New York Giants: Focus on Scheme, Not Talent
By Eric Mollo
I had a little trouble coming up for an angle for this article. Most of what I write on here is, well, telling you to worry about something. Or telling you to not worry about something. It’s one or the other—that quintessential overthinking that more often than not proves totally moot come next Monday.
Related: New York Giants: Deep With Talent
I initially wanted to write about how fans should worry about the team’s secondary. They’re thin, injury prone, and inexperienced in certain spots. Then, I took a closer look at the depth chart and wanted to reverse that: the front seven is thin, injury prone, and inexperienced.
The thing is—neither of those points are necessarily wrong. It’s all speculation right now, and I can analyze the team all I want, and I don’t believe I’m wrong with the things I say. But I have to consider: what are the things that we should really be looking at to determine how successful the Giants will be this season?
Well, I will say this: it’s not talent. “Talent” is the NFL’s most important word from March to August. Fans want their team to upgrade on talent. I want the Giants to upgrade on talent! I always want them to, and I feel like they never do enough, and it annoys me…
But is it really so bad what they’re doing? Or maybe the better question: what exactly are they doing?
In my mind, yes, the Giants are looking for talent. I’m not going to dismiss that. And I
Oct 6, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese (left) and owner John Mara before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
would certainly think Jerry Reese would say the team is “always looking to upgrade on talent,” or something like that… But to me, it’s not so much just the “talent” the Giants are looking for, but they are specifically searching for talent to match their offensive and defensive scheme.
I know, I’m not making some mind-blowing point here, and people do understand this, but I also think this is a pretty overlooked aspect when it comes to building a team. Because year in and year out, it’s not the teams with the most talent that win the Super Bowl, but the ones that consistently execute their schemes.
The Patriots are prime examples of this. They’ve won four Super Bowls, and reached six, during the Tom Brady-era adjusting to the way the NFL has evolved and executing different schemes with players who don’t really have all that much “talent.”
Everyone wants to make an excuse for them. “Well, they have Gronk,” or “Well, they have Welker,” or “Well, they have Brady.” Yes, they have had those three All-Pro talents, but there is much more behind their success. Players like Brandon LaFell and Brandon Lloyd also contributed to those championship runs and they’re not the most “talented” players I’ve ever seen. Who’s to say role players—not the most talented—like Dwayne Harris or Damontre Moore can’t step up and be key contributors during a playoff run?
My point? Well, not to pat on the Patriots back too much—not like they need to hear it from me—but to note that the Giants really aren’t in as bad a position as they seem to be. And fans really shouldn’t be so much concerned with their level of talent—I do believe they’ll be just fine.
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Yes, their offensive line looks like patchwork. So does their secondary. As does their defensive line to a degree. But the Patriots have won year after year with revolving doors at every offensive skill position except quarterback and more recently tight end. And the most “talented” receiver on the Seahawks championship team in 2013? Golden Tate, who didn’t even exceed 900 yards that season.
It’s why signings like Craig Dahl and moves like cutting Stevie Brown actually do make some sense. Dahl had success under Steve Spagnuolo, Brown did not. They tried to make him fit and it didn’t work. But Dahl fits what Spagnuolo is trying to do. He doesn’t need a safety that covers as much as someone who’s a sure tackler and Dahl is that while Brown is more of a cover guy.
A player like Markus Kuhn starting certainly sets off an alarm in my mind—he has not had a productive career to this point. But is it really that bad? Isn’t Kuhn that type of player that excels in a Spagnuolo scheme: a high-motored gritty lineman who can play multiple positions on the line? I’m not saying he’ll get 12 sacks this year, but I think Spagnuolo will know how to use him.
I’m not saying this is how Jerry Reese drew it up, but I also know general managers aren’t trying to not put their best team on the field. At least, I know Jerry’s not. And I’m not saying teams don’t need talent. They do. But all these guys are “talented.” Teams just have to find the right scheme to use them in.
The Patriots believe in their scheme year-in and year-out. It’s why they win. And if the Giants believe in their offensive and defensive schemes, which I believe they do, I think they’ll be alright.
It’s not about what’s on the depth chart, but what happens on the field, and I think the Giants will be alright when their cleats hit the turf come Sunday.