The New York Giants’ defense against the run last year, specifically the defensive line, ranked 28th in the league. The performance of Edge rushers was absent as well. Adjectives such as anemic, lackluster and even putrid come to mind in describing the team’s performance against the run. An entity, while sometimes greater than the part, usually consists of units that compose the whole. Improve one area, and other areas will reap the benefit. Today we look at the New York Giant Edge Rushers, with the intent of upgrading the unit and ultimately the entire team defense as well.
Edge Rushers are the outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense. I read an on-line question recently asking if Kayvon Thibodeaux plays a different position than Lawrence Taylor did. No, they play the same position; Taylor was a weakside linebacker, as is Thibodeaux. Just different terminology; Taylor was considered an “outside linebacker.” Thibodeaux an “edge rusher.” Different times, different terminology, same position.
In coaching my oldest daughter in soccer several years ago we had a superb player on the team. (It was not my daughter.) She scored 20 goals in just 10 games for us. I was very aware in practice as well as in games to give her minimum advise. A talent like that one just leaves alone. The same for Thibodeaux. Put him in the right spots, and the optimism from last year’s play will result in improvement and a potentially elite performance this year.
Edge Rushers
The New York Giants‘ upgrade with Edge rushers this year has to come from the strong side, Azeez Ojulari’s position. The former Georgia star missed nine of the team’s first eleven games last year due to a calf injury. While Oshane Ximines had two sacks filling in for Ojulari, the team’s depth was exposed. Ojulari ended up with 5.5 sacks for the season, the year before he had 8.5 sacks. General Manager Joe Schoen had another stellar draft year, but he couldn’t address all the team’s needs as well as Ojulari’s regression. While still expected to be the starting strong-side linebacker come opening day, perhaps there is still a free agent player available that would be a good fit and upgrade the back-up to Ojulari.
Looking for a Free Agency Edge Rusher
Finding a player that upgrades the team and is financially a fit is difficult this late in the free agency season. Attractive candidates have signed with new contracts, those still available have various blemishes and warts against signing them. Teams are looking for bargains, players are looking for a team, Justin Houston played for Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale in 2021. With an emphasis on team speed, the 34 year-old weak-side linebacker, while perhaps a salary cap fit, isn’t a positional fit and not what the Giants need.
Yannick Ngakoue had 9.5 sacks last year, and the 28 year- old has had at least 8 sacks every year in his career. Ngakoue has also experience playing for Martindale. The fact that Ngakoue has played for six teams in the last four years, and doesn’t address the team’s needs (also plays weakside LB) seems to rule him out as well.
Perhaps upgrading the backup strong side linebacker isn’t meant to be at this time. It is important to spend cap money judiciously and wisely, which Schoen has demonstrated to date, and not recklessly.
Barry Schustermann
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