Alec Ogletree

Should the New York Giants take a flier on LB Rolando McClain?

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Should the New York Giants take a flier on Rolando McClain?

Will the New York Giants consider looking into linebacker Rolando McClain if he is reinstated?

After being suspended indefinitely in 2015 for repeated drug offenses, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain was unable to return to the football field. Four years later and one important hip surgery later, he’s attempting to make an improbable return.

The Alabama star linebacker had massive expectation entering the league but failed to live up to them with the Oakland Raiders, being cut after just three seasons. In Dallas, he had flashes of quality, racking up over 80 combined tackles in two consecutive seasons with 18 total tackles for a loss over that span.

The Giants have Alec Ogletree, BJ Goodson, and Tae Davis at the position, none of which are consistent players in the middle of the defense. Testing out McClain on a veteran minimum theoretically couldn’t hurt. Even bringing him in for training camp doesn’t spell trouble.

However, his past issues could be a deterrence for general manager Dave Gettleman who’s trying to piece together a high-class organization after years of mayhem.

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McClain, who’s turning 30 years old over the weekend, commented on his potential return, according to the NFL:

“Every time I got in my linebacker position, it was bone-on-bone grind,” McClain said. “Not only do I feel good, I’m recovered and I’m rested. I feel better now because I know I’ll be playing with two legs.”

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While getting reinstated is the primary obstacle the former defender faces, the more challenging problem could be finding a team to give him a chance at a comeback. I don’t see the harm in bringing him in and throwing him into the mix during training camp or pre-season, but then again, finding a younger rookie with potential could be a better usage of playing time and developmental assets.

I see the Giants ultimately taking the latter route.

 

New York Giants: BJ Goodson could lose snaps to Tae Davis

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New York Giants linebacker, B.J. Goodson.

The progression of the linebacker position for the New York Giants has been interesting to witness over the past couple of seasons. Trading for Alec Ogletree, a generally overrated player to be the MIC linebacker and command the defense was a sign of desperation.

While Ogletree did record five interceptions last season, he missed a ton of tackles and was bad in coverage. In addition, BJ Goodson, who showed promise early on in his career, has struggled with injuries at times or hasn’t left a mark big enough to justify a starting position.

With that being said, Goodson could lose reps to Tae Davis, a second-year player looking to take his game to the next level. Davis is a quality linebacker in coverage, which will see defensive coordinator James Bettcher utilize him more on third-down over Goodson.

The New York Giants might have found their solution in coverage:

His impact could be significant, as limiting tight end production has been a struggle for Big Blue in recent years. Tae, in fact, has been used in dual linebacker blitzes during minicamp, which could actually indicate and even great role than expected.

In just four starts last season, Davis racked up 33 combined tackles, two sacks, and one pass defended. As an undrafted rookie, his production wasn’t bad, and it should skyrocket in 2019.

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Playing Tae alongside Alec Ogletree would allow Bettcher to utilize the MIC linebacker to blitz more and play closer to the line of scrimmage. Goodson, who isn’t refined in coverage, forced Ogletree to drop back which generally didn’t pan out. Having a linebacker that can follow running backs out of the backfield and lock of tight ends will promote a different style of defense and might even extract more value out of Ogletree.

Check out this clip – you can see Davis read the receiver’s route and athletically make the play resulting in an incompletion. I expect him to see more playing time, if not overtaking Goodson for the second starting job.

New York Giants need Alec Ogletree to elevate his game in 2019

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New York Giants, Alec Ogletree

Recording 93 combined tackles and five interceptions in 2018 certainly makes New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree look like an elite defender. Previous to last season, Ogletree was never known as a ball-hawk but managed to secure two touchdowns on INT returns, proving his worth after a speculative trade.

General manager Dave Gettleman brought Alec in to help bolster the middle of the defense, putting a true leader and aggressor in the MIC position. Last season was the first of his four-year career that he didn’t record 10 passes defended or more, but he compensated with the turnovers he forced.

Has Alec Ogletree helped the New York Giants defense improve?

Ultimately, Ogletree had a ‘decent’ year in his first with Big Blue. The Giants, however, need him to take his game to the next level in 2019 to justify his $11.75 million cap hit.

Other than his efficiency in coverage, the Giants’ defense as a whole ranked 24th in the league allowing 371.4 yards per game. While this can’t be attributed to Ogletree alone, it shows the ineffectiveness of the unit as a whole and what the Giants need to do to compensate. It starts with the linebackers and ensuring they have the talent necessary to not only call defensive plays but make them as well.

