Dalvin Tomlinson

Should the New York Giants extend pass-rusher Markus Golden?

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New York Giants, Markus Golden

One thing the New York Giants have lacked this year is an elite pass-rusher who they can depend on to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and help stop the run. Free-agent pickup Markus Golden has been their best pass-rusher by far, logging 6.5 sacks and 15 QB hits through 10 games.

Golden’s ability to get into the backfield and force early passes has been a significant help for the 27th ranked Giants defense, but the secondary has been so weak his efforts have gone to waste. Pairing Golden with another premium-level pass-rusher would help take some of the pressure off and allow him to work in 1v1 situations with offensive tackles.

Opposing offenses have planned around Golden and provided help to slow him down in early-down sets. Because defensive coordinator James Bettcher has dialed down his blitz percentage, he has relied on Golden to pick up a majority of the slack.

Bettcher’s usual blitz-heavy scheme has been tamed, primarily at the expense of a disastrous secondary who has failed to work off of a solid push in the trenches and lack of talent at the linebacker position. Their inability to cover crossing routes and the deep ball has seen the Giants defense plummet every single week.

Should the New York Giants extend Markus Golden?

Extending Golden might not be the worst idea, especially considering the value of quality pass-rushers in today’s market. Given Big Blue manages to grab a top-level outside linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft, like Chase Young or Yetur Gross-Matos, having Golden to pair with either would provide exponential value on the defensive line.

Imagining Golden, Young, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams up front gives me chills, and I can’t imagine a quarterback feeling any different. This unit would immediately become one of the league’s most feared, but it’s about retaining strong-points and not letting them walk in free agency.

Both Golden and Williams are due for big contracts — they will probably land in the $12-14 million range this upcoming offseason. It will be interesting to see general manager Dave Gettleman’s approach towards finalizing the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.

New York Giants Preparing For Jones vs Murray QB Battle

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Should the New York Giants draft Oklahoma star, Kyler Murray?

It’s not every season that some of the top quarterbacks drafted in the same class get to meet each other early on in their rookie seasons, with scheduling and roster decisions often making us wait to see these matchups, but that’s not the case this time as the New York Giants take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

There was plenty of speculation around this year’s NFL Draft about whether Kyle Murray or Daniel Jones would be the higher drafted player – obviously, we know how that turned out now. The Giants drafted Jones, while the Cardinals spent their top pick on Murray despite the question marks around him.

Now, Murray is starting for the Cardinals and has thrown for seven touchdowns this season, while Jones surprised everyone by also claiming the starting job after the Giants began the year with back to back losses. Both players are set to meet on Sunday during their rookie seasons.

But it’s not the offense and Daniel Jones that will have to deal with Murray, at least directly. That job falls to the Giants’ defense, and in the buildup to the game, and multiple players have taken note of the difficulties that may be experienced tying to contain the dual threat quarterback.

“He’s a real elusive guy. He’s quick. He can make plays outside of the pocket down the field. We have to be aware of that and keep him in the pocket. We have to rush him aggressively,” pass rusher Oshane Ximines told NJ Advance Media about Murray. 

“You’ve got to be aware of where you are in relation to him,” Ximines added. “So you don’t want to get too high on him or get underneath too quickly which allows him to escape outside. He uses his legs to create even more opportunity for his arm. We have to just get him on the ground.”

According to defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, patience will be one of the keys in handling Murray’s threatening ability on the ground. “The biggest thing is that you have to be disciplined. You have to be gap-disciplined, and you can’t just run around and get unbalanced in your rush because he’ll find a gap and just take off on you and capitalize on it.”

Sunday will show just how disciplined the Giants’ defense really is, after a poor showing in the later stages of the game against the Patriots. Will the Giants be able to bounce back? The answer might just depend on how well they handle the threat of Kyler Murray.

New York Giants: The key to beating the Buffalo Bills in week 2

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New York Giants, Dalvin Tomlinson

The New York Giants will face off against the Buffalo Bills in a week two match up that is a must-win game. After a severe loss against division rivals the Dallas Cowboys, Big Blue is in a position of adversity.

After allowing over 500 yards of offense, the Giants’ defense will look to bounce back in week two with better coverage in the secondary and a more efficient pass-rush. Meeting the Bills will be difficult, though, considering they have one of the league’s more tantalizing mobile quarterbacks in Josh Allen. Last week against the New York Jets, he did turn the ball over four times. However, he rushed for 38 yards on ten carries and a touchdown. He also threw for 254 yards and a touchdown.

In favor of the Giants, the Bills don’t have any electrifying pass catchers. They featured John Brown, Cole Beasley, Tommy Sweeney, and Devin Singletary, their young running back.

