Why the NY Giants pass rush might be better than experts are predicting

Despite the dire predictions from many of the “experts”, the pass rush of the NY Giants may be much better than many currently believe.

When the offseason began for the NY Giants, most experts – and fans alike – felt that improving the pass rush was a top priority for the team. Perhaps the only area that was seen as high of a priority to improve upon was the offensive line. Many believed the team would address the offensive line through the NFL Draft and the pass rush through free agency by picking up one of the vast numbers of star pass-rushers expected to be available.

The prognosticators were half right, the NY Giants addressed the offensive line in the NFL Draft by adding Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart, and Shane Lemieux in the first, third, and fifth rounds of the draft, vastly improving what was an underperforming line last year.

In free agency, the GMEN opted to upgrade to forgo high profile pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn, Dante Fowler, Kyle Van Noy, Vic Beasley, and others. Additionally, they watched as other elite pass rushers such as Yannick Ngakoue, Shaq Barrett, Bud Dupree, and Matthew Judon had the franchise tag assigned to them by their respective teams.

Instead, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman would decide to upgrade his secondary by signing former Carolina Panthers cornerback, James Bradberry. They would add to their linebacking corps by adding former Green Bay Packer and tackling machine Blake Martinez.

In fact, the only pass rusher that the NY Giants would sign in free agency was another former Packer in Kyler Fackrell. They would add a few pass-rushing options in the later rounds of the draft with the sixth-round selection of Cam Brown out of Penn State, and seventh-round picks Carter Coughlin out of Minnesota, and T.J. Brunson out of South Carolina.

While Brown, Coughlin, and Brunson all have the athleticism and upside to become potential contributors as outside edge-rushing linebackers in the future, they are widely viewed as developmental projects who remain raw and likely are at least a couple of seasons away from being ready to receive significant snaps on defense.

Meanwhile, the NY Giants opted to pass on pass rushers Yetur Gross-Matos of Penn State, Darrell Taylor of Tennessee, AJ Epenesa of Iowa, and Josh Uche of Michigan in favor of drafting safety Xavier McKinney of Alabama. McKinney was valued as a top 10-15 player on most draft experts’ big boards and the selection was widely praised and was likely an excellent one by Gettleman given how far the star safety had inexplicably slipped.

Gettleman would shock many fans again in the third round when he selected Matt Peart over Akeem Davis-Gaither of Appalachian State, Zack Baun of Wisconsin, Troy Dye of Oregon, and Julian Okwara of Notre Dame. Although given the atrocity that was the NY Giants offensive line last year and how high of a ceiling that many draft experts felt Peart had, the decision was one that was easily explained.

The fourth-round selection of UCLA’s Darnay Holmes and fifth-round selection of Oregon interior offensive lineman Shane Lemieux also shocked many, as the Giants again opted to pass on pass-rushing talents including D.J. Wonnum of South Carolina, Alton Robinson of Syracuse, Curtis Weaver of Boise State, Khalid Kareem of Notre Dame, and Bradlee Anae of Utah. However, the need for a true slot cornerback like Holmes and a versatile interior offensive lineman like Lemieux, who could end up at center, were understandable roster additions.

However, after not adding anyone other than Fackrell to the pass-rushing attack via free agency and after waiting until the late rounds of the NFL Draft to acquire developmental projects, many “experts” feel that the NY Giants pass rush is going to be subpar in 2020.

That said, there are some reasons to believe that may not exactly be true. Here is a breakdown of why the Giants pass rush may be poised to surprise a number of pundits next season.

1. Vastly Improved Secondary

Much like the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, experts have pondered if an excellent secondary who can provide lockdown coverage leads to an improved pass rush, or does an excellent pass rush allow the secondary to be better in coverage. The answer is that both aspects have direct impacts on one another.

Last season the NY Giants secondary was awful. Big Blue ran out a defensive backfield that featured rookie cornerbacks Deandre Baker, Sam Beal, and Corey Ballentine, as well as a sophomore undrafted free agent in Grant Haley to play cornerback along with veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

The results were not good as Baker, Beal, and Ballentine struggled. Baker struggled to learn the playbook and was often used in soft zone coverage, which did not properly utilize his strengths. Beal and Ballentine both had issues as they missed critical practice time in the preseason due to injury. Meanwhile, Jenkins seemed disinterested at times and would ultimately be cut by the team in week 15 after making insensitive comments to fans on social media.

At the safety position, newly acquired Jabrill Peppers played exceptionally until a season-ending back injury sidelined him. Meanwhile, 14-year veteran Antoine Bethea showed that his best years were behind him with a subpar performance. Fourth-round draft pick Julian Love started at safety only five games after converting from cornerback at Notre Dame but looked exceptional during his brief time opposite Bethea.