Big Blue was equally poor against the run as they were against the pass — allowing 252.8 passing yards per game (23rd in the league) and 118.6 rushing yards per game (20th in the league).

The bottom line, Ogletree needs to improve in 2019 despite his INT totals. According to Pro Football Focus, Alec Ogletree still ended up with the eighth-worst coverage grade of any starter in the league.

Here’s an example of his inability in coverage:

Ogletree struggled mightily with running backs in the flat, something defensive coordinator James Bettcher will look to solve this season. Expect to see a lot more of Tae Davis in coverage rather than Ogletree, who will likely feature closer to the line of scrimmage and rush the passer more frequently.

In addition to Alec’s inadequacy in the clip above, his tackling can be a problem at times. He missed 20 tackles in 2017 and a similar number in 2018. He must increase his efficiency in that category if he wished to reach his potential.

New York Giants might have a darkhorse linebacker in Tae Davis

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New York Giants linebacker, Tae Davis.

The assumed starters at linebacker for the New York Giants are Alec Ogletree and B.J. Goodson, however, reserve option Tae Davis earned reps with the first team during OTAs on Friday.

Davis put on a show in the starting role, although he will likely only feature in specific packages. He broke up a pass intended for tight end Rhett Ellison during the two-minute drill and snagged an interception on a pass towards the middle, according to Giants.com. His solid day earned him some points from the coaching staff as they evaluate the players on the roster and help players like Davis reach their potential.

The undrafted free agent from 2018 played in 14 games with four starts last season. He tallied 32 total tackles with two sacks and four quarterback hits. His numbers look solid from afar, especially for an alternate option. If he takes on a bigger role in 2019 he could prove to be a darkhorse player for the Giants.

How would the New York Giants use Tae Davis?

Essentially, Davis would play alongside Ogletree in the middle of the field with the latter handling MIC duties. One of the more positive attributes that Davis possesses is his ability in coverage. He’s able to cover tight ends and play out in the flat against running backs. That’s where he makes a difference, as he’s not a refined run stopper like Goodson.

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That indicates his play in specific pass-coverage packages. I would like to see defensive coordinator James Bettcher utilize both Davis and Goodson throughout games to extract value at the appropriate times.

With a year of experience under his belt, Davis will likely have the next-man-up role over rookie linebacker, Ryan Connelly. The Wisconsin product has fantastic instincts, but he will likely require a bit of development before he can overtake Davis for the job. In fact, I can imagine Connelly becoming an every-down linebacker over Goodson and Davis in the future. Here’s some more info on Connelly!

New York Giants: Could Ryan Connelly Become An Impact Player As A Rookie?

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The New York Giants drafted Wisconsin linebacker, Ryan Connelly, in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The New York Giants have had one of the worst linebacker corpses in the NFL for years now. The Giants’ last general manager, Jerry Reese, placed little to no emphasis on the linebacker position.

This was strange considering the Giants thrived off of a strong linebacker corpse in the ’80s. Fortunately, the Giants’ current general manager, Dave Gettleman, has placed more emphasis on improving the Giants’ linebacker position than his predecessor.

Dave Gettleman has made two notable moves to improve the Giants’ linebacker corps in his two years as the Giants’ general manager. Last offseason, Dave Gettleman made a trade for former Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree. Ogletree struggled at times in 2018, but still, lead the Giants in interceptions with 5 picks.

Big Blue’s latest attempt to improve the linebacker position came in the 5th-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The New York Giants selected inside linebacker Ryan Connelly out of Wisconsin with 143rd overall selection. Giants fans have high hopes for Connelly’s future, but will he be able to make an instant impact as a rookie?

How Connelly Can Make An Instant Impact:

Ryan Connelly considered a surprise pick for the Giants in the 5th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Many expected the Giants to draft an offensive lineman, but the decision to draft an inside linebacker could pay dividends.

The Giants’ current linebacker corps is weak. The starting linebackers on the Giants, Alec Ogletree and B.J. Goodson, both had disappointing seasons in 2018. Alec Ogletree is a leader and will certainly start in 2019, but B.J. Goodson has been an inconsistent player in each of his first three seasons, so Connelly could overtake his starting role.

B.J. Goodson has not played 16 games in any of his three seasons in the NFL. He played 15 games in 2016 and 2018 but played in only 7 games in 2017. In order for Ryan Connelly to take over the starting linebacker position, he must stay healthy.

