Jonathan Casillas faces his biggest season yet with the New York Giants
After signing a three-year, $10.5 million contract with Big Blue in 2015, Jonathan Casillas has since molded into the accomplished veteran required as a necessity to any prospective Super Bowl contender.
In 2016, the New York Giants linebacker consolidated his role as a central leader in Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive cohort and set the tone for further progression come September.
The 30-year-old started a career-high 15 games last season and proved to be an integral part of a drastic New York Giants revival following a year in which the team’s defense was ranked 32nd in the league.
He now faces his most demanding campaign yet in New York as an experienced figure within a youthful, but albeit exciting, defensive unit.
With two Super Bowl triumphs under his belt – one as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints in 2009 and then with the New England Patriots in 2014 – Casillas represents the kind of winning role model invaluable to a team many suspect are close to mounting a serious postseason run.
The onus is on the Wisconsin product to drive continuity in New York and ensure a top 10 defense maintains the same kind of hunger and fight that elevated the New York Giants’ 2016 season as a statement of intent.
Must Read: Beckham’s comments should concern New York Giants
Much like quarterback Eli Manning, his experience has gifted him a knowhow and leadership that his teammates can learn from and that, in turn, can help launch a Championship pursuit.
He promises to be a key component in helping the Giants avoid a dangerous complacency and instead react positively with a will to make further strides over the next year.
Personal progress…
Casillas enters the new season on the back of a career year, registering a personal best 96 combined solo and assisted regular season tackles, as well as a further 11 in the playoffs.
New York Giants
This saw him rank second on the Giants roster in this area, behind only Landon Collins who racked up a combined total of 125 tackles in what proved to be a breakthrough year for the safety.
Not only will Casillas be focusing an energy towards instructing and guiding his teammates, but also striving to improve his own figures and ensure he has every right to demand the same work ethic from those around him.
Improving in pass coverage will be an inevitable personal target, not to mention building his sacks tally having only recorded six-and-a-half in his seven years as a pro.
His route into the NFL entailed fighting admirably in the 2009 offseason to earn himself a roster spot with the Saints. This came after Casillas had gone undrafted due to concerns over a knee injury he sustained at the end of his senior year in college.
Health problems also became an issue early in his time in New Orleans, as he was ruled out for the 2010 season with a foot injury.
It’s the manner in which he started his career and has since responded to injury setbacks and limited involvement, though, that has seen him propel a late surge and emerge as an inspired contributor in East Rutherford.
He is the man head coach Ben McAdoo can rely on to demand improvement and set the tone for the commitment expected from those he lines up alongside.
Casillas offers the same determination and respect for his opportunities that has helped re-establish Jason Pierre-Paul as a key Giants leader.
A new look linebacking corps?
While Casillas looks likely to retain his starting place as outside linebacker, he could well find himself part of a new look position battle.
Though the Giants were highly praised for their performances on defense last season, there were still questions over the middle of their unit, somewhat stemming from a frustration over a recent history of poor recruitment in the linebacker department.
This again reiterates the need for Casillas to spearhead a step up from the likes of Keenan Robinson and Devon Kennard.
One key task will be overseeing B.J. Goodson’s introduction as the potentially new starting inside linebacker with the 2016 fourth round draft pick having only managed 13 defensive snaps in his rookie season.
Though he already boasts the brute strength capable of helping him excel physically, he will undoubtedly be aided by the presence of a Casillas beside him when it comes to the responsibility of making calls on the field.
The linebacker core in New York will again be under the watchful eye of both pundits and Big Blue fans, just as it has been for many years.
2017 is the time for Casillas to prove he has even more left to offer.