Giants gonna get themselves a dose of B.J.

[Treehugger]

Giants LB B.J. Goodson ‘will be a mainstay’

• James Parks - May 16, 9:29 AM

 

First rounders get all the attention, and for good reason; but it could be a fourth round defender who gets to make an impression from the get-go this fall. It would be a change of pace for Clemson linebacker B. J. Goodson, who’s had to earn everything he’s had on the field in his four year career at school.

 

Stuck in a backup role in his first two years, limited to 12 tackles in his first three seasons, Goodson exploded in 2015, recording 108 tackles (78 percent of his career number), 14 for a loss, and 5.5 sacks while nabbing a pair of interceptions. Teammates elected him a team captain in his final year.

 

A naturally good athlete with noticeable instincts for playing the middle of the field, Goodson proved a very reliable and physical run stopper near the line who almost never misses: he only lost nine tackles last season.

 

Brent Venables, Clemson’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, thinks the Giants got a good one.

 

“Having coaches linebackers my whole life, the ones that win for you and you can build a defense around have a nose for the ball. They’re physically and mentally really tough, and B.J.’s for work ethic,” Venables said. “He’s got intelligence. He knows how to get off a block. He’s got powerful, explosive hands, very violent with his hands. He doesn’t stay blocked. And he knows where the ball’s going, and that’s what the good ones do.”

 

Knowing where the ball is going is a commodity in short supply around the Giants lately. They were the most permissive defensive both overall and against the pass last season, coming within one yard of being the first team in NFL history to permit 300 passing yards per game. They haven’t been shy about adding options to the position, inking free agents Keenan Robinson and Kelvin Sheppard while retaining Jasper Brinkley, all at the middle linebacker slot.

 

A small town kid, coming from a town in South Carolina with less than 1,000 people, Goodson likes to keep things simple. It’s that clearness of mind and determination of purpose that inspires Venables’ enthusiasm.

 

“He’ll be a mainstay, and I don’t mince words,” he said. “I’m not arrogant or anything, I just know I’m right. The Giants were right by taking him. They’re gonna get themselves a dose of B.J. They’re gonna love him."

 

“He’s not gonna be real loud, but as soon as adversity hits, you’re gonna know what kind of leader, what kind of toughness you got in that guy. I just feel very confident. I think he’s gonna be a perfect fit for New York. He’s there to stay. Trust me.”

[Sephiroth]

Hope he's right.

[Tempest]

I hope the lack of playing time is the reason he dropped down to us in the fourth. We really need that capable three down linebacker on the roster.

[JMFP]

 

“Having coaches linebackers my whole life, the ones that win for you and you can build a defense around have a nose for the ball. They’re physically and mentally really tough, and B.J.’s for work ethic,” Venables said. “He’s got intelligence. He knows how to get off a block. He’s got powerful, explosive hands, very violent with his hands. He doesn’t stay blocked. And he knows where the ball’s going, and that’s what the good ones do.”

 

 

 

 

....wait a second, are you sure it's legal for a linebacker to get off a block????

 

Seriously though, I'm more encouraged by this pick.

 

Lost in all the misery of last year's defense was the absolute inability of the 5th pass rusher to create disruption. Opposing running backs were able to pick up and stone blitzes with ease. That's not supposed to happen.

[Sephiroth]

 

“Having coaches linebackers my whole life, the ones that win for you and you can build a defense around have a nose for the ball. They’re physically and mentally really tough, and B.J.’s for work ethic,” Venables said. “He’s got intelligence. He knows how to get off a block. He’s got powerful, explosive hands, very violent with his hands. He doesn’t stay blocked. And he knows where the ball’s going, and that’s what the good ones do.”

 

 

 

 

....wait a second, are you sure it's legal for a linebacker to get off a block????

 

Seriously though, I'm more encouraged by this pick.

 

Lost in all the misery of last year's defense was the absolute inability of the 5th pass rusher to create disruption. Opposing running backs were able to pick up and stone blitzes with ease. That's not supposed to happen.

 

 

You know, it's funny... people used to say, "why doesn't Perry Fewell blitz more!" but if you go back and watch the games, when he did send the blitz, literally every LB was picked up by a blocker. I remember one game where Jameel McClain had a free route to the QB but inexplicably decided to go engage the running back instead.

[CrazedDogs]

 

You know, it's funny... people used to say, "why doesn't Perry Fewell blitz more!" but if you go back and watch the games, when he did send the blitz, literally every LB was picked up by a blocker. I remember one game where Jameel McClain had a free route to the QB but inexplicably decided to go engage the running back instead.

 

I don't recall that exact play, but that's not necessarily the wrong thing to do.... if a pass rusher avoids an eligible receiver (RB, TE) rather than engage him, then the RB or TE becomes a very easy outlet for the QB.

[Treehugger]

 

You know, it's funny... people used to say, "why doesn't Perry Fewell blitz more!" but if you go back and watch the games, when he did send the blitz, literally every LB was picked up by a blocker. I remember one game where Jameel McClain had a free route to the QB but inexplicably decided to go engage the running back instead.

 

Kennard's the only LB who seems to have a nose for blitzing.

[Gman329]

What I remember about Fewell's blitzes is that they took forever to get there! They seemed to start from way the f*ck out in right field and might as well have been counting elephants for all the time it took them to get near the pocket.

[JMFP]

 

You know, it's funny... people used to say, "why doesn't Perry Fewell blitz more!" but if you go back and watch the games, when he did send the blitz, literally every LB was picked up by a blocker. I remember one game where Jameel McClain had a free route to the QB but inexplicably decided to go engage the running back instead.

 

It's one of the things that drove me crazy. Opponent would send a blitz against us, and unless it was Ahmad Bradshaw blocking on broken ankles, our RB would struggle to handle the blitz, Eli would get pushed out of pocket, and throw the ball out of bounds.

 

Giants LBs blitz, and get locked together on a RB like a LEGO brick, while the QB makes hand motions for the receiver to go deep.

[BlueInCanada]

 

You know, it's funny... people used to say, "why doesn't Perry Fewell blitz more!" but if you go back and watch the games, when he did send the blitz, literally every LB was picked up by a blocker. I remember one game where Jameel McClain had a free route to the QB but inexplicably decided to go engage the running back instead.

The problem with Fewell's blitz scheme was that anyone could see it coming from a mile away, heck most of the time the commentators were taking about the expected blitz before the QB was started calling out the cadence.

 

MLB/SLB blitz, safety blitz from 20 yards deep, corner blitz with the corner standing beside the DE on the line of scrimmage was his whole arsenal of tricks. Oh and the famous send 10 players on 3rd and 1 leaving everyone uncovered.

 

When the team lacks pass rushers you need to get creative, zone blitz, fake coverage, have guys moving around at the line.

 

It's hard for any blitz to succeed when the offense knows what's coming before the defense even does, no one was fooled by Perrys defense.

[Nas]

This maybe a good time to reiterate my "fuck Fewel" stance.