Goodson started in 13 games in 2018 and finished with 61 tackles. He also added 2 interceptions, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 fumble recovery. Still, Goodson did not grade out particularly well by Pro Football Focus’s standards in 2018, finishing with an overall grade of only 66.2. PFF noted there were times when Goodson “couldn’t seem to find [his] covers.”

Pro Football Focus grading might not have been too kind to B.J. Goodson in 2018, but it was certainly favorable towards Ryan Connelly. Connelly finished ahead of the 10th overall pick, Devin Bush, in PFF grading in 2018.  Ryan finished with an overall grade of 85.2, a run defense grade of 82.5, and 50 total stops in 2018.

Ryan Connelly is a speedy linebacker with the ability to shoot gaps. His 1.54s 10-yard split recorded at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine ranks third among participating off-ball linebackers that weighed in at 240-plus pounds since 2010. Connelly was praised by NFL scouts for his instincts and play recognition.

Ryan Connelly was a great linebacker against the run for Wisconsin in 2018. Ryan totaled 89 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and 1 forced fumble. Unfortunately, Connelly was not an extraordinary linebacker defending the pass as he finished his collegiate career with 2 interceptions and 5 passes defended in 4 seasons.

There is some serious potential in the New York Giants’ 5th round pick this year. Ryan Connelly is a talented inside linebacker who could end up starting for the Giants in his rookie season and beyond. If Connelly can reach his true potential, he will be an absolute defensive steal.

New York Giants: Alec Ogletree Needs To Improve In 2019

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The New York Giants‘ defense struggled all season in 2018. The unit ranked 24th in the league allowing  371.4 yards per game. The team had a serious lack of defensive talent, so defensive coordinator James Bettcher did not have much to work with.

The Giants were poor against both the run and the pass. Big Blue allowed 252.8 passing yards per game (23rd in the league) and 118.6 rushing yards per game (20th in the league).

Dave Gettleman made a trade last offseason for middle linebacker Alec Ogletree. This trade was supposed to bring solid play to one of the Giants’ weakest positions, but unfortunately, in 2018, it did not.

How Alec Ogletree Did Not Meet Expectations

Alec Ogletree needs to improve in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus, Despite five interceptions, Alec Ogletree still ended up with the eighth-worst coverage grade of any starter in the league.

Plays like this contribute to Ogletree’s poor coverage grade:

Ogletree struggled in pass defense, but he was not spectacular in run defense either. Pro Football Focus considers Alec Ogletree to be one of the least effective tacklers in the league. He missed 20 tackles in 2017, and a number similar to that in 2018 with the Giants.

Alec Ogletree also did not demonstrate the tenacity needed from the inside linebacker position. His most embarassing play of the 2018 season came against the Tennessee Titans. Ogletree was chasing down the running back when he was absolutely leveled by quarterback Marcus Mariota (yes, leveled by a quarterback):

How Alec Ogletree Did Meet Expectations

Despite his lackluster performance on the football field, Alec Ogletree earned himself a captain’s patch. Ogletree was a true leader for the Giants’ defense in 2018.

Ogletree also made a couple of highlight plays in his 2018 season. These great plays can sometimes blind fans from the poor plays, but they help make watching the Giants fun again.

Alec Ogletree finished the season with 5 interceptions, including 2 pick-sixes. These plays were exciting for Giants fans. Ogletree needs to improve his consistency covering running backs and tight ends in space and improve his gap choices in run defense. If Alec can achieve this and continue to make spectacular highlights, too, then he can solidify himself as a long-term starter on the Giants’ defense.

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New York Giants: This Free Agent Linebacker Could Be a Perfect Fit on Defense

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The New York Giants have one of the league’s worst defenses. They went from bad to worse in the offseason. After an abysmal 2018, the Giants let their best pass rusher and their best safety go in the offseason. These moves left even more holes on the Giants’ defense.

Prior to these moves, the Giants were already weak at a number of defensive positions. One of those weak positions is at linebacker. The Giants will need to upgrade this position sooner than later, whether that be through the draft or through free agency.

Free agency started about two weeks ago, so the market has really thinned out. However, there is still at least one quality linebacker available for the Giants to consider. That linebacker is former Washington Redskin, Zach Brown.

