New York Giants: 2016 Rookies progress report

Dec 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) gets a first down in front of Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) gets a first down in front of Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 12, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) tackles Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) during the first half of the preseason game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants outside linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) tackles Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) during the first half of the preseason game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

B.J. Goodson

If the season were to start today, B.J. Goodson would more than likely serve as the starting middle linebacker for the Giants. Not only has Goodson impressed many this offseason, but surprised many with his work ethic when he began training for 2017 shortly after the Giants loss to the Packers back in January.

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Not only is New York Giants veteran Jonathan Casillas working with Goodson to teach him the “tricks of the trade,” but Giants Pro Bowl middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has also taken Goodson under his wing, per ESPN:

"“He’s always dropping advice and knowledge on me,” Goodson said. “He drops a lot of knowledge on me. So it isn’t one particular thing that I could tell you that he does, but he’s always telling me whether it’s formation recognition or any little thing. The details. He’s always on me about the details, but he does a great job of helping me, and [I] really appreciate it.”"

There is no better player to guide Goodson in this particular opportunity than Pierce. Remember, Pierce was the middle linebacker for the 2007 Super Bowl winning New York Giants defense under Steve Spagnuolo. Another guarantee — barring serious injury — the 2017 New York Giants will make one heck of a run to this year’s Super Bowl. Goodson has the opportunity to be the next Antonio Pierce this year. So why not learn from Pierce himself?

Goodson truly does have the opportunity of a lifetime this year to make his imprint at the middle linebacker position and from what has been said about him so far this offseason, the sky is the limit for this guy.