Despite having lackluster pass options, the Bills have one primary strength, and the Giants must stop him at all costs.

New York Giants: the key to beating the Buffalo Bills

Again, the key to victory in week two will be the Giants pass rush. The Giants had a total of five tackles on their defensive front, putting out a fat zero in the sack column. After claiming former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker to Tuzar Skipper this week, the team will receive an extra boost from a player that is highly touted. However, relying on him to pick up the slack from last weeks, performance is hugely optimistic.

Rookie interior defender Dexter Lawrence will be the catalyst once again in pushing the pile forward. His massive frame often draws double teams, which should give B.J. Hil and Dalvin Tomlinson extra room to work with. Also, pass rushers Oshane Ximines and Markus Golden must have better performances in week two. Golden, who played a significant portion of the game, finished with just one assist and zero tackles. Both Lawrence and Golden finished as the bottom two producers on the defensive side of the ball, something that cannot be repeated if the Giants wish to earn a win this week.

The ultimate key will be putting pressure on Allen, who will make mistakes consistently if startled. Containing him in the pocket and utilizing unique blitz packages is what defensive coordinator James Bettcher will look to do.

New York Giants: Keys To Success Vs. The Dallas Cowboys

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The NFL regular season is finally here. The New York Giants have their week one matchup coming up on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. in Dallas to take on the division-rival Cowboys. It will be of vital importance for the Giants to get off to a hot start this year, with the first four weeks arguably being the easiest stretch of games on the schedule.

The Cowboys were a playoff team last year. It will be a tough week one matchup on the road for the Giants. There are a couple of things the Giants need to focus on in order to win this game:

Protect Eli Manning

Eli Manning was sacked a career-high 47 times in 2018. The Giants have suffered through atrocious offensive line play for years but it looks like that might finally change in 2019. Dave Gettleman has made it his mission to rebuild the offensive line over the past two years and he has definitely succeeded to some degree.

No, the offensive line is still not the best in the league or even close to it, but they are definitely one of the league’s most improved units. The Giants added right guard Kevin Zeitler who will improve the Giants’ pass protection tremendously.

Zeitler allowed only 11 total pressures playing for the Browns in 2018 and will continue to be one of the best pass-blocking guards with the Giants in 2018. This will be important in week one against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have quietly gained one of the best pass-rushing defensive fronts in the NFL.

The Cowboys recently paid Demarcus Lawrence very handsomely. Lawrence has turned into one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, his two-year pass-rush grade (91.4) and two-year pass-rush win rate (19.4%) ranks fifth among the 60 NFL edge defenders with 500 or more pass-rush snaps since 2017.

Demarcus Lawrence recorded 14.5 sacks in 2017 and 10.5 sacks in 2018. He has also been known to poke lots of fun at Eli Manning on social media. The Giants’ new offensive line cannot allow Lawrence to keep disrespecting their quarterback. New York needs to make a statement in week one and shut down Demarcus Lawrence.

Be Prepared For Any Running Back

It is growing more and more likely that the Giants will have to face off against Ezekiel Elliott in week one. Up until this past weekend, the Giants were almost certain that Elliott would not have a contract by week one. But now, it seems almost certain that he will get the deal done with Dallas and play on Sunday.

The Giants know good and well what the NFL’s 2018 leading rusher is capable of. The Giants have faced off against Elliott only three times in the past three seasons (due to him missing one of the two contests each year). Elliott has totaled at least 70 yards in each of those three games and totaled over 100 yards in two of them.

The Cowboys’ offense runs through Zeke. So the Giants must be prepared to stop him. But what if Elliott does not play on Sunday? The Giants still need to be equally prepared for whichever running back does play. The Cowboys have one of the league’s best offensive lines, so any running back should produce behind it.

In fact, the Cowboys have a pretty talented backup running back that Giants head coach Pat Shurmur was admittedly a fan of. Pat Shurmur had this to say about Tony Pollard:

“He’s fast, has got really good instincts, good collision balance, he can catch the ball. So he’s got what you’re looking for in a runner. And it appears from what I’ve seen on tape and from what they’re saying that they’re really fond of what he’s done.” – Pat Shurmur, via NY Daily News

The Giants do have one of the best young defensive lines in the NFL. B.J. Hill impressed with 5.5 sacks as a rookie and Dalvin Tomlinson has been one of the league’s quiet superstars with his consistent run defense throughout his two-year career. The Giants also added Clemson hog molly Dexter Lawrence to the mix after drafting him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

New York has already stated that they are preparing for Sunday as if Elliott will be there. This should mean they will be prepared if Pollard is the back, too. Regardless, the Giants’ defensive line will have a tough matchup against the Cowboys’ offensive line that features three All-Pros.