What Zach Brown Could Bring To The Giants:

At 29 years old, Zach Brown could bring a nice veteran presence to the Giants’ locker room. The Giants already have Alec Ogletree for that, but Brown and Ogletree could be a great duo of defensive captains. Brown has also performed better than Ogletree as a player, too.

Zach Brown struggled through an injury in 2018 but still played top-notch football. He totaled 96 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 10 tackles for loss. Despite playing with an injury, Brown played all 16 games for the Redskins. He did only start in 12, but he played in all 16. Pro Football Focus graded Zach Brown as the 3rd best linebacker in the NFL in 2018 with an overall grade of 89.2.

Brown has been an impact player for the past 3 seasons. He has totaled over 10 tackles for loss in each of the last 3 seasons and in 2017 and 2016 he had incredible combined tackle totals. In 2016, playing for the Buffalo Bills, Brown racked up a huge 149 tackles as he was selected to the Pro Bowl. That tackle number was 2nd highest in the league in 2016.

In 2017, Brown put up another solid season. He had 127 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks with the Washington Redskins. On top of this, Brown was solid in pass defense in 2018. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown was one of only six linebackers to play at least 350 coverage snaps and not allow a single touchdown in coverage.

If the Giants sign Zach Brown, they will be getting a highly productive and very consistent linebacker to man the middle of their defense.

New York Giants: Former Broncos Linebacker Could Be An Option In Free Agency

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It is no secret that the Giants had one of the NFL’s absolute worst defenses in 2018. General manager Dave Gettleman has said publicly that fixing the defense is a priority for him in the 2019 offseason.

One position group that the Giants could improve at is linebacker. Luckily for them, there are plenty of quality linebackers in this year’s free agency class. On Friday, another veteran linebacker was added to the mix.

Brandon Marshall

In an effort to free up cap space, the Denver Broncos declined the option of one of their defensive starters. This player is linebacker Brandon Marshall. Marshall is 29 years old and has played for the Broncos since 2013. But now, in the 2019 offseason, Brandon Marshall will become a free agent.

Marshall had a down year and 2018 and was not able to stay on the field. He played in only 11 games due to injury, but only started in 7 of them. He still managed to total 42 tackles. Despite missing 5 games in 2018, Marshall does not have an extended history with injuries.

In 2017, Brandon Marshall played and started in all 16 games. Brandon racked up 106 total tackles, 3 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and four passes defended. On top of that, Marshall forced a fumble, and recovered one for a touchdown.

Brandon Marshall was in impact player in 2017. If he can return to form in 2019, he could wind up being a steal in free agency for whichever team signs him.

The Giants’ Linebacker Needs

Last offseason, the Giants traded for linebacker Alec Ogletree. Alec was a captain for the Giants in 2018, but he was far from being a top linebacker in the NFL.  Alec Ogletree finished the season with a 50.7 overall grade, ranked 81st out of all linebackers in the league. He was inconsistent in coverage and missed many tackles that left fans frustrated with the defensive captain. B.J. Goodson performed better (66.2 overall PFF grade), but was still only the 41st ranked linebacker in the NFL.

With these low grades, the Giants are clearly in need of another linebacker. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Marshall recorded PFF grades of 74+ each season. In 2017 and 2018, his grade was in the 60s, but that would still be an improvement from Alec’s 50.7 overall grade.

The Giants need help on defense, and adding another solid veteran linebacker would be a huge addition to the 5-11 team. Brandon Marshall should be available on a cheap contract due to his age and injury during 2018. However, that low price point is why he might be a fit for the Giants. Marshall could come in and be a solid starter for the Giants in 2019. If he is able to exceed expectations and return to his prime form, the Giants could come away with the steal of free agency.

New York Giants: 2019 Free Agent Targets At The Linebacker Position

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Last offseason, the Giants attempted to improve their linebacker position via trade. The Giants acquired Alec Ogletree and a 2019 7th round pick from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2018 4th round pick and a 2018 6th round pick.

Despite this trade, the Giants’ linebacker position was still below average in 2018. Alec Ogletree finished the season with a 50.7 overall grade, ranked 81st out of all linebackers in the league. He was inconsistent in coverage and missed many tackles that left fans frustrated with the defensive captain. B.J. Goodson performed better (66.2 overall PFF grade), but was still only the 41st ranked linebacker in the NFL.

Luckily for the Giants, there are plenty of options to upgrade the linebacker position in the 2019 offseason. There are options in the 2019 free agency class. The Giants can certainly find quality linebackers to start for 2019 and beyond.

