Rookie OL Will Hernandez does not want to be looked at as a rookie. Photo from giants.com

When people talk about the 2017 Giants season and what went wrong, the conversation usually starts with the words, “offensive line” with the emphasis on “offensive.”

Big Blue’s blockers were poor in virtually every aspect of the game. Eli Manning was seen more times in the prone position than an x-ray room for pregnant women.

If everyone in Giants Nation can see the glaring problem, so can the Giants. New General Manager Dave Gettleman gutted his beloved “Hog Mollies” … gone are Justin Pugh, Brett Jones, Weston Richburg and John Jerry.

He started his new coaching staff with a new offensive line corps that included the only significant holdover, of all people, Ereck Flowers who has born the scorn of many Giants fans since he was taken in the first round of the 2015 draft.

This new group has been intact since the spring – and started three preseason games together – is the offensive line, where center Jon Halapio, guards Patrick Omameh and rookie Will Hernandez, and tackles Nate Solder and Ereck Flowers have become a close-knit unit on and off the field.

“Every snap we get out there on the field with those guys being together, collectively offensively, we feel like we’re going to get better,” Shula said. “We don’t have a lot of time on task together. You can tell our guys are talented. It means a lot to them, they communicate very well, and now it’s time. We’ve got live bullets coming Sunday against a really good team. We feel very comfortable with those guys, and (I’m) looking forward to them helping lead our offense.”

“The idea is that we can play consistent, efficient, be able to protect the quarterback, be able to run the ball – those are all the things we constantly work at,” Solder said.

But nothing will come easy against that formidable Jacksonville defense that features five 2017 Pro Bowlers, including four starters. And the standouts are spread throughout every level of the defense – Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson up front, Telvin Smith at linebacker, and cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. The unit powered the Jaguars all the way to the AFC Championship Game last season.

“They’re so talented,” Shula said. “Their scheme, they are well-coached. It starts with the guys up front. They can be very disruptive up front in both the run game and the pass game. They’ve had a bunch of sacks last year just with rushing four people, and then everything else fits off that. They’re very talented in the back seven as well – guys that can cover man to man, they’re fast when they’re in zone, they get to the ball very fast, and there’s a lot of guys that can get to the ball quickly. They’re really good. There’s a reason why they went as far as they did last year.”

On Sunday, the Giants will confront them with an offense that will finally be fully together.

“We’ve had some really good work,” Shula said. “It’s been a fast six or seven months since we all got here. Guys have worked really hard, and we’ve talked to all of our players on our team and offensively about earning the right to be here, having something to prove, which I think we all do. The guys are excited for the season, they’ve earned this opportunity to be here. We’ve got a tough challenge ahead.”

On Thursday, Hernandez said he was glad to start his career against one the NFL’s top defenses.

“Yeah of course,” Hernandez said. “Especially in this league. Everybody’s got [great players]. I’m approaching this as…I’m going to go out there and whoever’s in front of me, I’m going to give it my all. My coaches and teammates are depending on me. We’re not going to do the whole ‘Oh he’s a rookie.’ We’re not going to play the rookie card here. If the coaches put me out there it’s because I can get the job done, that’s it.”

This group has no previous clicks or prejudices. They met each other this spring…a great way for a rookie to start.

“Everything is new to me,” the 6-foot-2, 335-pounder said. “I was getting adjusted throughout this offseason, the speed the game, how everything goes.There’s not comparison, this is all I know. That’s why I’m glad to go compete against the best of the best.”

The Giants have a landmine of a schedule the first have of the season. Hernandez will not be intimidated even though he comes from UTEP, not a Power 5 program.

“I try to block all that out,” Hernandez said. “I’m not too concerned about what kind of schedule we have, what kind of ranking of the teams are..how many sacks he’s got. We study them and get to know our opponent very well but we aren’t concerned about outside noise.”

There will be plenty this Sunday, Will. *

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii

Michael Eisen contributed to this story.