New York Giants: How veteran defender Markus Golden can leave his mark

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New York Giants

The New York Giants have invested in the rebuilding of the defensive front with Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and B.J. Hill as their three down-lineman. Those three players are vital cogs in the run game and in disrupting the pass. However, the Giants are relying on several inexperienced outside linebackers to head their pass-rush.

Drafting Oshane Ximines with their third-round pick, Big Blue is looking to improve upon a terrible 2018 season in the sack-department. They tallied just 30 total sacks. Trading away Olivier Vernon probably won’t help either, but the Giants did bring in one veteran that can make an impact.

What are the New York Giants getting in Markus Golden?

Former Arizona Cardinal, Markus Golden is the veteran of the group, looking to revitalize his career after battling injuries in recent seasons. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher speaks of his defense with optimism, but he knows the quality of talent he has on the roster, and his primary goal is to extract every last ounce of it.

Golden is three years removed from a 12.5 sacks, 22 QB hits season. Those numbers attest to what he’s capable of on the football field, and what the Giants are hopefully getting out of the 28-year-old. An ACL tear in 2017 has damaged his performance, but it seems the veteran is finally back to full health.

“Now that my leg is healthy, of course I feel like I’m back,” he told SNY. “I’ve been doing this my whole life. It’s like, if you’re healthy, you’re able to go out and perform. I’m not even thinking about it. I feel ready physically and ready mentally.”

Pairing up with Lorenzo Carter on the opposite side, both Golden and the second-year Giant will help exponentially in recording more total sacks and quarterback hits. Bettcher will rely heavily on his outside linebacker to create a pass rush and unsettle the opposing quarterback in an attempt to force mistakes and get the ball back in Eli Manning’s hands.

Against the Bears, Golden absolutely obliterated a blocking tight end, sacking the QB and showing he still has some juice left in the tank. Hopefully, Bettcher will find a way to match Golden up with TEs and allow him to produce at a high level.

 

New York Giants could have one of the best young defensive fronts

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New York Giants, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, B.J. Hill

The New York Giants released their first unofficial depth chart of the offseason on Tuesday before Thursday’s preseason matchup against the Jets.

The team is filled with talented youth, and while they might struggle in 2019, there’s hope for the future. The defensive line is one of the more exciting position groups on the team, as Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill and Dexter Lawrence man the trenches.

Tomlinson is the veteran of the group going into his third season. He’s expected to finally reach his potential and perform at a high level against the run. He’s not the purest pass-rusher — Lawrence seems to have him beat in that category, but he offers excellent value in other facets.

Hill, who displayed flashes of dominance in his rookie season, is primed for a breakout year after recording 48 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits in 2018. There’s a reason to believe that the front three of a James Bettcher 3-4 defense will be one of the more exciting, up-and-coming units in the league.

New York Giants: Tomlinson believes Hill is on the right track towards success:

“You can just tell B.J. is more comfortable this year just running different games and just playing beside him in the run game. He’s more patient with things, like playing run blocks and things like that. B.J. is playing pretty well this year, too,” Tomlinson told reporters on Monday.

Dexter Lawrence, a 6-foot-4, 345-pound behemoth of a man, is also carrying the weight of success on his shoulders. Dalvin also raved about his insane athleticism for his size.

“It’s super unique, just to be that big and that athletic is amazing to see when you’re playing right beside him,” Tomlinson said of Lawrence. “I’ve never seen anybody near as big move that well.”

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Something the defense seems to have this season is brotherhood and chemistry. With so much youth and inexperience tainting the group, it’s only fair to expect hurdles, but they have come together to tackle them as a collective unit and develop a new atmosphere.

“The brotherhood and camaraderie of the defense we have right now is just crazy. The unity and the energy we bring to the field and coming out of the locker room each and every day,” Tomlinson said.

 

New York Giants: Will The Secondary Or Defensive Line Be Better In 2019?

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The New York Giants‘ defense has undergone numerous changes this offseason. They have seen two star defenders leave, Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon, opening big holes in both the secondary and the front seven.

But the Giants have also made plenty of acquisitions to try to patch these holes. They revamped their secondary in the 2019 NFL Draft and also added a stud rookie defensive lineman to their already solid young core.

This raises an interesting question for the 2019 NFL season. Which unit will perform better? The secondary or the defensive line?

Why The Secondary Might Perform Better

The New York Giants‘ secondary has been one of the league’s worst over the past two years. In 2017, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.4 passing yards per game (ranked 31st in the NFL). In 2018, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.8 passing yards (ranked 23rd in the NFL), showing minimal to no improvement.

