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New York Giants’ J.T. Thomas: Defensive Leader Or Off The Roster?

By Christopher Schwarz

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker J.T. Thomas (55) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker J.T. Thomas (55) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O /
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J.T. Thomas, New York Giants linebacker, is emerging as a leader, but he will have to battle with Kelvin Sheppard and Jonathan Casillas for a roster spot.

The linebacking corps is one of the more difficult position groups on the New York Giants to predict. Jasper Brinkley, Keenan Robinson and even B.J. Goodson will compete for the starting role. On the strong side, Devon Kennard seems to be the only player analysts can comfortably project as a starter, but he needs to stay healthy.

On the weak side, the competition is wide open. J.T. Thomas, Jonathan Casillas and Kelvin Sheppard will all vie for playing time this summer and a roster spot.

Throughout the summer, Thomas has emerged as a leader for the younger players. Newsday notes that Thomas has become one of the more “vocal players of the group” and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Several newcomers have been asked in the past month or so who they find themselves and others gravitating toward for the intangibles, and Thomas’ name has somewhat surprisingly been mentioned with regularity.”

Yet, in his second season with the Giants, Thomas’s roster spot isn’t necessarily secure. He battled with injuries last year much like the rest of the Giants defense. Thomas played in 12 games because of an ankle injury and ended the season on the injured reserve. Even when he was healthy, he was typically the first linebacker off the field for some of Steve Spagnuolo’s sub-packages. He racked up just 44 tackles last season.

William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /

Sheppard, who spent last season with the Miami Dolphins, was picked up in the offseason because he could compete at multiple positions. According to ESPN, Sheppard “struggles against both the run and pass” but he doesn’t struggle getting tackles. He amassed 105 last season with the Dolphins. Another thing that Sheppard has on Thomas: he’s durable. Sheppard has never played fewer than 14 games in a season, and has played all 16 in three of his five seasons in the NFL.

So is Thomas a leader on the field and a mentor to young players? Or will he be cut entirely? Jordan Raanan of NJ.com in his roster projections believes Thomas will be let go. “The flexibility of Sheppard and Goodson makes Herzlich and Thomas expendable. Casillas seems to be the Giants’ preference over Thomas who can’t stay healthy.”

While Thomas looks like he’s become a leader in the locker room, he may not be leading for very long. Sheppard has the versatility and can wrap up opponents, something the Giants desperately needed last season.

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