Oshane Ximines

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 could look to trade Janoris Jenkins at the trade deadline

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New York Giants, Janoris Jenkins

As the October 29 deadline closes in for the New York Giants, they could look to make several deals that would provide them value for the next NFL draft.

Adding draft assets is precisely what they need going into the third year of a rebuild and several weak spots existing on the defensive side of the ball. One option the Giants could look to utilize is starting cornerback, Janoris Jenkins.

Jenkins is a quality player that has been inconsistent with the Giants through the ups and downs. He tends to play far better when the team is winning, and confidence is high, which is only natural. However, he falters when the unit is struggling and lacks effort at times.

Realistically, letting Janoris Jenkins go would hurt the defense and the secondary significantly. His influence as the number one corner helps give the unit a bit more legitimacy and support. Without him, DeAndre Baker would likely slide into the number one corner spot, and Corey Ballentine will be forced into a starting role.

What could the New York Giants get in a trade involving Janoris Jenkins?

Targeting contending teams in a potential trade would be the priority. Teams like the New Orleans Saints, or Kansas City Chiefs would make sense in a deal. The most value the Giants could hope to get from Jenkins would be a third-round pick, which can ultimately turn into high value.

This past draft, the Giants selected Oshane Ximines in the third round, who has already racked up two sacks and 15 combined tackles this season.

Last year, general manager Dave Gettleman selected both Lorenzo Carter and B.J. Hill in the draft — both players start on the defense currently. Last week, Carter had a stellar game, enjoying one forced fumble and one sack against a harsh New England Patriots team. Both Hill and Carter seem to be developing into quality players, and they were both selected in the third round. If the Giants could get a similar pick in exchange for Jenkins, that might not be a terrible deal.

New York Giants: Which Third Round Edge-Rusher Is A Better Bet To Emerge?

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New York Giants, Oshane Ximines

In the last 2 years Dave Gettleman, general manager of the New York Giants, has drafted a pass rusher in the 3rd round. In most cases, the talent on the edge has dried up by the time the 3rd round comes along, given the demand for the position. Expecting both of the young defenders to break out might be greedy considering the hit-rate on 3rd round pass rushers. It’s certainly early yet but if only one had to be picked as the better bet to pan out, is it Lorenzo Carter or Oshane Ximines?

College Production:

Oshane Ximines was easily the better college pass rusher if you’re strictly looking at numbers. Ximines had 3 seasons with at least 7.5 sacks in his college career. Lorenzo Carter didn’t have one season reaching Ximines’ impressive floor in 3 of his 4 seasons (7.5). Lorenzo Carter’s best mark was 5 sacks in his junior year. Overall, Carter collected 14 sacks while Ximines was able to rack up 32.5 sacks in the same amount of college seasons as Carter (4). Their tackles for loss weren’t very close either, Ximines collected 51 and Carter only managed to get 21.5.

The trick with their large variance in pass-rushing production is the variance in the talent level of their opponents. Lorenzo Carter was a Georgia Bull Dog in the SEC which is largely considered the most physical and NFL-ready conference in college football. Oshane Ximines played college football at Old Dominion which is a very small school, he was actually their first player drafted. While Carter went up against plenty of NFL prospects, Ximines did not.

Player Profiles and Skill-Sets:

Lorenzo Carter is somewhat lanky considering the average build of a pass rusher. He added some good weight in the offseason and even looks stronger but has always struggled to play with leverage. At 6’5” tall and weighing 250 lbs he’s not a physically imposing player, he needs to win with speed to get around the edge. The good news is he has plenty of it (4.5 forty yard dash) but lacks the pass-rushing techniques to stay alive on plays when his speed is matched. So far in 2019, he only has half a sack and shares it with the other 3rd round pass-rusher, Oshane Ximines.

Oshane Ximines isn’t a very big pass-rusher either but at 6’3” and 252 lbs he is slightly stouter than Lorenzo Carter. He seems to play a little tougher than Carter too, he is much more of a hand-fighter than the 2nd-year pro. That could be partially why he has 1 more sack than Carter at this time, despite playing fewer snaps. The ”X-Man’s” overall speed is pretty average for an edge defender. He only ran a 4.78 forty yard dash but has displayed functional pass-rushing quickness with his 3-cone mark of 7.13 and a 4.57 20-yard shuttle.