Free Agency:

If the Giants want to make a splash in free agency, there are a couple of big-name free agents they could look to sign. However, it does not stop there. There are not only big-name free agents, there are solid depth pieces they could look to sign on cheaper contracts.

Anthony Barr:

One big-name linebacker they could sign is Anthony Barr from the Minnesota Vikings. Barr is a jack-of-all-traits. He can rush the passer, defend the run, and play in coverage. Anthony Barr has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the past four seasons.

Anthony Barr accumulated 23 pressures on just 94 pass-rush snaps in 2018. On top of that, 2018 featured a career high in sacks for Barr 3 total sacks. This is especially impressive considering Barr’s high number of pressures and low number of pass-rush snaps. This prompted some to believe he should be converted to a full-time edge defender like he was in college

However, it would not be surprising if Barr remained at linebacker because of his ability to play in coverage. His 22 total passes defended in only 5 seasons proves he is a playmaker at the linebacker position.

He had a down year in 2018. He posted a career worst tackle total with only 55 but that could work to the Giants’ benefit. His 2018 campaign could lead him to a lower market value this offseason. If Barr could return to form, he could take the Giants’ defense to the next level.

Jordan Hicks:

Jordan Hicks is another big-name free agent that the Giants could look to sign. Stealing an impact player from a division rival could reap plenty of benefits. He could give the Giants some insider info on how to beat the Eagles’ defense. On top of that, Hicks is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL. He had 5 passes defended in 2018.

After missing 9 games in 2017 with a leg injury, Hicks bounced back with a solid campaign in 2018. In only 12 games, Hicks posted 91 total tackles. Hicks also totaled 3 sacks and one fumble recovery.

Hicks was still working his way back from injury in 2018, but if he is completely healthy in 2019, he could return to form as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. In 2016, Hicks played all 16 games and was lockdown in coverage. He had 5 interceptions and 11 passes defended in 2016. The Giants’ defense would welcome that production with open arms.

Deone Bucannon:

Deone Bucannon from the Arizona Cardinals is not a top-tier, big name free agent. He should be a cheaper option in free agency, but he could very well be a match for the Giants. Bucannon has a connection to the Giants’ defensive coordinator, James Bettcher. Bettcher was the defensive coordinator of the Cardinals before he joined the Giants in 2018.

Bucannon used to play safety for the Cardinals, but Bettcher had the wits to convert him to linebacker because of his tackling ability. In 2015, when Bucannon was playing both safety and linebacker, he racked up 109 tackles. He also had an interception, 3 passes defended, and 3 forced fumbles.

Unfortunately, Deone’s production has not been as stellar as 2015 in recent years. In 2018, Bucannon only started in 6 games, played in 13, and racked up just 38 tackles. He has become more of a rotational player. However, it is possible that a reunion with Bettcher could bring out the best in Bucannon.

New York Giants Expected To Have 11 Picks In 2019 NFL Draft

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New York Giants. Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur

The New York Giants are heading into the offseason with a disappointing 5-11 record. That record awarded them the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In this draft, the Giants are expected to have eleven total draft picks. With that kind of draft capital, the Giants should be expected to make some big moves this offseason.

Where Are The Extra Picks Coming From?

Typically, NFL teams have one pick per round, in each of the seven rounds. The Giants own their first round, second round, fourth round, and sixth round picks. That totals to four picks of their own and no pick in the third round. The Giants used their third round pick in the 2018 Supplemental Draft to take cornerback Sam Beal.

In addition to those picks, the Giants have acquired several picks via trades. The Giants received the Saints’ fourth round pick in the Eli Apple trade. They Also received the Lions’ fifth round pick in the Damon “Snacks” Harrison trade. Their two seventh round picks come via trade also. The first pick comes from the Vikings via the Brett Jones trade. The second seventh round pick was received from the Rams in the Alec Ogletree trade.

The Giants will receive two more picks in the fourth and fifth rounds. These are compensatory picks. The fourth round pick comes from the Giants losing Justin Pugh in free agency in 2018. The fifth round pick will be granted to the Giants due to Geno Smith signing with the Chargers in 2018 and Devon Kennard signing with the Lions in 2018.

With so many picks in the upcoming draft, the Giants will have many options. They could hold onto their picks and select multiple impact players, or they could trade their picks. They could trade these picks for veterans or for more draft picks. If the Giants like a specific prospect, they now have the draft capital to trade up and select him.