He has put his left hand on the ground and used his right hand to snap the ball to the quarterback for every offensive play this season for the Giants.
The total is all 811 snaps, covering all 12 games.
So, when John Michael Schmitz is asked what his motivation is for the final five games of a lost season, pardon him for not exactly pondering the question for too long.
As the starting center, his main concern is getting the play off, not dwelling on any big-picture scenarios.
“I know it’s not the record we want to have but we’re going to go out there and compete, keep improving our fundamentals and details, especially as an O-line unit, continue to not be complacent and just keep getting better,’’ Schmitz told The Post. “Just keep working and finish the season strong.’’
Schmitz needs to be a central figure in the ongoing offensive line rebuild.
The unit was performing at an acceptable level through the first six games, before left tackle Andrew Thomas went down with a season-ending foot injury.
Since then, it has been mix and match at the tackle position.
Schmitz has been an iron man, as has left guard Jon Runyan Jr. and right guard Greg Van Roten — all three have played every snap.
“In the beginning half of the season it was the five out there, we were just starting to get a feel of how each other plays and just getting comfortable with one another,’’ Schmitz said.
Is Schmitz part of the solution moving forward?
He was a 2023 second-round draft pick and his progress is a matter of perspective.
In 25 games, he has been called for just one holding penalty. He is hardly a dominant player in any aspect of the game and Pro Football Focus does not grade him favorably — 40th out of 60 centers in 2024.
Schmitz and his teammates along the line put no stock in the PFF evaluations because only the coaches and players know the exact assignments on each play.
“I do,’’ Schmitz said, when asked if he believes he has improved from his rookie season. “As a whole just getting up to the line of scrimmage, making the calls, setting the table, setting the front for the O-line is definitely in my mind been a lot better, making sure everyone’s going in the right direction, going to the right people, making the right combination calls.’’
With Tommy DeVito healthy as the No. 2 quarterback for the Giants, QB Tim Boyle was waived.
Other roster moves: DT D.J. Davidson to injured reserve. DL Casey Rogers and DL Elijah Garcia signed from the practice squad. T Tyre Phillips, CB Greg Stroman elevated from the practice squad.
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Injuries could force the Giants to use Josh Ezeudu and Aaron Stinnie — a backup guard — as their starting offensive tackles.
Other options are practice squad players Joshua Miles, Tyre Phillips and Marcellus Johnson.
Darren Rizzi — the pride of Hillsdale, N.J. and later Oradell, N.J., also the hometown of Bill Parcells — took over as Saints interim head coach when Dennis Allen was fired after a 2-7 start.
Rizzi is 2-1 since taking over.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll knows him well, as they worked together with the Dolphins. “So, we became pretty close,’’ Daboll said. “Obviously, he’s a New Jersey guy, Bergen Catholic. I got a lot of respect for him. He’s been a good friend here for, I’d say, the last almost 15 years. Good football coach, good special teams coach and done a nice job since he’s been down there.’’
