I start this post with the score tied at 28-28 against the Panthers, but this isn't influenced by the outcome of this game. Regardless, the Giants will be at home for their first playoff game and have already passed last year's regular season win total.
I was thinking about this during last week's loss to Dallas - the fact that for the past five to seven years, since about when Jesse Armstead left the team, how Giant linebackers have been completely unable to cover anyone in the flat and underneath.
Antonio Pierce is clearly a good run stopper at MLB and a good captain. I mean, who else would be side by side with Cheddar Bob Burress when he shot himself and handicapped this offense.
But he's a horrible pass defender, that's just an obvious fact. I was talking to the Fat Man about this during the week and threw out the idea of scrapping a middle linebacker and moving safety Kenny Phillips into that position, like colleges like South Carolina have used for years.
But then with the drafting genius that Jerry Reese has shown over the past couple of years, you have to think he's thought of this already. That's why he hasn't given AP a contract extension and that's why he drafted two different linebackers in the past draft.
Injuries are a part of the game, but it can also be part of your future plans and effect them subsequently. We all forget that Justin Tuck was supposed to be part of a two-man replacement team for Michael Straham along with Osi U (I'm not even going to try).
When he went down, the focus went to Tuck but it also meant that Mathias Kiwanuka (I'm sure I don't have that right) moved from the outside linebacker position he'd been working on for a year and moved back to defensive end.
So needless to say, if Osi doesn't go down it's safe to say that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo could have tested out guys like Brady Clark and Chase Blackburn at that MLB instead of being forced to move them outside. Then again, maybe he pushed the envelope and admits that the days of the traditional linebacker is over.
Nowadays, with Wildcat formations, four-wide out sets with one back and runners like Brandon Jacobs (6-4, 260 pounds) on the other side, you need someone who can not only contain the run from sideline to sideline but also cover those speedy scat backs on third and long.
Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the exceptions to the rule. For the Giants to succeed in the postseason and beyond, they'll need to be able to sucsessfully defend against backs like DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner and Kevin Faulk in the flat and underneath.
Oh and I can't wait to read what Dan writes about the Jets' debacle in Seattle.
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5 comments:
This is the dumbest post I've read on here. What is your point? Are you knocking AP, the system, the Giants LB core? Are you trying tp point out a new scheme NFL team are trying out on offense as a means to change the defensive philosophy? The Giants have a rich history of solid, hard nosed defense. I do not see them ever switching to some hybride defense with no MLB. That's just dumb. The fact is that the Giants haven't had any LB's that could cover since Armstead left at MLB or any LBer... Reese will address this problem and I fully expect him to take 2 LBers within the first 4 rounds.
I also think with Osi coming back they will move Tuck back to a DT spot where he flourished in 2007 and move Kiwi to the LE spot while rotating Tuck back and forth.
And whe did Brady Clark stop beign terrible at baseball to be terrible at football? Do you mean Danny Clark? You can't be too good at much if you're cut by Oakland and Houston.
I too am looking forward to Dan's post about the Jets as well. I dont think I have ever anticipated anything more in my life. What makes it so great is that Dan actually flew to Seattle and sat out in the elements to watch that game
Kivika Mitchell did an excellent job last year at covering especially in the second half of the season. When its obvious passing situations they should put a more athletic lb in for the nickel or dime packages like they used to with armstead rather than barrow.
This post is knocking AP.
I haven't seen any new scheme and the Giants' long tradition of quality LBs that could cover the post ended with Armstead.
All I'm saying is for this year's team, there is no one listed as a linebacker (Brady Clark, Danny Clark, Will Clark whatever) that can guard backs in the flat and that's this team's major weakness.
And why would we move Tuck to DT and cut the playing time of Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins and Jay Alford.
Why would you not want Kiwanuka standing up, able to rush from the outside? He's got the speed to stay with backs as a secondary pass defender and I'm sure he was getting better at it before they needed to move him.
I totally agree that this team's biggest problem on D the last few years has been the inability of the LBs to cover, which actually makes our secondary look worse then it really is. I don't know if Kiwi is the solution, but you're right the current DT core is amazing and taking Tuck away from a Pro Bowl position to take time away from our DTs wouldn't be smart. Guess I was thinking more of on passing downs rotate Tuck inside and let Kiwi rush from the RE. Guess I'm not just sold on Kiwi at LB yet.
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