ryan connelly

New York Giants: A Peek At The Giants’ 2020 Free Agent Linebacker Options

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New York Giants, Kyle Van Noy

The New York Giants are in the second year of a rebuild and need to put an emphasis on fixing their linebacker corps. Rookie linebacker Ryan Connelly was having an excellent season before tearing his ACL, but outside of him, the linebackers have not displayed adequate talent.

Alec Ogletree is also injured and has not been performing up to his contract with the Giants. It is likely that New York will move on from him this offseason. The Giants’ week five matchup was a clear example of how badly they need to improve their linebacker group.

The Giants missed 16 tackles against the Vikings, most in the NFL in week five. Additionally, the Giants’ lowest graded player on defense according to Pro Football Focus was linebacker Nate Stupar with an abysmal 27.4 overall grade. This grade is due to multiple missed tackles and failures in coverage.

It is quite possible that the Giants will look to sign a veteran linebacker mid-season in order to bandage their broken group. There are a few options out there for the Giants to sign, but if they are thinking long-term, they will need to look ahead to the 2020 offseason. Here is a peek at some of the top linebackers that will be available in NFL free agency 2020:

Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert is a 26-year-old linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. He has been an underrated player throughout his career so far but is a definite top ten talent at his position. Joe is an excellent coverage linebacker and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

In 2018, Joe Schobert had the second-highest Pro Football Focus coverage grade of all linebackers at 87.7. Joe allowed only 92 yards after the catch in coverage and a 72.4 passer rating when targeted. These stats were both top ten in the NFL.

But Schobert is also a solid pass-rusher for a linebacker. He totaled 3 sacks and 6 quarterback hits in both 2017 and 2018.

Kyle Van Noy

This 29-year-old linebacker made a name for himself during the 2018 playoffs en route to the Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl. Van Noy is an excellent pass-rusher.

In 2018, Kyle Van Noy totaled 47 pressures. Mastermind Patriots coach Bill Belichick used Kyle Van Noy as a pass-rusher disguised as an off-ball linebacker. This allowed Van Noy to be a disruptive pass-rusher and total 3.5 sacks in the 2018 regular season and 4.5 sacks in the 2018 postseason.

According to Pro Football Focus, no off-ball linebacker rushed the passer more than Van Noy with his 275 pass-rush snaps in the regular season. So far in 2019, Van Noy has 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an elite 89.4 overall PFF grade.

Kyle Van Noy would be a perfect addition to the Giants’ defense and could fill two needs for them. The Giants need an off-ball linebacker badly with Alec Ogletree being overpaid and underperforming and Ryan Connelly suffering an ACL injury. Connelly proved he can be the Giants’ starting linebacker, but he and Van Noy would be a nice one-two punch.

Of course, Van Noy has proven to be an important piece of the Patriots’ defense, so it is unlikely they will let him walk in free agency. But if he does hit the open market, this is a productive veteran that the Giants should jump on immediately.

Cory Littleton

Cory Littleton is another young linebacker about to hit free agency. The 26-year-old linebacker is off to a hot start this season. In week one, Littleton made Pro Football Focus‘s Team of the Week after a performance that saw him finish the game with four tackles resulting in a defensive stop, a pass breakup, and an interception.

Pro Football Focus commended Cory for his performance in coverage, stating that Littleton faced a whopping 10 targets in Week 1 and allowed seven of them to be caught. However, it was for a mere 47 yards, and he notched an interception. His 94.1 coverage grade was tops at his position.

Littleton is another player unlikely to hit the open market, but the Rams have spent a lot of money on their talented roster, so they might have to cut ties with their linebacker this offseason. Cory Will receive a nice pay-day if he does hit the open market in 2020. But his coverage ability would sure go along way in fixing the Giants’ defense if they were able to sing him.

The New York Giants’ Defense Will Have Its Hands Full Against Minnesota

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

The New York Giants are on a two-game win streak and are looking to make it three today against the Minnesota Vikings. New York sits with a 2-2 record. If the Giants win today, they will have their first winning record since 2016. It is a crucial game for the Giants.

But this will be no easy matchup for the Gmen. The Minnesota Vikings have been struggling this season, but their offense has enough talent to create some trouble for the Giants’ defense.

The Vikings’ Strong Running Game

The Vikings have been dependant on their running game so far this season. Third-year running back Dalvin Cook is having a breakout season and keeping the Vikings’ offense together. Dalvin has received 20 or more touches in each of the Vikings’ first four games this season.

Through these first four weeks, Cook has accumulated 410 rushing yards, good for second-best in the league. Dalvin is also leading the league with 5 rushing touchdowns so far.

