5 biggest areas New York Giants must address this offseason
By Erik Slater
Free Safety
Free safety has been an unreliable position for several years on the New York Giants defense. There has been a revolving door of defensive backs swiftly making their way on and off of New York’s depth chart.
The Giants started each of the last five seasons with a new face at free safety, seventh-round pick Stevie Brown in 2014, fifth-round pick Cooper Taylor in 2015, undrafted free agent Andrew Adams in 2016, third-round pick Darian Thompson in 2017, and undrafted free agent Cutis Riley in 2018.
There has been a clear lack of production from the position. That will likely change with Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher’s new philosophy.
Bettcher loves to play with one high safety, particularly on first down or short passing downs. This means the Giants play Cover 1 with one safety deep who is required to stay on top of the deepest route. In cover 1, aside from the free safety, the defense is often man coverage across the board.
This coverage does several things for the Giants. It allows strong safety Landon Collins, the Giants’ best defensive player, to roll down into the box pre-snap for run support. It also enables Bettcher to bring five-man pressures using linebackers, Collins, or slot blitzes. Collins’ coverage skills are not his best attribute, so Bettcher looks to maximize the pro-bowler’s skill set with this single-high safety look.
An issue this season with Bettcher’s one-high safety defense was that it requires a talented, versatile free safety. Curtis Riley did not fit the bill. Riley struggled in coverage, often taking poor angles that allowed deep routes to blow past him. This 64-yard Cowboys touchdown is a great example of what I am referring to:
https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1041483793016676352?lang=en
The undrafted free agent was also among the New York Giants worst tacklers as well. A particularly alarming play was a 39-yard Cowboys touchdown in the season finale in which Riley put little to no effort into tackling Dallas tight end Blake Jarwin. The play earned Riley a place on the Giants’ bench for the remainder of the game.
If Bettcher wants to frequently play the one-high safety look going forward, a talented free safety is a necessity.
Alabama’s Deionte Thompson is the top free safety in the draft. Thompson posted two interceptions, four forced fumbles and six pass deflections in 2018 as a redshirt junior. The 6’2″ safety has great range and ball skills, key attributes for a single-high safety.
The Giants won’t draft Thompson at sixth overall. Gettleman would either have to hope Thompson falls into the second round, which is highly unlikely, or trade up into the mid to late first for the safety.
Washington’s Taylor Rapp and Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram are the highest rated safeties after Thompson.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and LaMarcus Joyner could be options for the Giants on the free agent market. Clinton-Dix is 26-years-old coming off a solid season since being traded from Green Bay to Washington. Joyner, who was franchise tagged by Los Angeles last offseason, has played well in his fifth season.
With a strong free agent class, the Giants could find an experienced safety on the market. However, they may choose to use their valuable cap space on an edge rusher or tackle.
While they may not find the long-term answer this offseason, there is change coming at free safety.