New York Giants defense as bad as it gets

In 2013, the New York Giants’ offense was broken, putrid and embarrassing. Eli Manning led the league in interceptions, and it was hard to watch. However, the Giants’ defense was surprisingly stingy, as the unit finished eight in total defense. One year later, the roles have been completely reversed.

While nobody is confusing the Giants’ offense with the 2007 New England Patriots, the offense has been ‘okay’ without starting running back Rashad Jennings. Eli Manning has done all he can, and the offense is just not as dangerous without Victor Cruz. The Giants are 18th in total offense and 15th in passing offense. That’s certainly respectable considering they’ve played the last four and a half games without their starting running back.

No, this time the major problem is with the defense.

After nine games, the Giants have the worst defense in the entire NFL. The Giants’ defense is worse than Oakland, worse than Jacksonville, worse than EVERY team. The issues are impossible to ignore, and they have made the playoffs a laughable fantasy for Big Blue. A defense this bad is not something usually synonymous with New York Giants football, and big changes need to be made in the offseason.

As previously mentioned, injuries have absolutely decimated the Giants’ defense.

The Giants have been lost three starters and a litany of role players. Starting cornerback Prince Amukamara, nickel cornerbacks Trumaine McBride and Walter Thurmond and starting inside linebacker and defensive captain Jon Beason have all been placed on season ending injured reserve. Combine those injuries with the underwhelming play from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jason Pierre-Paul, and you have a defense that couldn’t stop a nosebleed.

In fact, it’s not too crazy to say this defense has only played one good game all year, that being the Thursday night win against the Kirk Cousins-led Washington Redskins. Other than that, the Giants have really not had a good defensive outing. Even with the injuries, there’s really no reason why this defense is so bad.

Some of the Giants’ problems can’t even be blamed on lack of talent. Some of it is just a matter of discipline and effort, or rather a lack thereof.

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The lack of discipline was emphasized by Jason Pierre-Paul‘s response to a question following Sunday’s humiliating loss. JPP was asked if he thought the Giants made defensive adjustments at halftime. “I don’t know,” Pierre-Paul said, via Bob Glauber of Newsday. “I was in the bathroom.” That’s right. Jason Pierre-Paul missed defensive adjustments during halftime of a game that the Giants needed to win because he was in the bathroom.

Yikes.

Against the Seattle Seahawks, the Seahawks rushed for over 350 rushing yards, a Seahawks franchise record. Russell Wilson picked up over 100 of those yards on his own, mostly on read-options. As Fox announcer Joe Buck put it, “that play (read-option) has worked ever since the Giants got off of the bus.” Although the read-option is obviously tricky to defend, the easiest way to stop it is by reading keys and knowing your assignment. The Giants obviously made severe mental lapses.

Marshawn Lynch also had a huge day, as he gauged the Big Blue defense for 140 yards on 21 carries (6.7 average) and four touchdowns.

The Seattle game was not the only time discipline hurt the Giants’ defense. In the season opener, two blown coverages led to two huge plays against the Detroit Lions. One was a huge third down conversion, and the other was a touchdown to Calvin Johnson.

Against the Atlanta Falcons, Antrel Rolle missed an open-field tackle on Atone Smith, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie stood idly by while Rolle attempted to make the tackle, assuming it was a sure thing. The short swing pass to Smith resulted in a 74-yard touchdown.

Yes, the defense is tied for second in interceptions, but this is a defense that is giving up over 400 yards a game. While the Seattle game is a large reason for that, it does not excuse the myriad of mediocrity from the Giants’ defense.

Both Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle are in contract seasons, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Giants will retain them.

Pierre-Paul, who claimed he was 100% for the first time since 2011, has been incredibly underwhelming, and he had an awful outing against the Seahawks. JPP continually got sucked inside on read-option plays which helped spring Russell Wilson for big gains. He lacks the physicality and the explosiveness that propelled him to a Pro Bowl season in 2011. Pierre-Paul was once labeled as the next great Giants’ pass rusher, but he has failed to achieve a modicum of success since his storybook season in three years ago. In fact, JPP hasn’t even been the best defensive end on the Giants, as free agent acquisition Robert Ayers has outplayed Pierre-Paul.

Nobody affiliated with the Giants’ defense is safe, as defensive coordinator Perry Fewell deserves some blame as well. Although Fewell has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2010, Fewell’s days in New York could be numbered. According to NFL.com, in 2010 and 2011 the Giants’ defense was 26th in the league, and in 2012 they were 31st. Some of the blame also falls on the shoulders of general manager Jerry Reese.

After constructing a great draft class in 2007, Reese took too many risks in the following years, which led to some regrettable draft picks and horrendous play. However, Reese did do a good job in free agency, but more has to be done if he wants to be the general manager for a winning team.

If the adage that defenses wins championships is still true, there is no surprise as to why the Giants are sitting at 3-6.