As recently as early April, all signs pointed to Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese being drafted long before John Harbaugh and the New York Giants picked at No. 5.
Harbaugh nonetheless kept the faith, at least according to Rex Ryan. The longtime ESPN analyst, who served as Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator on the 2008 Ravens, revealed just how cynical he was about the Giants landing the explosive All-American.
“I’m like, ‘Man, you don’t [really] think you’re going to get that guy?’” Ryan laughed during an interview on ESPN New York. “He’s like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ He couldn’t wait to get this kid, and sure enough, he fell to the Giants, and it’s a great pick.”
Reese had another phenomenal performance in Sunday’s comeback win over the Cardinals, grabbing his first career interception and breaking up three passes. He furthered his already growing Defensive Rookie of the Year case by adding nine tackles, including one for a loss, and terrorizing a surprisingly potent Arizona offense.
“He’s an inside blitzing nightmare for people,” Ryan said. “He’s got range, coverage, and he’ll knock your face in. This guy [is] exactly what you want as a football player.”
John Harbaugh and the New York Giants should be thrilled Rex Ryan was wrong about Arvell Reese
In fairness to Ryan, he always believed in Reese as a prospect, and we trust his judgment. You’d think that someone who worked on the Ravens’ defensive staff for 10 years, including four as their defensive coordinator, would have an excellent perspective on what makes a quality linebacker.
Despite his offseason transition to inside linebacker, Reese has already recorded four pass breakups and three TFLs. He hasn’t missed a defensive snap in three of the Giants’ first four games, and he’s also worked his way into the special teams rotation. Just imagine where the NFC East-leading Giants would be without their newest linebacker.
None of this is meant to be an overreaction, mind you. We’re not projecting Reese to suddenly grow into a hybrid of Ray Lewis and Lawrence Taylor, though Harbaugh would likely love such an outcome. There’s simply no denying that Reese has already lived up to every expectation the Giants should have had, and he’s only looking more comfortable in Dennard Wilson’s defense.
Credit to Ryan for being willing to joke and own up to being wrong, too, even if he’s only referencing private conversations he had with his former boss. More people need to take accountability and make light of their cold takes.
We have a nagging feeling that pundits will restart the Reese vs. David Bailey debate, which lingered for much of the pre-draft process. Luckily for Harbaugh and the Giants, they can say that, at least for now, they’re trending toward the right side of that conversation.
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