Despite the legal concerns that currently cloud Deandre Baker’s future with the team, there are still a number of reasons to believe that the Giants secondary will be vastly improved and take a major step forward this season.

The addition of James Bradberry, who admirably handled the task of matching up regularly against former division rivals Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, and Mike Evans, who are arguably three of the best wide receivers in the game currently, provides an indication that the cornerback play should be much better this year.

If Beal and Ballentine receive much-needed offseason work that they were denied due to their recovery from a hamstring injury that caused Beal to sit out until mid-November last year and a gunshot wound that claimed much of Ballentine’s preseason, there is reason to believe both could take steps forward.

If Baker’s legal issues don’t cause him to miss time or even be removed from the Giants roster, he looked to be in line to significantly improve. The last six games of the season last year, Baker improved upon the completion rate he allowed to opposing wideouts by lowering it from 70.4% in his first ten games to 48.5% in his last six games, which ranked among the elite corners in the league.

Jabrill Peppers showed that he can be an anchor in the defensive backfield, as he registered 76 total tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, five pass deflections, and one defensive touchdown in just 11 games with the Giants last season.

If Deandre Baker is able to play for the GMEN this season, Julian Love will likely be a hybrid safety/cornerback for Patrick Graham’s defense. After excelling at cornerback at Notre Dame and then showing star potential in limited action at safety for the Giants last season, Love could be incredible in a hybrid role in this defense.

With 4.48-second 40-yard dash speed and eight interceptions as a three-year starter at UCLA, the Giants may have found the slot cornerback that they have needed for a while now in Darnay Holmes. The Giants have lacked a ball hawk with the speed to adequately cover slot receivers for a while, if Holmes can live up to expectations, the pass defense will greatly benefit.

Finally, the addition of Xavier McKinney may be the biggest addition to the secondary next to Jame Bradberry. During his time at Alabama, McKinney showed he could do it all. The past two seasons with the Crimson Tide he had a total of six sacks, 169 total tackles, five interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Champion defensive back and CBS Sports football analyst Bryant McFadden recently heaped high praise and expectations on McKinney:

If the NY Giants secondary is as improved as many believe it will be, it should allow the pass rushers extra time to get to the quarterback, something that they did not have the luxury of last season. Additionally, McKinney and Peppers have shown the ability to be excellent blitzers which should also help improve the Giants pass rush next season.

2. Defensive Line

The 2020 NY Giants defensive line will not be confused with the NASCAR defensive lines of old that featured four pass-rushing defensive ends in Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Instead, the new-look Giants defensive line is modeled after the current rage in defensive line alignments that are more frequently a 3-4 alignment with big-bodied, athletic linemen who get after the quarterback up the middle. Aaron Donald deserves a great deal of credit for the shift in thought process when it comes to the development of today’s defensive lines.

The fearsome foursome of Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson, and B.J. Hill, will make up the rotation on the defensive line. Williams (6’5″, 305-pounds), Lawrence (6’4″, 345-pounds), Tomlinson (6’3″, 320-pounds), and Hill (6’3″, 315-pounds) are all massive men who are extremely athletic for their gargantuan size.

As a result, they represent a defensive line who can plug the middle in the run game and who will move the offensive line back in pursuit of the quarterback. There is good reason to believe that all four are poised to improve upon solid seasons from last year.

Leonard Williams is playing in hopes of a massive payday. Williams was franchised by the Giants this past offseason after stating that he wanted to be amongst the highest-paid defensive linemen in the NFL.

Last season, he led all NFL interior defensive linemen in quarterback hits with 19. There is no question the defense was better after he arrived via a trade with the Jets and that he can get pressure on the quarterback. However, he will likely need to improve upon his .5 sack total from last season if he hopes to be paid amongst the elite defensive linemen.

Tomlinson is also looking at a potential pay increase as he is in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s a top-20 run defender along the line and made massive improvements in his pass-rushing abilities between 2018 and 2019, increasing his sack totals from zero in 2018 to 3.5 in 2019 and his quarterback hits from zero in 2018 to 9 in 2019. If Tomlinson continues to improve in a linear fashion, he could find himself with a large extension next offseason or potentially as a franchise tag designated player.

Dexter Lawrence finished last season ranked not only as one of the best rookie defensive players in the NFL but as a top-25 overall defensive lineman in all of football. There is typically an acclimation period for rookies as they transition to the faster pace and more athletic play of the NFL from the collegiate level. However, Lawrence immediately made an impact for the Giants recording 2.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits, while being one of the best run defenders in the league. It remains highly likely that he continues to improve in his sophomore season.