Fortunately, Big Blue has made some major changes to help improve the backend of the defense. New York drafted three defensive backs in the 2019 NFL Draft (four if counting Sam Beal). These young cornerbacks wi

The Giants should have a solid new cornerback duo in Janoris Jenkins and DeAndre Baker. Jenkins has been a solid player with the Giants the past three seasons and Baker is a talented young rookie that New York drafted in the first-round.

But the Giants are not just set on the outside. At slot cornerback, the Giants have bounds of talent. Grant Haley is heading into his second season after a promising rookie season that saw him break up 2 passes and total 33 tackles in only 10 games.

But the Giants now have options at slot cornerback. Julian Love was the Giants’ steal of the draft in the fourth round. He could see playing time at both slot cornerback and free safety.

The Giants’ best new defensive addition this offseason was Jabrill Peppers. The Giants acquired Peppers in a trade with Cleveland, and Jabrill should instantly be the Giants’ best defender. Peppers is a playmaker all over a defense, as he has experience playing just about everywhere.

In 2018, most of Jabrill’s snaps were played at safety (281 snaps), but he played a lot of snaps at linebacker (172 snaps), edge (133 snaps), and slot cornerback (108 snaps), too, according to Pro Football Focus. The Swiss-Army Knife Julius Peppers was able to snag an interception, a sack, and record 79 combined tackles.

The Giants’ new secondary has a lot of young potential. But this unit is not the only piece of the defense with a lot of potential.

Why The Defensive Line Might Peform Better

The New York Giants’ defensive line is vastly underrated as of right now. They have an immensly talented young core that should serve them well for the next decade (if Gettleman manages to keep everyone tigether).

First up on Big Blue’s feroucious defensive line is Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson has been described by Pro Football Focus as one of the NFL’s secret defensive superstars. This is because of Dalvin’s incredibly efficient play throughout his first two professional seasons.

Dalvin Tomlinson had the longest active streak of tackles without a miss with 60. Dalvin has only missed one tackle in his two-year NFL career. Tomlinson has also racked up 24 defensive stops against the run in two years in the NFL. His continued development will make him one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.

Next up is one of New York’s brightest young stars on defense, B.J. Hill. Hill was a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and he played much better than his draft stock in his rookie season.

Hill proved that he is an excellent interior penetrator in 2018. B.J. set a New York Giants franchise record in 2018. His 5.5 sacks were the most ever by a rookie in Giants history since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. The 5.5 sacks were also the fourth most by a rookie this season.

Last but not least, the Giants’ latest addition to the offensive line, Dexter Lawrence. The Giants drafted Dexter Lawrence with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Lawrence is a young stud with tons of potential who could make an impact instantly.

Dexter Lawrence is known for his incredible work in run-defense, but he is also a criminally underrated interior pass-rusher. In three years at Clemson, Dexter totaled 131 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. But Dexter Lawrence also racked up 33 total pressures in 2018 (T12th in draft class) and he also had the third-highest pass rush productivity percentage in the draft class, applying pressure on 13.8% of his snaps.

The Giants’ defensive line has the potential to be one of the best young defensive lines in the NFL in 2019. The secondary has a lot of potential, but the talent is not as proven as the defensive line. Personally, I think the defensive line will perform better out of the two units because the secondary has too many young and unproven players. However, both units should surprise and be a lot better than most expect them to be this season.

New York Giants: BJ Hill Preparing to take major leap in 2019

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New York Giants, BJ Hill

After an inconsistent but impressive rookie campaign, New York Giants defensive lineman BJ Hill is preparing to take his game to the next level in year two.

Tallying 48 combined tackles with 5.5 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss, Hill showed his versatility and ability to get after the quarterback from a down lineman position. Featuring on the three-man line in the 3-4 system defensive coordinator James Bettcher prefers, Hill is developing into a quality run-stopper and pass-rusher.

While Saquon Barkley and Will Hernandez collected most of the headlines being the Giants’ first and second-round picks, Hill quietly made an impact on the defense. His influence was quiet but influential, ranking third in the NFC East in run stops with 22. His partner, Dalvin Tomlinson, finished with 26, ranking first in the division.

The chemistry they inevitably built will prove to be beneficial in 2019, and the addition of Dexter Lawrence on the line will also give the unit a nice boost.

The New York Giants are headed in the right direction:

Hill was an effective run defender last season, but his 5.5 sacks set a franchise record for rookie pass rushers. That not only attests to his array of skills but foreshadows what’s to come in his sophomore season. With the Giants passing on an elite pass rusher in the 2019 NFL Draft, they’re relying heavily on their interior lineman to make an impact and get after the passer.

