New York Giants Camp Preview: Linebackers

A new NFL season is right around the corner as training camp is quickly approaching.  Leading up to the start of training camp, we will have a run down position-by-position for the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. 

The second position we will take a look at is linebacker.

The projected starters for the Giants at linebacker are Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka as the outside linebackers, flanking middle linebacker Chase Blackburn.  Projected reserves expected to make an impact this season are Keith Rivers, Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones and Spencer Paysinger.

The Giants had some additions to this unit, as they traded for Rivers from the Cincinnati Bengals and added Jake Muasau.  There will be no linebackers from last season that are not returning this season.

The player to watch in the linebacking corps is Rivers.  The Giants acquired him this off-season from the Cincinnati Bengals for a fifth round pick.  It is a low risk move for the Giants, as Rivers has not been able to live up to expectations in Cincinnati as the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, suffering a rash of injuries.  A change of scenery may be all that Rivers needs.

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Rivers will open the season in the second unit but has a real chance to finish the season as a starter at any of the three linebacker spots.  Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said that he plans seeing what versatility Rivers brings, potentially using him at middle linebacker at times during camp.  Rivers still has some things to learn about the defense, but the Giants are hoping they had added yet another versatile and athletic linebacker that is capable of playing both the pass and run.

The linebacking group has the potential to be a strength for the Giants this upcoming season.  They are a deep bunch, giving the Giants more versatility than they have had in recent seasons.  The competition will be fierce as players like Clint Sintim, returning from his second serious knee injury in as many seasons, will be fighting for a roster spot. 

The added options give Fewell the ability to play different types of defense.  He says that he is more comfortable using three linebackers this season, opposed to the three safeties he has used in most sets the past two seasons. 

Boley and Blackburn have become defensive coordinators on the field for the Giants, relaying whatever Fewell says on the sidelines to their teammates on the field.  Communication was a problem at times for the Giants defense last year so having more than one player capable of relaying information from the sidelines and setting the defense is important. 

The rookies Williams, Herzlich, Jones and Paysinger will look to expand on their roles from last season and also continue to contribute on special teams.

The potential weakness from this group is stopping the run.  Last season, the Giants were not strong against the run, making that a point of emphasis entering training camp and the regular season.  In recent seasons the Giants have been using three safeties on the field instead of three linebackers; something that is probable to change this season with veteran safety Deon Grant remaining unsigned and Fewell being more comfortable with his pieces this season.  Training camp will be the time that Fewell and head coach Tom Coughlin figure out which combination of players works out best for the Giants.  Having so many talented players is a good problem to have as the Giants have turned a position thought to be a weakness from last season into a potential strength. 

The wild card of this group is Kiwanuka.  General manager Jerry Reese refers to Kiwanuka as a “joker” because of the versatility he possesses.  Kiwanuka has improved his pass defense while still being a menace rushing the passer from either linebacker or defensive end.  He is becoming more and more comfortable in his hybrid role and could see more time as a pass rusher with the departure of Dave Tollefson.  Versatility like Kiwanuka has is what makes game-planning against the Giants defense so difficulty for opposing teams.  

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New York Giants Draft Preview: Linebackers

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This is the 8^th installment in the series of posts breaking down the Giants position by position for the upcoming NFL Draft.  The next position up is linebacker.

The Giants currently have Michael Boley, Keith Rivers, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chase Blackburn, Jacquian Williams, Greg Jones, Mark Herzlich, Clint Sintim, Spencer Paysinger and Adrian Tracy on the depth chart at linebacker.  The only linebacker that remains unsigned for the Giants is Jonathan Goff.

Last season the Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was most comfortable going with two linebackers on the field, opting to using a third safety instead.  The addition of Keith Rivers should have an effect on that philosophy, enabling the Giants to go to a more traditional three linebacker set.  Rivers gives the Giants a third true linebacker to go along with Boley and Kiwanuka.  Rivers had a rough go of it in Cincinnati, but was a top 10 pick when he came out of USC in 2008.  The Giants like his speed and the sideline to sideline ability Rivers has and are hoping that a change of scenery in combination to a fresh start can help him reach his potential.  The acquisition of Rivers gives the Giants new found flexibility at the linebacker position giving them plenty of options.

Kiwanuka could be seeing more action at his more natural defensive end position this season.  The loss of Dave Tollefson and the addition of Rivers, the defensive line is in need of Kiwanuka more than the linebacking corps. 

