New York Giants: Bound to miss Antrel Rolle

ByRyan Disdier|

Following a disappointing season, the New York Giants decided to get rid of one of their veteran leaders. A year after letting defensive stalwart Justin Tuck sign elsewhere, the Giants neglected to re-sign safety Antrel Rolle. Rolle signed with the Chicago Bears during the early stages of free agency.

Rolle, 32, was in New York since 2010, and he was the perfect embodiment of Giants football. He was an incredibly physical player, a ball-hawking safety and an instrumental leader. It took him a season to get fully acclimated to The Big Apple, but he played an enormous role in the team’s 2011 Super Bowl run.

More from New York Giants

In his five seasons with the Giants, Rolle never missed a game, and he never gave half effort. Rolle was elected defensive captain prior to the 2013 season, and it was well deserved, as he was unquestionably one of the best leaders on the team.

Rolle implemented a “see ball, get ball” mentality. He hauled in 14 interceptions in his stint with the Giants, so he practiced what he preached.

Despite making some minor, under-the-hood defensive improvements, the Giants will miss Rolle.

In order to fully understand and accurately predict how much the team will suffer sans Rolle, you need to look back to the offseason that followed the 2012 season. The team’s leading rusher, Ahmad Bradshaw, was let go in an attempt to create cap room. Like Rolle, Bradshaw was an excellent leader, and in a lot of ways, he was the heartbeat of the offense. When he was healthy and running hard, the entire offense was energized.

In 2013, the Giants were 29th in total rushing offense, only amassing 317 more yards than Bradshaw had in his last year with the team.

Obviously there were other factors that contributed to the Giants’ rushing woes, but it’s crazy to suggest Bradshaw’s absence didn’t hurt. In the wake of Rolle’s departure, it could be very likely the Giants pass defense fails to rebound after an awful 2015.

Sep 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants strong safety Antrel Rolle (26) runs with the ball after an interception during the second quarter against Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Even though Rolle had a down year in terms of stats and performance, the Giants are a lot worse without him. Neither Nat Berhe nor Cooper Taylor saw meaningful time last year, and it’s hard to imagine either player will take a tremendous step forward. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Stevie Brown, who suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2013 season, might be coming back to the Giants. Therein lies the problem with letting Rolle walk.

What’s the backup plan?

I mean, there is a backup plan, right? Theoretically, the Giants could – and they definitely, definitely should – draft a safety, but still, that doesn’t do much. I understand that the Giants might have believed Rolle to be declining, but he was still a top-tier, starting-caliber safety. He rarely missed tackles, and his versatility made him a great piece on the defense.

Rolle had an ability to shift the momentum of a game by making a big hit or forcing a big turnover. He oozed swagger and was the most reliable player on the Giants defense.

The biggest question I have is who’s going to step up on the defense and become a leader? Last year’s defensive co-captain Jon Beason should be healthy for the start of the year, but his health is always an uncertainty. Maybe it’s time Jason Pierre-Paul steps into that leadership position.

In regards to the defensive backs, Prince Amukamara will likely become a leader. Amukamara is entering his fifth year, and he seems ready to step up and lead that unit.

Still, though, Rolle will be missed, and it will be interesting to see if — and how much — the defense suffers without his services.

Next: NFL personalities and their NBA counterparts

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/New York Giants