Final Thoughts:

The two players couldn’t be much different from each other. Lorenzo Carter has super-human physical tools but hasn’t learned how to wield them. Oshane Ximines is somewhat limited physically but has a pass-rushing repertoire that makes up for his size. While it seems fair to somewhat neutralize Ximines’ lead in production due to differences in opponents he’s currently ahead of Lorenzo Carter in sack production in 2019 with less NFL experience and fewer snaps. While Oshane Ximines is less dynamic physically he is more of a complete package than Lorenzo Carter and a better bet to stick in the NFL at this time.

New York Giants: Evaluating the Talent on Defense

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New York Giants, Dexter Lawrence

Going into the 2019 season the New York Giants coaching staff knew the defense would be flawed. The team has young players on the field with three rookies starting on defense.

What they didn’t know is the team would look almost entirely lost on defense, allowing 9 touchdowns through three weeks of the season. Overall they’ve given up 94 points which is tied for 2nd worst in the league, only ahead of the tanking Miami Dolphins.

The team looks like they’ve taken a step back on the defensive side of the ball compared to the 2018 season when James Bettcher first arrived.

Each layer of the defense has deficiencies. The defensive line hasn’t been physically overbearing for offensive lines. Linebackers can’t cover and don’t seem to know who to cover, to begin with. The secondary not only has a hard time in coverage but looks like a confused unit with poor tackling mechanics. The Giants have an overall bad defense through three weeks.

That’s not to say things can’t get better but it’s a good time to evaluate the talent on the defensive side of the ball:

Dalvin Tomlinson

The young defensive lineman is the longest-tenured player of this unit. He was a 2nd round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. As a prospect, he was known for being technically sound. He also gave teams a headache when they tried to run the ball against Alabama. He didn’t exactly fill the void Jonathan Hankins left behind but still played well for a rookie.

In the 2018 season, he improved in certain areas. He went from 50 combined tackles as a rookie to 59 in his 2nd year. He also had 4 more tackles for a loss in his 2nd year. He’s not an elite run-stuffer but he’s a solid contributor. His lone sack should tell you he’s here to help win on 1st and 2nd down.

One of the positives with Dalvin is he hasn’t missed a game since entering the league. This is Dalvin’s 3rd season so if his price tag is a little high they can at least wait until the 2021 offseason to worry about replacing him. For now, he’s one of the team’s few significant assets on defense.

BJ Hill

BJ Hill was one of Dave Gettleman’s first draft picks as GM of the New York Giants. Hill was selected in the 3rd round of the 2018 NFL Draft, still just 24 years old. The defensive lineman was a late-riser in the draft process as teams fell in love with his speed and athleticism at 311 pounds.

In James Bettcher’s scheme, he lines up as a 3 and 5 technique defensive end. As a rookie, he collected 5.5 sacks with 8 quarterback hits overall. He also had 48 total tackles, proving to be stout against the run as well.

His start to the 2019 season has been slow with 0 pressures through two games and 0 sacks through three games, but his rookie season should keep everyone optimistic. He might not be a totally proven commodity yet but ultimately he is an adequate starting option for most teams. He looks to be a core piece with 3 more years under contract, even if he doesn’t turn out to be special.

Dexter Lawrence

Many expected Snacks 2.0 when they heard Dexter Lawrence’s name called 17th overall during the 2019 NFL Draft. Not only is Dexter much different from Snacks but he also doesn’t primarily line up as a nose tackle as Snacks did. Lawrence is versatile with the quickness that  300 lb men don’t possess, let alone players in the mid 330’s. He’s got plenty of nastiness in the trenches at that size and has drawn plenty of double-team blocks through 2 games as a rookie.

He was considered a slam dunk pick by many scouts with the only concerns regarding positional value. Whether he becomes a savvy pass rusher or not, he’s already made it apparent he can collapse the pocket with offensive guards being along for the ride. That in itself will help spark some pass rush.

He’s also expected to be a great run defender with the size he brings. The team might’ve expected him to be more disruptive earlier on but there’s a lot of legitimate optimism regarding his talent. Having another 4 seasons of his services after this year will be vital to this team’s success on defense.

