NY Giants: 10 biggest surprises through first 10 games

#7 Leonard Williams and D-line

The Giants have been working on building a better defensive line since 2017. The D-line was the muscle that has won them Super Bowls in years past, and after years of tinkering, it’s beginning to take form.

Dalvin Tomlinson, drafted in the second round in 2017, leads the line with 35 tackles. Leonard Williams, traded for last year and franchised this year, is one tackle behind him. Dexter Lawrence, drafted in the first round in 2019, is one behind Williams, with 33. And 2018 3rd-round pick B.J. Hill has 18.

Together these big bodies clog up the box, forcing teams to abandon the run, which in turn allows them to get more opportunities to pressure opposing quarterbacks.

As mentioned on the last slide, the Giants are tied with the Ravens in total sacks, with 25. And Leonard Williams is proving to be the pass rusher the Jets wished he could be.

He leads the team with 5 sacks. And through Week 9 Williams was also tied with T.J. Watt for second-most QB Knockdowns in the league, with 11. What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, though, is all the bad throws, pass deflections, or interceptions Williams causes by his constant pressure.

Throw in the eight tackles for loss from Williams, the six TFL and 1.5 sacks from Tomlinson, the 4.5 TFL and 3 sacks from Lawrence, and Hill’s one sack and one TFL, the defensive front of the Giants is once again becoming feared throughout the league.