Treehugger Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Giants show off new dime defense during Monday's practice New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has designed some exotic defensive fronts and looks during his time in the NFL. His nickel and dime defensive fronts often feature defensive ends in the tackle position with a focus on getting pressure from the front four. During Monday's practice, Spagnuolo debuted a dime defensive package that featured new faces and several players in new positions. Along the defensive line, Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon flipped sides. Throughout camp and the preseason, Vernon has played right defensive end, but in this package, Pierre-Paul was back in his old stomping ground on the right side. Johnathan Hankins, who has transitioned to a new defensive tackle position upon the arrival of Damon Harrison in free agency, was back at his old spot. The final defensive tackle was Romeo Okwara. If you don't know Okwara, it's time to get to know the 2016 undrafted free agent. Okwara has stepped up in Jay Bromley's absence and served as a pass rush threat on the interior throughout training camp. Okwara moved to the United States from Nigeria at the age of 10 and played his college football at Notre Dame. He checks in at 6-5 and 275 pounds, and his familiarity with Spagnuolo's scheme -- a similar scheme to the one he played under at Notre Dame -- has helped him rise up the depth chart fast. At the second level, Keenan Robinson was the lone linebacker. Robinson had struggled with consistency in coverage throughout his tenure with the Washington Redskins before signing with the Giants this offseason, but he has also made some splash plays in coverage. The Giants are expecting him to make a big jump as he transitions from playing in a 3-4 base scheme to a 4-3 for the first time in his NFL career. In the secondary, we saw many of the same faces who lined up as starters on the first snap of training camp, but it was interesting to see where they were aligned. Janoris Jenkins was joined by undrafted free agent Donte Deayon on the outside. Of course, if first-round draft pick Eli Apple were healthy, he might be lined up in place of Deayon. Leon Hall, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Darian Thompson formed what looked like a three-deep look. Landon Collins was in the box. During the final stretch of the season, Collins thrived while playing more of an attacking role near the line of scrimmage, so it's important for Spagnuolo to create these looks that give him these opportunities. The Giants arguably have more talent in the secondary than at any point during Spagnuolo's career coaching the team. This will allow him to mix up looks and it should take pressure off of the defensive front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treehugger Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share Posted August 16, 2016 Ugh, move this to the correct forum, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashTalker92 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 When they said Collin will play a more attacking role near the line, does that mean they are using him to mask the lack of shitty LB we have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueInCanada Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 When they said Collin will play a more attacking role near the line, does that mean they are using him to mask the lack of shitty LB we have? This was the case all of last season, no reason it will change now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 When they said Collin will play a more attacking role near the line, does that mean they are using him to mask the lack of shitty LB we have? There is no lack of shitty linebackers here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigblue25 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 They're insistent on playing DRC in the slot...where he was awful in Philly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrashTalker92 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 There is no lack of shitty linebackers here. LoL true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 They're insistent on playing DRC in the slot...where he was awful in Philly Not since they signed Hall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigblue25 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Not since they signed Hall. Not from what I've seen. Most packages seem to be Jenkins/Apple outside and DRC in the slot. This article says Deayeon and Jenkins with both Hall and DRC deep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Not from what I've seen. Most packages seem to be Jenkins/Apple outside and DRC in the slot. This article says Deayeon and Jenkins with both Hall and DRC deep I guess we shall see, but it seems Hall was signed primarily because of his ability to play the slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigblue25 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I guess we shall see, but it seems Hall was signed primarily because of his ability to play the slot. He will probably get the bulk there and he is coming off back surgery, so they probably were just seeing what DRC does there while Hall healed a bit more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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