Olsen Pierre

Many didn’t know who Olsen Pierre was when the team signed him during the offseason. He was a familiar face for James Bettcher who coached him in Arizona during the 2017 season. It’s easy to see why Bettcher didn’t forget him.

Pierre had 5.5 sacks in his defense as a rookie with 9 total quarterback hits. He also had 30 tackles that season, showing some disruptiveness in both phases of defense. Unfortunately, he was injured in 2018, only starting 1 game with little production.

While Bettcher is under some scrutiny for leaning on familiar players too often Pierre might be a gem if he can stay healthy. He’s already earned 1 sack this year coming against the Buffalo Bills. For now, Olsen Pierre is an adequate rotational piece for the defensive line but is not under contract after 2019.

RJ McIntosh

One of the more unfortunate draft prospects last year, RJ McIntosh fell to the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft due to a thyroid issue. His talent alone could’ve put him in the 3rd round but teams were concerned with his ability to maintain his weight. Luckily for Dave Gettleman, a roll of the dice paid off and McIntosh is in football shape again.

He played sparingly in 2018 but already has 3 tackles this year as a rotational piece. Expected to be a pass rusher, his quickness is noticeable and really stood out in the preseason games.

Maybe McIntosh’s bump in the road will stop him from reaching his full potential but most teams would be comfortable with him as a rotational defensive lineman. With 2 more seasons on his rookie contract, he’s a significant piece moving forward even if he’s mostly depth.

Lorenzo Carter

Evaluating the defensive line was surprisingly pleasant considering the 0-2 start. That’s because it’s mostly the linebackers and secondary who have struggled heavily so far. Lorenzo Carter might’ve gotten a sack last week but his pressure-rate isn’t anywhere near adequate.

When practice opened he was on fire but went back to getting stone-walled by offensive tackles once pads came on. During his time as a Georgia BullDog, he was up and down with sack production as an unrefined athlete. He didn’t learn the nuances of pass-rushing in his 4 years of college and still hasn’t in the NFL. The worst-case scenario for Lorenzo Carter is being a pass-rushing specialist or a possible change in his role.

Lorenzo is the team’s best coverage linebacker even though his the main job is to get after the quarterback. There’s some risk that comes with Carter but he did collect 4 sacks as a rookie. Even with slight improvement, Carter could enter the 6 sack range on an annual basis. If not, the team has another potential avenue with him as an off-ball linebacker. Carter is far from proven and still needs to show more before he can be considered a significant asset. If he doesn’t improve greatly in 2019 he shouldn’t be considered anything more than a reserve pass rusher.

Markus Golden

One of James Bettcher’s guys, Golden was signed during the offseason as a potential solution for the pass rush. He had one really good reason where he racked up 12.5 sacks with Bettcher in Arizona. As a 2nd round pick this upside was always there.

Unfortunately, Golden tore his ACL in 2017 and spent the 2018 season getting reacclimated to the game. He’s been healthy for a while now but has struggled to make much of an impact.

Golden was a band-aid type of signing, only coming to New York on a one-year deal. Being 28 years old, Golden isn’t any sort of long-term answer and hasn’t lived up to the hype, to begin withop, For now, the team can only hope he taps into the potential he had before getting injured. Lorenzo Carter and Markus Golden make for an underwhelming duo at outside linebacker.

Oshane Ximines

The final piece to the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, Oshane Ximines was drafted by the New York Giants with the 3rd round pick they received from Cleveland. Ximines was one of the more dominant pass rushers in college but the problem was he played schools lacking world-class talent.

Oshane was the first player to be drafted out of his former college, Old Dominion. So far, he looks like he’s a bit shocked by the physicality of offensive lineman in the NFL but has the technique to potentially overcome that aspect of the game. He’s only in the mid 250’s so winning with speed and technique will be crucial for the rookie’s career.

No one knows yet whether he’s a significant asset moving forward but there’s a combination of upside at a position of need for this team. X-Man has already recorded a sack (against Tampa Bay) this season. That makes him a hold going into 2020 regardless of what the team gets out of him in 2019. Even then, expecting anything more than a reserve pass rusher is asking for too much at this time.

