New York Giants Still Neglecting The Middle Linebacker Spot

By Jonathan George | Mar 19, 2016

Nov 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) comes down with a pass for a touchdown over New York Giants outside linebacker Devon Kennard (59) and free safety Landon Collins (21) in the third quarter of the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New Orleans won 52-49. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Over the last couple of weeks the New York Giants have made their fair share of news with free agency signings, but for some strange reason they don’t seem interested in signing any marquee free agent middle linebackers.

It’s strange because all three levels of their defense last season were problem filled, and they have taken huge steps to shore up their secondary and defensive line after signing Janoris Jenkins, Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison.

Related Story: The best defenders in NFL history

The only players they have brought in to try and make their middle linebacking group better were Keenan Robinson, a cast-off from the Redskins, and Jasper Brinkley, who played well in spots last season for New York but isn’t what anyone would call a difference maker in the middle. And the weird thing is that there were difference makers available at fairly competitive prices.

Danny Trevathan was grabbed by the Bears, as was Jerrell Freeman. Both guys were given a high player rating score from Pro Football Focus for 2015 (86.6 for Trevathan and 90.6 for Freeman), and either one would have been a massive upgrade for the Giants in the middle. For some reason, GM Jerry Reese just doesn’t value the linebacking position and has frequently put “value” players in spots there with the hopes they blossom.

More from New York Giants

Unfortunately that hasn’t happened since the Giants brought in Antonio Pierce from Washington years ago. The team hasn’t gotten much from the middle of their defense the last few years, and Giants fans have grown accustomed to the realization that once a runner gets past the Giants front 4 there isn’t much hope of preventing a big gain.

Pass coverage has been even worse. The Giants, per footballoutsiders.com, gave up the most pass yards on average per game to tight ends (80.8) of any NFL team in 2015. While that includes their safety and corner positions in certain sets, it is a big reflection on their linebacking group in a straight 4-3.

Tight ends have become bigger parts of NFL offenses over the last decade, but the Giants aren’t adapting defensively to it.

Instead, GM Jerry Reese and the Giants ownership is sticking with what won them both recent championships: a hopefully fierce pass rush and decent pass coverage on the back-end. That might have worked in 2007 (more) and 2011 (less), but good teams are constantly looking to get better at every position. Big Blue looked committed to doing that on day one of free agency, but they’ve missed out on this key spot on D.

The draft might offer some relief to Giants fans if Miles Jack is the 10th pick for the Giants, but it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll take an offensive player at that spot considering the GMEN completely ignored the wide receiver position in free agency. And again, Reece has never valued linebackers high enough to take one that early. More likely he will look in the later rounds for another “value” pick.

More nfl spin zone: Giants options for the #2 WR are...

2016 is a big year for Reece and Giants management. If the linebacking spot becomes an achilles heel for them in 2016 they will regret ignoring the marquee free agent linebackers that were available.

Home/New York Giants