Jacquian Williams was a nice surprise last season for the Giants.  A product coming out of USF like Pierre-Paul the season prior, showed elite athleticism.  His speed and ability to play coverage really helps the Giants, and should only get better with a full season behind him and his first full training camp ahead of him.

GM Jerry Reese is also very high on the potential middle linebackers Jones and Herzlich posses.  They were pressed into action last season because of injuries and responded much better than you would expect from a 6^th round rookie and an undrafted free agent.  Look for them to have their biggest impact on special teams throughout the season. 

Another player to keep an eye on is Clint Sintim.  He will be returning from his second consecutive season ended prematurely because of an ACL tear.  Sintim was penciled in as one of the starting outside linebackers last season and should come out aggressive wanting to get his spot back. 

Paysinger and Tracy are two more young players the Giants like and will add competition in training camp.  Paysinger had his biggest impact on the team last year as a valuable member of the coverage teams.

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The last time the Giants drafted a linebacker was last year, when they took Williams out of USF and Jones out of Michigan State, both in the 6^th round.  This time around, the Giants are well stocked at linebacker, but that does not mean they still are not looking.  Draft experts have the Giants linked to a number of linebackers.  One is Dont’a Hightower out of Alabama, who if falls in the draft is expected to be snapped up for the Giants.  Another name to pay attention to is Lavonte David of Nebraska.  Draft expert Todd McShay is very high on him and very well could be available to the Giants at 32 or in the second round.  I would place the necessity of the Giants adding a linebacker at a 3 on a scale of 1-10.

New York Giants Draft Preview: Special Teams

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This is the 6^th installment in the series of posts breaking down the Giants position by position for the upcoming NFL Draft.  The next position up is special teams. 

The Giants depth chart currently includes Kicker Lawrence Tynes, Punter Steve Weatherford, Long Snapper Zak DeOssie, Punt Returner Domenik Hixon, and Kick Returners Jerrel Jernigan, Da’Rel Scott and D.J. Ware.  Will Blackmon is the only current special teamer still on the free agent wire for the Giants.

Last season the special teams saw a vast improvement throughout all aspects in 2011 compared to 2010.  One area that saw a glaring improvement was in the punting game.  After beating out Matt Dodge in training camp, Weatherford provided clutch and outstanding punting.  Tynes was efficient, going 19-24 on his Field Goal attempts and kicking 34 touchbacks.

The coverage teams were also vastly improved.  Neither the punt return or kick off coverage allowed a return touchdown on the season.  A reason for this was the infusion of young talent through the draft in Greg Jones, Jacquian Williams and Tyler Sash and the signing of undrafted free agent Mark Herzlich. 

At times superstars Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck were seen on the special team units attempting to block field goals and punts.  Giants’ fans will remember JPP blocked field goal against the Dallas Cowboys in week 15 that very well could have saved the Giants season.  Let’s not also forget to mention Corner Back Justin Tryon, who contributed in his short amount of time before suffering a season ending injury.  I distinctly remember the play he made on a punt against the Miami Dolphins and Reggie Bush.  It was the play Tryon sadly got hurt on, but he was still able to make the play and stop the explosive Bush. 

The return game was the only thing that was not so stellar for the Giants. They averaged only 6.1 yards per punt return and 23.3 yards per kick return.  Hixon is a capable return man and his return is nothing but positive for the team.  But he is a huge injury concern, and the other main kick and punt return men all either left the team in free agency or remain unsigned.  Hixon, Jernigan and Scott are all capable of being good return men because of the tools they posses.  Ware also has experience as a kick returner.

The last time the Giants selected a special teamer in the draft was 2010 with Matt Dodge and we all know how that ended up.  Don’t expect the Giants to take any special teamers outside of possibly an electric return man.  The Giants are more than set at Kicker, Punter and Long Snapper.  Some possibilities are Arkansas’ Joe Adams who led the FBS in yard per punt return at an average of 16.9 or Keshawn Martin from Michigan State who was mentioned earlier in the WR post.  Another return man to keep an eye on is Florida’s Chris Rainey, who is dangerous in space and is capable of being a good return man in the NFL. I would put the need for a special teamer at a 4 for the Giants, only because it would be beneficial to add a spark plug in the return game.  Other than a returner, the need for special teamers would be a 1 on a scale on 1-10.

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