Tuzar Skipper

When everyone read the news of the New York Giants claiming Tuzar Skipper off the Steelers Practice Squad, most people said “who?” Skipper was a somewhat obscure draft prospect for the average fan. He wasn’t selected in the draft but was quickly signed by the Steelers.

There was some buzz about Skipper making the 53-man roster in Pittsburgh but he said he got caught up in “the numbers game”, a situation where teams are forced to part with value due to needs elsewhere on the roster. The 6’3” 247 lb edge rusher racked up 5 sacks in the preseason, flashing the upside scouts were looking for. Obviously as an undrafted free agent, carving out a consistent role on any team is an uphill battle. Even as a guy with some upside, high expectations for Skipper aren’t reasonable.

We would all love a feel-good story but it’s unlikely with UDFA pass rushers. If he sticks around for the 2020 season its most likely a result of Skipper becoming a special teams ace. Skipper will most likely never make much of an impact on a defense in the NFL.

David Mayo

There are a few players on every team who are there for the sole purpose of special teams play. With just 61 total tackles in 4 seasons, Mayo is one of those players. Originally drafted in the 5th round, many analysts projected him as a reserve linebacker/special teams asset. He’s turned out to be exactly that.

Mayo is a solid tackler and runs an impressive 40-yard dash in the 4.7’s. It was most likely his impressive speed that made him more appealing to the Giants than BJ Goodson. He will be a fixture on punt and kickoff coverage but the team is in trouble if he takes defensive snaps. Mayo isn’t a significant asset to the team but could possibly be back for a special teams role in 2020.

Alec Ogletree

Many fans were excited when Dave Gettleman traded a 4th and 7th round pick for Alex Ogletree in 2018. This trade being a let-down is an understatement. Outside of some splash plays, Ogletree has struggled against both rushing and passing offenses.

The team pays him like he’s a top asset at the inside linebacker position, making over $8M per season, but he’s not in that class. There are teams in the league where Ogletree would be nothing more than depth but the New York Giants lack adequate talent at this position. Given the crisis at this position, Ogletree could be back in 2020. This is possible out of pure desperation since he’s not an adequate option on the field.

Ryan Connelly

The inside linebacker with the most optimism surrounding him on this team is Ryan Connelly. To make this even better, he will be with the team for 3 more seasons after 2019. Already being a starter in the lineup may speak to the talent-level of the unit more so than Connelly’s performance level. Even then it’s nice to see him beat out older players on the team.

Connelly was known to be a thumper in college, someone who had the instincts to sniff out run plays with the physicality to finish the job. While Connelly had the tools to translate into a decent run defender in the NFL he was atrocious in coverage at the college level. He gave up a 70% completion rate in his coverage. As a 5th round pick, the team wasn’t banking on anything more than a special teams contributor and situational linebacker.

He looks up to the task so far with possibly more upside than they anticipated but it would be unfair to expect an adequate starter from a 5th round pick. Especially after his interceptions against the Buccaneers in week three. Moving forward he should be considered quality depth but the team should be looking for 2 new starters at inside linebacker going into the 2020 season.

Tae Davis

Once thought of as a potential savior for this 2019 inside linebacker unit, Tae Davis was quickly replaced by Ryan Connelly in the starting lineup. Davis went from playing nearly all of the snaps against Dallas to playing none against the Bills. A former safety in college, Davis doesn’t have any issues with mobility playing linebacker.

Overall, Davis was originally an UDFA with little chance to carve out a significant role in the league. Based on how extreme his loss of snaps was he isn’t in line to impact this team in any way. He might not even be an adequate reserve piece. If he’s on the team in 2020 the team probably didn’t do a good enough job upgrading the inside linebackers.

Jabrill Peppers

Known as the 2nd main asset from the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, Jabrill Peppers is a ”swiss army knife” who plays safety but has other abilities. He can return kicks and punts and even carry the ball in a pinch. He did all of these things as a Michigan Wolverine on his way to becoming a 1st round pick for the Browns.

Peppers is not a pure strong or free safety. He’s matchup-based and does his best work in man coverage. His start as a New York Giant has been rocky but this defense is still figuring itself out in general. Overall, he’s a top-shelf athlete who has a ton of potential.

