The New York Giants have plenty of depth of the defensive side of the ball. It may not show in the secondary, but it’s showing on the defensive front. The Giants’ pass rush has been halfway decent without the presence of Jason Pierre-Paul. Steve Spagnuolo has really succeeded in developing some of the Giants’ defensive talent.
Damontre Moore seems to have found himself again this preseason. If he could defend better against the run, he would be an every down starter. Last year he seemed to have lost his way, but Spagnuolo brought him back to life. Moore could be a very valuable asset in the wake of the Pierre-Paul injury.
In addition to Moore, rookie defensive end Owa Odighizuwa has proven to be a very valuable asset. Odighizuwa has received high praise from his fellow players and could be developed into a major NFL talent. The emergence of these two pass rushers provides valuable depth to this injury prone Giants squad.
Pierre-Paul is said to report to the Giants’ facilities today. It is not clear whether or not he is ready to play yet, but the fact that he is returning is a very good sign. If he ever gets back to full health, the Giants pass rush should be more than formidable. So far, Robert Ayers is doing a great job picking up the slack for him.
The Giants’ linebackers are more a different situation. The defensive line is much more established. Devon Kennard could be one of the top linebackers of the yea. He is definitely a breakout candidate. If Jon Beason can stay healthy he is always a major factor on the Big Blue’s defense.
The secondary is where it gets tricky. The Giants have two solid cornerbacks in Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The safeties are the only players to be seriously concerned about. Landon Collins is the most talented safety on the roster. While that isn’t a bad thing, Collins is still a rookie.
At a position the Giants’ rely heavily on, it could actually be really dangerous. The Giants run a 4-3 defense and that kind of scheme puts pressure on the secondary. It isn’t a smart idea to put pressure on an already shaky and inexperienced secondary, especially against high-octane passing offenses.
The possible edition of Kam Chancellor would clear up all the Giants’ defensive issues almost immediately. I’m sure the organization is doing all it can to get a hold of him.
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