B.J. Hill had what many would consider a down year in 2019, primarily due to the fact that he saw his playing time diminished with the acquisition of Williams. After registering 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits in his rookie campaign in 2018, Hill saw his numbers dip to just one sack and two quarterback hits in 2019. However, he has exhibited that he has the skillset to be effective in the NFL. The Giants will likely want to include him in the rotation more frequently this season as they try to decide the contractual fates of Williams and Tomlinson moving forward.

Given the youth of Williams (25-years-old), Tomlinson (26-years-old), Lawrence (22-years-old), and Hill (25-years-old), there is reason to believe that they all have significant potential that they have yet to reach as they just begin to enter their primes. If each of them is able to continue to improve, and are afforded additional time to get to the quarterback with the improvement of the secondary’s coverage skills, the NY Giants could see a significant uptick in sack totals from the talented young quartet.

3. Kyler Fackrell

When the NY Giants signed former Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell to a one-year, $4.6 million deal, most Giants fans likely responded by questioning who Fackrell was. That can be expected after Fackrell had a somewhat forgettable 2019 campaign that saw him record 23 total tackles, one sack, and ten quarterback hits in limited action.

However, when digging deeper, it is easy to see why Fackrell’s numbers weren’t all that impressive last year. The Packers signed high profile free agent linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith prior to the 2019 season. As a result, Fackrell saw his snap count significantly reduced by almost 20% from the previous season, going from playing on 59% of the defensive plays in 2018 to 40% of the plays in 2019.

During the 2018 season, Fackrell would register 42 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 12 quarterback hits in seven games started for Green Bay. It is important to note that during his breakout campaign in 2018, his linebackers coach with the Packers was Patrick Graham, who is the new defensive coordinator for the Giants.

The 28-year-old Fackrell signing is reminiscent of the Giants signing of Markus Golden’s prior to the 2019 season. Golden was also 28-years-old when the Giants signed him to a one-year “show me” deal. Golden was two seasons removed from a 12.5 sack breakout year with the Arizona Cardinals under defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who had been named defensive coordinator for the Giants under Pat Shurmur. Golden would reward the Giants for their faith by leading the team in sacks last season with 10.

It isn’t a stretch to believe that Fackrell could potentially be the 2020 version of Markus Golden. His prior success with getting after the quarterback and his familiarity with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham could be just what he needs to get him back on track. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the under-the-radar free agent signing Fackrell record double-digit sacks next season behind the stout defensive line and with the vastly improved secondary.

Speaking of Markus Golden…..

4. Markus Golden

I know what you’re saying “Markus Golden isn’t even on the NY Giants roster, what’s he doing on the list of reasons why the Giants pass rush is going to be better than people think?”. It’s true that Golden isn’t currently signed by the Giants, however, after Dave Gettleman wisely placed the rare unrestricted free agent tender on Golden in late April, the likelihood of his return became significantly better.

While Golden can still negotiate with whatever NFL teams he wants, he would be guaranteed $5.224 million next year if he returns to the Giants. Given the seeming lack of a market for Golden, the $5.224 million may end up being the best offer he receives, even if it is much lower of an amount than he is seeking.

The move was excellent in that it increases the likelihood that Big Blue’s leader in sacks from last season returns to the roster on a team-friendly contract for 2020. Golden became a fan favorite after he had a strong 10 sack season following signing a one-year $3.75 million deal with the Giants last offseason.

If the Giants are in fact able to resign Golden for 2020, the pass rush from their outside linebacker group would become significantly stronger with the rotation of Golden, Fackrell, Oshane Ximines, Lorenzo Carter and recent draft picks Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, and TJ Brunson.

If Gettleman is able to secure a player who had a double-digit total last year for just over $5 million, it will be a coup given what other pass rushers with less production last season have signed for.

5. Oshane Ximines

The NY Giants received a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft from the Cleveland Browns as part of the trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. They would use that pick to select Oshane Ximines out of Old Dominion.

Many predicted that Ximines would not receive much impactful playing time in 2019, as he was seen by some as a raw developmental pass-rushing project coming out of a smaller school in Old Dominion.

However, Ximines would be a pleasant surprise in 2019, as he would play 503 defensive snaps for the Giants, recording 25 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, one pass deflection, and nine quarterback hits in just two games started for the GMEN.

Despite the limited playing time, Ximines certainly showed flashes of a talented young pass rusher in the NFL. His most productive game came in a Week 13 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles where he recorded two tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hits in just 28 defensive snaps played.