It’s more fair to consider him backup-caliber than a proven player at this point. If he taps into his potential he could be way more than that but at this time a team shouldn’t be comfortable relying on him. The team will only have him for 1 more season after 2019 if they don’t exercise his 5th year option. At this time Peppers should be considered more of a borderline starter than a significant asset.

Antoine Bethea

This was one of the more surprising signings of the offseason. Antoine Bethea has had a very successful career but he’s been playing for 14 years now. 1,200 tackles and 24 interceptions speaks for itself but what does a 35-year-old have to offer in a rebuild?

He hasn’t exactly been sharp this year and hasn’t been where he needs to be often enough for a guy who’s played for well over a decade. Even if Bethea is still an adequate starter he isn’t nearly a valuable asset for a team that’s in a rebuild. Going into 2020 it would be surprising if he sticks around.

Michael Thomas

One of the feel-good stories for this team is Michael Thomas who went from being a reserve in Miami to seeing playing time in New York. He even intercepted a couple passes last year showing some ability in shallow coverage and made a clutch tackle in week three to help the Giants beat the Buccaneers.

While Thomas is a decent backup and a slightly below-average starter being 30 years old really limits what he can offer a rebuilding team. Thomas offers some value at this time but isn’t a significant asset, especially when looking ahead to 2020.

Sean Chandler

The young safety was signed as an UDFA out of Temple in 2018. His most impactful play with the Giants was recovering a fumble against the Bears last year, which might go down as Eli Manning’s last win against a great team.

Barring an unusual outcome, Chandlers time with the Giants will be short-lived and he probably won’t make the team in 2020 if they overhaul this unit the way they should. Sure, there’s a chance he blossoms, but we can’t expect that from an UDFA until we see it.

Julian Love

The rookie out of Notre Dame was considered a cornerback on draft day but not to the Giants. He’s played some nickel here and there but his main position now is safety. Love played both positions at Notre Dame and was proficient in both man and zone coverages. Through 2 weeks he has not played on defense yet.

While many are ready to hit the panic button, not all rookies are instantly ready to play. We don’t know much about his worth in the NFL yet but we do know most analysts didn’t expect him to be available in the 4th round. According to Gettleman he “stuck out on our board” when the team was on the clock in the 4th round. For a rookie that appeared to have a rough preseason we can’t consider the ”draft-steal” a significant asset at this time.

Janoris Jenkins

The current number 1 cornerback of the New York Giants is a proven player but a frustrating player. His play ranges from very good to very poor. Against the Buccaneers in week three, Janoris was as bad as he’s ever been, allowing Mike Evans to total 190 yards, 3 touchdowns, and multiple clutch receptions.

Overall, he’s a number one corner in the league. But how much value does he offer to the Giants as a player who’s 30 years old? In a rebuilding season, Jenkins is technically a significant asset but one that will expire before this team is any good again. He holds no value in this teams future unless they can get a draft pick in exchange for Jenkins.

Known to be a little rough around the edges, he doesn’t possess the politically correct attitude this staff wants in its players. It’s fair to say Jenkins will probably be gone sooner than later. Even if the team doesn’t find a trade partner they probably won’t be interested in paying a $10M base salary to the declining veteran in 2020.

DeAndre Baker

It’s been a brutal start for the rookie cornerback. While this can be discouraging it wasn’t always normal to field first-year players in September, if at all. Don’t give up on the kid yet, most draft analysts thought he was the top cornerback in this class with very sticky coverage.

Most considered him a mid-1st round pick so getting him at 30 might be quite fortunate in terms of value. His lack of elite speed was apparent when he lined up against Amari Cooper but he was always expected to struggle against receivers with elite speed. Baker also looked improved against the Buccaneers. He will be a significant asset for this defense as long as he improves, which is more than likely considering his draft pedigree.

Corey Ballentine

Another small school product, Ballentine was a big fish in a small pond. He dominated his competition but went up against lesser talent, much like Oshane Ximines. His measurable’s stack up well at 6’0” with a 40 yard dash in the mid 4.4’s. He also has a knack for getting his head around while in coverage to either deflect a pass or force a turnover.

