New York Giants: Making The Case For Danny Shelton
The New York Giants have many directions they can go in the 2015 NFL Draft, it is my job to walk you through each scenario. Being a draft nerd and a former nose guard in high school, it is my pleasure to make the case for the Giants to draft Danny Shelton.
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Shelton does the grueling and often unglamorous job in the trenches. Big is an understatement when describing the 6-2 339 lbs. man who is Shelton. This nose guard from the Washington Huskies will be asked to dominate up front on every play.
Shelton has the ability to be an anchor for the entire defense. He is a space eating monster with the ability to two-gap and the quickness to penetrate and make plays in the backfield.
Shelton could fit in any defense. He would be asked to play the 1 technique (inside shoulder of the guard) and the 3 technique (outside shoulder of the guard) mostly in the Giants 4-3 defense.
Jan 2, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) reacts against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2015 Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma State defeated Washington 30-22. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Shelton reminds me of a young Haloti Ngata. Ngata will forever be one of my favorite players of all time; Shelton has a chance to be that special on the defensive line. Like Ngata, Shelton is simply more athletically gifted than a huge majority of the guards and centers who are tasked with blocking him.
Shelton put up some eye-popping numbers in his college career. In his senior season he became an unstoppable force. He had 93 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks in 2014. Teams had to game plan around the Shelton.
Shelton would make the defense better in more ways than just this kind of production. Offensive linemen are taught to block inside first. The defensive tackles have a straight line to the backfield and they can therefore be the most disruptive of defensive linemen. Shelton would demand double teams often.
Shelton would not only take up space, but he would take up blockers as well. Linebackers would be free to roam into the backfield to make plays. One of the biggest problems the Giants defense had in 2014 was that blockers were getting into the second level of the defense and linebackers were too busy fighting off blocks to head hunt for the football.
Shelton would also make the pass rush better. Try double teaming Jason Pierre-Paul when Danny Shelton is making your left guard look like a toddler. Shelton creates opportunities for other defenders.
Shelton increases the pass rush by helping others have opportunity and supplying some himself. Shelton stuffs the inside run and keeps offensive linemen off the middle linebacker.
The case for Shelton boils down to one question: Can any other player give you more of an impact than Shelton? The Giants defense got pushed around and abused in 2014. Drafting Shelton will stop that and allow the defense to do the bullying at the line of scrimmage.