They truly believe that Hill, Tomlinson, and Lawrence can play in all facets of the defense and leave their mark in different ways. Hopefully, that prayer is answered — the unit seems to be in good shape moving forward considering their youth and skill-sets.

Extracting the most value out of them and ensuring they remain healthy will be difficult. Utilizing them on an every-down role will be difficult given their size and ask. I expect there to be a minimal rotation occurring – look for the Giants to bring in a veteran lineman to help in the trenches.

However, the tandem of Hill, Lawrence, and Tomlinson should have fans excited for the future!

New York Giants News, 7/8 – RJ McIntosh finally ready to produce?

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New York Giants, RJ McIntosh

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

After missing all of 2018 with a supposed thyroid issue, defensive lineman RJ McIntosh is finally ready to make an impact on the season ahead. Back to full health, McIntosh has been working tirelessly to improve his stock and earn starting reps alongside Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and BJ Hill.

While he’s a bit behind in the starting race due to his lack of experience and late-round draft grade, there’s hope when it comes to production. In his final season with Miami in 2017, RJ racked up 25 solo tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

In regards to his illness, the defender stated:

NJ Advance Media: “With prayer, I pray it doesn’t come back up. It was something I couldn’t control and I believe we do have it under control with this medical team.

“I feel great. I feel healthy. I feel like I’m ready.”

The 6-foot-4, 286-pound lineman is ready to make an impact, but it won’t be easy to crack the starting group, especially with Lawrence’s ability as a pass rusher and run stuffer. Dethroning Hill and Tomlinson will be difficult as well, so I anticipate him acting as a rotational option that can fill in during specific situations. Hopefully, he can provide some value to a youthful Giants defense led by James Bettcher.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day!

Cameron Hogwood (GMEN HQ) – R.J. McIntosh: Could the Giants defensive lineman get his shot in 2019?

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Kevin Zeitler has one of NFL’s ‘biggest outlier contracts’

Patricia Traina (Big Blue View) – Giants’ 90-man roster: Can Sterling Shepard continue building on his expanded role in the offense?

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – New York Giants: DeAndre Baker and Sam Beal the future at cornerback?

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Nate Solder: Protecting Eli Manning is key to success in 2019

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Check out the best news for yesterday!

New York Giants News, 7/7 – Receiver corps is better than it seems

New York Giants: B.J. Hill Has Potential To Be An Elite Defender In His Second Season

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New York Giants, BJ Hill

The New York Giants sneakily had one of the best draft classes in the NFL last season. They drafted the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in Saquon Barkley in the 1st-round. Big Blue then went on to draft starters in each of the next three rounds.

The Giants selected Will Hernandez in the 2nd-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Hernandez stepped in as a talented starter immediately. New York then drafted to defenders in the 3rd-round.

The Giants’ first pick in the 3rd-round of the 2018 NFL Draft was Lorenzo Carter. He was a raw prospect who flashed tons of potential as a rookie but will need to make a leap in 2019 as a starter.

Unlike Carter, the Giants’ second pick in the 3rd-round (B.J. Hill) has already proven himself to be a solid defender. If Hill can build on his rookie season in 2019, he could prove to be an elite defender in his second season.

B.J. Hill Stats And Highlights

B.J. Hill was quietly one of the best rookie defensive linemen in the NFL in 2018. He was a disruptive pass-rusher from the interior, as well as a solid run-defender.

According to Pro Football Focus, B.J. Hill posted an above-average grade of 69.7 last season. This is especially impressive when considering Hill was only a rookie in 2018.

Hill was third in the NFC in run stops with 22. This puts Hill in elite company, considering the star defensive linemen in this division (such as Fletcher Cox, Tyrone Crawford). The Giants’ very own Dalvin Tomlinson lead the division with 26 stops. Hill and Tomlinson combined to create a fearsome duo in 2018.

Tomlinson was the Giants’ best run defender in 2018, but Hill was the defensive line’s best pass-rusher. In fact, B.J. Hill was one of the best rookie pass-rushers in Giants history. B.J. Hill set a New York Giants franchise record in 2018. His 5.5 sacks were the most ever by a rookie in Giants history since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.

B.J. Hill tallied 27 pressures as a rookie according to PFF. He also had 8 quarterback hits to go along with his 27 pressures and 5.5 sacks. Hill even totaled 6 tackles for loss and 48 combined tackles.

As B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson continue to progress, the Giants’ defensive line will progress into one of the league’es best. The Giants threw Dexter Lawrence into the mix this offseason, giving the Gmen a beastly defensive front. The New York Giants now have one of the best young defensive fronts in the NFL.