Ballentine displayed these skills intercepting a Davis Webb long ball during the preseason. Corey had a healthy dose of 1st team reps during training camp, showing he’s not far off from playing time. While he hasn’t been playing yet in 2019 the team sees him as a potential starter in 2020. Ballentine has great upside but can’t be considered a significant asset until we see him succeed in the regular season.

Sam Beal

The New York Giants selected Sam Beal in the 2018 Supplemental Draft. This is a rare occurrence for any team but Beal wasn’t your typical prospect in a Supplemental Draft. At Western Michigan, Sam Beal was a pest for opposing passing offenses. He stands at 6’1” but only weighs about 180 lbs. While he’s a little light his 4.4 speed made him a handful to deal with for college receivers.

Talent was never expected to be an issue with Beal, it was always his health. In his very first practice as a Giant he injured his shoulder and his season was over. This year the team could’ve put him on season-ending IR again but he will be eligible to return once he’s healthy. The team could’ve made better use of a 3rd round draft pick but Sam Beal still has great upside. Overall, we haven’t seen him on the field enough to consider him a significant asset.

Grant Haley

Another feel-good story for this team. Grant Haley was an UDFA in 2018 after playing for Penn State. He was originally on the practice squad but was signed onto the active roster to join his former college teammate Saquon Barkley. Throughout much of the summer the team tried to make Haley play outside corner which wasn’t a fit considering his 5’10” frame.

Since being signed to the active roster Haley has been proficient in the nickel position. The team doesn’t have a longterm deal worked out with him but he’s a significant asset for this defense as an adequate defensive back. If he continues his strong play in 2019 he could earn himself a long-term deal with the New York Giants.

Antonio Hamilton

While the 4th year UDFA had a respectable training camp he completely unwraveled against Dallas in week 1. As a 4th year player there isn’t the development excuse for Hamilton, the large majority of players are what they are in their 4th season. He hasn’t covered well or tackled well and lost most of his playing time in week 2. Originally thought of as strong cornerback depth, Hamilton has looked completely replaceable on defense thus far. Fortunately, Hanilton’s excellence as a gunner on special teams should keep him on the team through 2019 and maybe even 2020.

Overview:

After reviewing this defensive unit and their play through three games, the New York Giants are incredibly thin on defense.

The defensive line has significant assets but it’s the other positions that are lacking. With that said, the unit could still improve.

The team doesn’t have a single significant or proven asset at inside linebacker OR outside linebacker, in a 3-4 scheme. Below-average players and raw potential is the best this unit has to offer.

The secondary only has 2 significant assets heading into 2020 if you consider Janoris Jenkins and Antoine Bethea goners. This unit could look much better if guys like Corey Ballentine, Julian Love and Sam Beal develop the way the team expects them to. Until then they’re unproven prospects with upside.

The New York Giants will need to rebuild their defense after the 2019 season. Assuming DeAndre Baker progresses the way most 1st rounders do, he can be on a short list of significant and proven assets including Dexter Lawrence, BJ Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson, RJ McIntosh and Grant Haley.

New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence continues to show improvement

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New York Giants defensive lineman, Dexter Lawrence.

New York Giants rookie defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence isn’t versed in losing consistently, considering his track record with Clemson and National Championship victory in 2018.

Lawrence knows how to win, but he, unfortunately, cannot play every position by himself. Elevating his teammates’ play and continuing to improve is the only way to help the efficiency of the defense moving forward.

“I mean I have lost before,” said Lawrence. “It’s just not to keep letting it happen. It has to stop somewhere. It just takes everybody believing, the whole team in all three phases, special teams, offense and defense, believing that we can win and believing in each other. Getting a team morale and just going out there and playing football.”

Finishing his Clemson career with a 41-3 record, he has almost matched his loss total in two games as a professional athlete. However, the deficiencies on the team don’t land on him but rather the secondary and pass rush. Lawrence has done his job quite well — drawing double teams and wreaking havoc in the trenches.

The New York Giants need to see more from Dexter Lawrence:

Despite earning just two solo tackles and three assists, Dexter’s influence has been present. The pass-rush has been the process, and while the Giants expected the massive defensive tackle to help in that facet, there’s only so much he can do in year one.

Last week, cornerback Janoris Jenkins threw the pass-rush under the bus, stating that he cannot cover receivers for 10-seconds and he needs more support. Players like Markus Golden, Oshane Ximines, and Lorenzo Carter need to answer the call. Not that the secondary hasn’t been the catalyst for failure, but every unit on the defense needs to improve…quickly.

