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Big Blue: Five Most Valuable Giants in 2016

By Brandon Estrict

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) signals first down after a catch and run against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) signals first down after a catch and run against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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3.  Jason Pierre Paul

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has looked good all summer.  Very good.  In limited duty against the Miami Dolphins last week, he looked scary good.  Pierre-Paul’s history has been well documented.  He blew most of the fingers on his right hand off last summer, in a fireworks accident.

JPP returned for the last eight games of the season with a club on his right hand, but wasn’t nearly as valuable as he’d been in years’ past.  He did improve as the season went on, however, even if his sack total (1.0) doesn’t reflect that.

Strengthening his right hand and using a custom glove this season, Pierre-Paul looks closer to the 16.5 sack monster he was in 2011 than the guy we saw last season.  The Giants will need that level of production from him again.

The Giants have shored up the secondary, adding veterans Janoris Jenkins and Leon Hall, as well as rookies Eli Apple and Darian Thompson.  But like successful Giants’ teams of yesteryear, it all starts up front.  If JPP and his running mate on the other end, Olivier Vernon, can generate the pass rush the Giants are banking on, the defense will be significantly better than its been in years.

In an August 15th piece on the New York Post website, Steve Serby envisions a two-man wrecking crew:

"“Even when he had 10 fingers, when he was Superman (16.5 sacks) in 2011, JPP never had a Batman opposite him, the way Michael Strahan had Osi Umenyiora.  Now he does.”"

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