The Giants will have a tough time matching up against the Vikings’ run game today. They are incredibly thin at linebacker after losing Ryan Connelly, Alec Ogletree, and Tae Davis to injury. The Giants will start David Mayo at linebacker. He had a solid performance in week four, but the Giants will need him to build on that in order to defend Dalvin Cook.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, Dalvin Cook’s dominance has not led to many wins. The Vikings are 2-2, just like the Giants. This is obviously not Cook’s fault. The Vikings’ passing attack is to blame for their even record.

The Struggling Passing Game Ready To Break Out

The Minnesota Vikings are 2-2. They can thank Dalvin Cook for those two wins, but could also blame Kirk Cousins for those two losses, as many fans have. Fans have given Kirk criticism for missing open receivers:

https://twitter.com/SkolBros/status/1178829219666780160

This had led to a lot of frustration within the Vikings’ locker room. This frustration has leaked out to the public. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been open with his frustration via social media and the Vikings’ other primary receiver, Adam Thielen, expressed his frustration in an interview.

Thielen criticized the Vikings for being “one-dimensional” on offense. The Vikings’ offensive struggles have been surprising because Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs were one of the league’s best wide receiver duos in the NFL last year, combining for 2,394 yards and 18 touchdowns. So far, however, the Vikings’ receivers have not lived up to expectations.

Many expect this to change in week five against the Giants. The Vikings are expected to open up their offense and try to get Thielen and Diggs heavily involved in order to fix their offensive inconsistency. The Giants’ defense is a favorable matchup for Minnesota’s offense.

The Giants’ defense allowed their opponents to have huge offensive performances in each of the first three games of the season. New York allowed the Cowboys to gain 405 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air, then allowed Josh Allen to throw for 237, and then allowed Jameis Winston to toss an impressive 355 and 3 touchdowns. The Vikings are aware of this and will look to be the next offense with a breakout game against the Giants.

Fortunately for New York, their defense stepped up big in week four. The Giants allowed the Redskins to gain only 121 yards through the air. The Giants also forced the Redskins to throw 4 total interceptions. In week five, it will be interesting to see which side prevails: the improving Giants’ defense, or the struggling Vikings’ offense.

The New York Giants are in trouble on defense ahead of clash against Vikings

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants could be in big trouble on defense against the Minnesota Vikings, primarily at the linebacker position where they are down three starters. Ryan Connelly tore his ACL last Sunday against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter, after tallying a sack and interception in the contest.

The New York Giants lost a key contributor on defense:

Connelly has emerged as the team’s top linebacker, and losing him will be significant to the quality of the unit. The Wisconsin product had earned 20 combine tackles, ten assisted, one sack, and two interceptions. He has been stellar in every facet of the game and developed very quickly. His instinctual play and ability to shoot gaps are two attributes that make Connelly a serviceable starter for the foreseeable future.

He will return next season and hopefully be able to pick up right where he left off. In the meantime, the New York Giants have Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis on the roster, both of which will miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. That will leave backup David Mayo to be the featured player in the middle of the defense for the Giants. After being cut by the San Francisco 49ers on August 31, Mayo was picked up just three days later.

“When the Giants called, I was pretty excited,” he added, per the NY Post. “It was a good fit and I was happy to come.”

It is expected that Mayo will be the MIC linebacker and controller of the defense. He will be communicating with the defensive coordinator James Bettcher and relaying calls to his teammates, a task that was formally held by Ryan Connelly.

“I’ve done it plenty of times. I’m comfortable with it,” said Mayo, who had eight tackles against the Redskins. “I feel good about calling plays and setting the fronts and all that stuff. If it’s me, I’ll be ready.”

While mayo has experience being the communicator of the defense, he is still new to the unit and is not the first option. This could result in porous play in the middle of the field for Big Blue, and I imagine the Vikings utilizing their talents to expose that deficiency.

New York Giants: What does Josiah Tauaefa offer the defense in place of Ryan Connelly?

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Josiah Tauaefa, New York Giants

The New York Giants defense took a significant hit with the loss of Ryan Connelly due to a torn ACL in his right knee. Replacing him will be incredibly tricky and realistically impossible, but as they say, “next man up!”

That fortune next man is Josiah Tauaefa, an undrafted player out of the University of Texas at San Antonio. While the school isn’t well known and doesn’t produce many starting-caliber players in the NFL, Tauaefa has the tenacity and heart to carve out a role. It’s never ideal to have to replace an injured starter, but it gives an opportunity to a player that could rise to the occasion.

The question is: What are the New York Giants getting in Josiah Tauaefa?

Let’s first take a look at some film to see what he’s capable of.

One thing to note about Tauaefa is that he’s a capable blitzer and can evade blocks with his shiftiness. The linebacker isn’t the strongest player, but his speed and relentlessness to get to the ball compensate to a degree. On this play, he shoots the A-Gap, swimming the running back and gets into the backfield in a jiffy. This attests to his speed, something all good linebackers have. My primary concern will ultimately come down to his efficiency in the run game, as his lack of size could show up in that facet.