The entire defensive line has been sluggish, and Dexter knows how prepared he is to take on NFL-level opponents, it just boils down to him executing on his expectations.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I think I’m pretty prepared just from what I’ve been going against in practice in the offseason. Those guys got me ready for the regular season. I feel like it’s just me going out there and just proving it and showing it.”

Losing 28-14 to the Buffalo Bills exposed even more weaknesses on the Giants’ defense. Miscommunications, lack of effort, youth, were all present against a far lesser opponent comparable to the Dallas Cowboys. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offer a weaker opponent on Sunday, which should give players like Dexter Lawrence the opportunity prove their worth.

New York Giants News, 9/14 – Rookie pass rusher expected to start against Bills

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New York Giants, Oshane Ximines

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

When the Giants began the preseason with only Markus Golden, Kareem Martin, Oshane Ximines, and Lorenzo Carter as their primary pass rushers, the expectations for the group were low. Golden hasn’t had a productive season in three years, Martin has never been a consistent pass rusher, Ximines is a mere rookie adapting to the NFL, and Carter was a hopeful sophomore blossom, and in week one against the Dallas Cowboys, they all lived up to those expectations.

After just one week, Martin is already on injured reserve, and the three remaining pass rushers are not only battling their deficiencies but will also face off against a mobile quarterback in Josh Allen on Sunday. Ximines, however, will likely earn the start against the Bills, or be the second man in the rotation due to the injury to Martin.

The Old Dominion product finished week one with just one total tackle. As he progresses and adapts to the speed and physicality of the NFL, we should temper our expectations. It will likely take several weeks for him to show signs of productive growth as a rookie, but he has the tangible skills to rack up his efficiency consistently.

Big Blue View interviewed Ximines, here’s what he had to say:

Q: Biggest adjustment from college to the NFL?

A: “Just getting acclimated with being a pro. Everything you do changes. It’s not like college, where you’re going to get babied through everything. You’ve got to kind of find your routine and make an adjustment quick.”

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Ed Valentine – Friday 5: Oshane Ximines answers five — hopefully — good questions

John Fennelly – Giants defense has the attitude and desire to succeed

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Tom Canavan – Saquon Barkley’s touches not an issue with New York Giants

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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.

The New York Giants Pass-Rush Has A Lot To Prove In Week One

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New York Giants defensive lineman, Dexter Lawrence.

The New York Giants have not had a player record double-digit sacks since 2014. The hope is that this changes in 2019, but it does not seem likely. The Giants do not look to have a strong pass rush heading into the new season.

Last season, the Giants struggled to get after the passer. The team recorded only 30 sacks and allowed 371.4 yards per game. The Giants’ defense needs to improve in 2019, and that obviously starts in week one against the Cowboys.

Why The Pass Rush Might Struggle

In week one, the Giants pass rusher needs to prove the doubters wrong. Unfortunately, they have an extremely tough matchup to start the season. The Giants will be traveling to Dallas in week one to face off with the division rival Cowboys.

The Cowboys possess one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. The line features three All-Pros: Tyron Smith at left tackle, Travis Frederick at center, and Zack Martin at right guard. This creates a difficult matchup for the Giants’ young and inexperienced pass rush.

Last year, Zack Martin allowed only three sacks and only committed one penalty. Tyron Smith allowed zero sacks and committed ten penalties. If that is any indicator, Lorenzo Carter probably will not be getting his first sack of 2019 in week one.

Why The Pass Rush Has A Chance To Surprise

It also means it will be arduous for Dexter Lawrence to get a sack in his first career game. The Giants’ 17th overall pick in the 2019 Draft is an underrated pass-rusher. In 2018, Dexter Lawrence totaled an impressive 33 pressures (Pro Football Focus). Dexter was often in the face of opposing quarterbacks. He also added 10 sacks in three collegiate seasons.

Lorenzo Carter is the Giants’ lead pass rusher this year. Unfortunately, he was disappointing in the 2019 preseason, recording not a single sack after tons of hype in training camp. But he is still the team’s best pass rusher and it is never good practice to read far into preseason play.