With his rookie year behind him, Ximines should be more acclimated to the NFL game coming into the 2020 season. The 23-year-old certainly has the athleticism and talent to make a major impact in the pass rush for the NY Giants next season as he likely sees an increase in playing time.

6. Lorenzo Carter

Last season, Lorenzo Carter saw a 25% increase in playing time from his rookie campaign of 2018. Despite starting in 12 games last season, ten more than he started his rookie year, Carter only saw a nominal increase in production.

In 2018, Carter recorded 43 total tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for a loss, and 10 quarterback hits. Last season he recorded 45 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, six tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, and 13 quarterback hits.

Many expected the former third-round pick out of Georgia to take a major step forward last season. Unfortunately, the progression wasn’t as significant as many expected it to be. However, Carter suffered an ankle injury in Week 7 of the season that may have impacted his production more than people realize.

After dominating the 2018 NFL Combine by running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and setting a record for edge rushers in the broad jump even with a 10′ 10″ jump, many experts felt the NY Giants had drafted a steal in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

While Carter is yet to recognize his full talent, expectations should be tempered by the fact that he is only heading into his third season in the NFL. Given the elite speed and athleticism that Carter possesses, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 24-year-old linebacker take a major leap forward in the upcoming season and post double-digit sack totals.

7. The 2020 NFL Draft Picks

While it is unlikely that 2020 NFL Draft pick Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin, or T.J. Brunson see much time on the field for the NY Giants beyond special teams assignments and snaps as rotational depth pieces on defense, they all have significant upside given their athleticism and collegiate track records.

Cameron Brown is a physical freak at 6’5″ and 232-pounds. He is long, explosive, and quick to get to the quarterback. However, he needs to add some size and strength to his long frame and likely needs additional development before he is ready to contribute on a regular basis. That said, if the Giants choose to put him in blitzing situations, he is more than capable of chasing down the opposing quarterback.

Carter Coughlin is strictly a speed rusher. He currently lacks the strength needed to become a power rusher in the NFL. That said, he had 22.5 sacks, 40 tackles for a loss, eight forced fumbles in his career at Minnesota, and certainly has the quickness to get after opposing quarterbacks in sub-packages as a rookie with the Giants.

T.J. Brunson is a player who is a solid athlete, who is likely to be a special teamer and a specialty blitzer on defense. His overall defense is sub-par currently and he is limited in most defensive packages, he could provide additional depth in blitz packages.

Again, while all three of these players have potential in the future as pass rushers on the NY Giants, it is not probable that they will play a significant role in the 2020 season. However, they do provide nice depth as edge rushers and you can never have too many talented pass rushers on your roster. The depth they provided is welcome at a position that has been void of pass-rushing depth for a number of years now.

Conclusion:

It is likely true that the NY Giants don’t currently have any superstar pass rushers on their roster as most analysts predict. However, given the additions that Dave Gettleman and the Giants staff have made to the defensive unit both through free agency and the draft, there is a very good chance that the pass rush is going to be better than many anticipate.

This defense seems a lot like the defenses that we have witnessed in New England during Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach. The highly successful Belicheck defenses haven’t historically had many big-name superstars. Instead, they had a lot of solid players at every position and didn’t have glaring holes anywhere. His defenses were typically blue-collar guys who came out and did their jobs. In addition, Belichick was able to secure a number of players who fit the defensive scheme of his team.

It seems as though new Giants head coach Joe Judge was paying attention to his mentor during his time coaching in New England, as this Giants team is solid at nearly every position, despite not having any huge names on their defensive unit. That’s a far cry from recent years where the Giants paid big-name guys exorbitant contracts, that left other areas of the defense with glaring holes.

The 2020 Giants defense, despite being extremely young, seems to have the athleticism, versatility, and talent to allow new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to be extremely creative when drawing up defensive game plans.

While many people (myself included) were screaming that Gettleman and the Giants needed to add more pass rushers to the roster, perhaps we didn’t realize that they already had a number of talented young players who fit that mold. Perhaps that’s why they opted to fill other needs via free agency and the NFL Draft.

While it seems unlikely that any individual player on this defense will put up eye-popping sack totals next season, it does seem that as a collective group that they are capable of putting up very respectable sack totals from every level of the defensive unit.

While it is certainly easy to get excited about a team when examining it on paper, it will be interesting to see what this talented young defensive unit can do under the tutelage of new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and head coach Joe Judge.

I for one do not believe that the pass rush will be as poor as many are predicting. However, only time will tell.