New York Giants: Grading the defense and special teams – Spring 2019
Linebackers & Edge Rushers
The New York Giants linebackers will play tough but just don’t have the overall skill to affect the game at all times. So far this offseason failed to upgrade the position with any significance. The opportunity to bring another solid young linebacker early in the draft was there, but Gettleman passed on the opportunity.
Alec Ogletree is a tough all around backer who brings good leadership to the defense, after coming over from the Rams via trade last year he took over calling plays. BJ Goodson was more than relieved to have these duties lifted from his shoulders; speaking of BJ Goodson…
Goodson has proven that he can lay the wood (However he’s never healthy throughout regular season) at some point Goodson will need to deliver on the great promise he’s shown to start every season or Giants front office will have to begin his exit interview process and move on from him.
Edge Rushers will be rotated steadily The only true edge rusher that will most likely deliver this season will be Lorenzo Carter. The former Georgia Bulldog was a project last year and developed nicely. However, with no one of his talent level in front of him, it’s time to take off the training wheels and let him loose
Carter has all the tools and the natural size, he shows great bend around the edge and I’m sure that Bettcher will come with some great exotics in his second year to help mask the clear deficiency the G-Men have in pure pass rushers.
Gettleman did bring in additional pass rushers but none with a serious pedigree, Olsen Pierre Markus Golden was signed away from Arizona, and Oshane Ximines was drafted in the third round last month, after dominating at Old Dominion. It would be a bonus play if more than one of them end up with at least five sacks on the season.
The truth of the matter right now is that the fans are looking at a collection of depth players, that will be forced into starting roles before they can truly get comfortable in the defense and have a significant impact.
Position Grade: C-