The Giants do not have one single standout pass-rusher, but they do have multiple solid rushers. Markus Golden is only two years and one injury removed from a twelve sack season. Oshane Ximines was the Giants’ third round pick and he was impressive in the preseason.

Most importantly for the Giants’ pass-rush in week one is defensive coordinator James Bettcher. The Giants’ defense has holes all over, but a great coach can cover up those holes. It will be up to Bettcher to scheme pressure against the Cowboys. If the Giants fail to pressure Dak Prescott, they will lose. It is crucial for the Giants to get after the quarterback and get off to a strong start in week one.

New York Giants: Oshane Ximines Has Been A Great Surprise In The Preseason

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The New York Giants concluded their third week of preseason last night with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Giants saw numerous rookies standout in this contest. One rookie in particular had a strong outing against the Bengals in a position of need for New York.

Third-round draft pick Oshane Ximines had his best game of the preseason against the Bengals. The Giants are in dire need of a pass-rusher, and the underrated edge rusher might be able to fill this need. Ximines comes from a small school, Old Diminion (their first ever NFL draft pick), which is why he fell to the third round of the draft.

But to this point, Oshane Ximines has looked like more than a third round rookie. Oshane Ximines has made an immediate impact for the Giants this preseason.

Oshane Ximines Preseason Stats And Highlights

Oshane Ximines currently leads the the Giants in preseason sacks. Ximines has totaled 3 sacks, including 2 against the Bengals in an impressive performance. Oshane has been flashing potential during training camp, so it is encouraging to see this carry over into the preseason.

Not everyone’s strong camp on defense has shown up in the preseason games. Lorenzo Carter, the team’s starting edge rusher, has not recorded a sack in the preseason despite having a strong start to training camp. This lack of production out of Lorenzo is why Oshane’s strong play is so encouraging.

Oshane Ximines is already exceeding expectations. For a third round rookie to be leading the team in sacks is highly impressive. Third round edge rushers typically do not see an abundance of playing time in their rookie seasons, but Ximines is on track to see a plethora of snaps.

Another reason that Oshane Ximines’s performance is important is his linking to the Odell Beckham Jr. Ximines was drafted with the third round pick that the Giants received in exchange for Odell Beckham. Ximines is forever linked to this trade, and if he can turn into a solid starter (along with Dexter Lawrence and Jabrill Peppers), the Giants could come out as winners in this trade.

The New York Giants need these two rookies to explode in 2019

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New York Giants rookie, Oshane Ximines.

Three weeks into the preseason, the New York Giants have the look and feel of a successful team. The players and coaches have bought into the system and are laying down the foundational woodwork of what’s needed to win during the regular season.

Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has looked fantastic, putting his efficiency and poise on display. An 83.3 completion percentage attests to his accuracy and calmness in the pocket. Jones hasn’t been the only rookie making a name for himself this preseason, as both Dexter Lawrence and Oshane Ximines have looked good in flashes.

Lawrence struggled the first two games but improved mightily against the Cincinnati Bengals, swatting a pass on the opening drive that stopped Andy Dalton in his tracks after a long completion that nearly set the offense up in scoring position. He finished with just one tackle, but he was a crucial cog in the run game early on and displayed his strength in the trenches.

Another rookie that had a fantastic game was Oshane Ximines, who tallied dup three tackles, one assist, and two sacks.

Ximines now has three sacks in two games and seems to be improving with every passing week. Coming from a lower-tier Division-I school, the expectation for the third-round pick wasn’t as pressing, but he has lived up to the hype thus far.

The Old Dominion product was a force off the edge and sealed his assignment in the run game, helping to hold the Bengals to just 28 yards rushing on the day. His versatile repertoire of pass-rush moves was too much for the Bengals offensive line to handle, and he put on a show because of it.

The New York Giants need their rookie defenders to produce:

The combination of Lawrence and Ximines should be deadly this upcoming season, as one is versed in using his bull rush and strength to disrupt the pocket while the other (Oshane) is more confident with his counter-punch and using leverage. Both will be integral pieces to the defense that must make an impact during the regular season if the Giants wish to succeed.

Facing off against starting talent consistently will be a difficult transition, but both have progressed nicely during the preseason.