninth NFL season, as they continue to scour for reinforcements (they signed Devonta Freeman to the active roster) after losing Saquon Barkley for the season. Morris broke into the league with a 1,613yard rushing season for the Redskins, the first of three consecutive 1,000-yard years. He has not come close to that production again and played in only one game for the Cardinals last season. QB Clayton Thorson was also signed to the practice squad. Morris and Thorson replace QB Cooper Rush and RB Rod Smith.

➤ The Giants plan to sign CB Madre Harper off the Raiders’ practice squad.