Tauaefa has solid vision, as you can see in this clip. He identifies the play at the line of scrimmage and reacts well to an option play from the quarterback. That’s the instinctual reaction timing a good linebacker should have. Ultimately, Tauaefa has the attributes to be a solid contributor, but there’s a reason he was on the practice squad. In an ideal world, the Giants will not have to utilize his services, and if they do, they should be prepared to give up some big runs against better running backs.

Aside from Tauaefa, Big Blue has Alec Ogletree, Tae Davis, and David Mayo on the roster to supplement the loss of Connelly. None of the three players mentioned have the instinctual skills Connelly does, and that will hurt the efficiency of the defense. In fact, after Ogletree went down with a pulled hamstring, the defense went on to play six quarters without allowing a touchdown.

 

The New York Giants’ Defense Made A Complete Turnaround In Week 4

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The New York Giants are .500 for the first time since 2016. After their commanding week four victory against the Washington Redskins, the Giants are now 2-2.

Against the Redskins, the Giants’ defense came to play. After struggling heavily in the first three weeks of the season, the Giants’ defense seems to finally be figuring it out.

When Things Turned Around

The Giants’ defense played great in week four, but this improved play did not begin in week four. The Giants’ defense elevated their performance in week three.

In the first half of the Giants’ week three contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the defense was pitiful. The Giants trailed 28-10 at halftime after surrendering 3 first-half touchdowns to Mike Evans. The second half of the game was a different story, however.

The Giants’ defense got a spark when it forced Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston to throw an interception. The Bucs then went on to take the ball out of their quarterback’s hands and rely on the run game. The momentum was on New York’s side and the Giants held the Buccaneers to only 3 points in the second half, allowing Daniel Jones and the offense to come back and win the game.

Since the start of the second half in week three, the Giants’ defense has allowed a total of 6 points. 3 in the second half of the Tampa Bay game, and 3 in the entirety of the Washington game. The Giants’ defense has made a quick turnaround.

Three Elite-Graded Performances

The New York Giants’ defense shut down the Washington Redskins in week four. The defense made a statement early in the game when they intercepted Redskins quarterback Case Keenum in the first quarter. Rookie linebacker Ryan Connelly came away with his second interception of the season on this play.

Ryan Connelly, unfortunately, went down with an injury later in the game that is now confirmed to be a season-ending torn ACL. A really tough loss for the Giants’ defense as Connelly was playing elite football before going down. Connelly recorded 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 tackle for loss, and 3 total tackles. This was enough to earn Ryan Connelly a spot on the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week with an overall grade of 90.7.

Connelly was not the only player on the Giants’ defense to earn an elite PFF grade and make the Team of the Week. In fact, the Giants had three defenders awarded with this weekly honor.

Janoris Jenkins posted an overall grade of 92.8 and finally looked like his old self again. Against the Redskins, he allowed just 15 yards on two receptions. He also snagged 2 interceptions and totaled a pass breakup. According to PFF, Jenkins finished the game with an NFL passer rating allowed of only 19.8. A pretty impressive turnaround from the guy who had allowed 282 yards on throws into his coverage coming into the game.

Jabrill Peppers was the third and final Giants player to make the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week in week four. Peppers is another player who had been struggling in 2019 but made a quick turnaround in week four. Jabrill was targeted four times in coverage, yet he allowed just one reception for five yards and had an interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Jabrill Peppers is a swiss army knife on defense and he seems to finally be molding into the player we knew he could. Giants fans should hope to see this defense’s progression continue in week five against the struggling Minnesota Vikings offense.

The Giants’ defense altogether played a near-perfect game against the Redskins. They held Washington to just 176 yards of total offense and also forced 4 turnovers. New York also added 3 sacks on the day. All of this added up equates to a New York Giants win.

New York Giants Lose Key Rookie For The Season To ACL Tear

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants probably haven’t had the very worst luck in the league this season, but it’s also hard to say that they haven’t been unlucky at all in the injuries department. The team lost Saquon Barkley for four to eight weeks in the game before last, and in their most recent outing, the Giants managed to lose a less well known but still important player, this time on defense.

The player in question is Ryan Connelly, one of the team’s starters at the linebacker position after being taken int he fifth round. But after some hype in the offseason, Connelly has performed better than a fifth round player, getting to the 20 tackle mark through the first games of the season and registering not just one but two interceptions so far in addition to a sack and a pair of pass deflections.

Now, however, Connelly is out for the season, his good performances cut short by a second half injury against the Redskins which has now been confirmed to be an ACL tear. Aside from the obvious reason, which is that the Giants lost some good production with this injury, there’s another reason why Giants fans should possibly be worried.

The injury comes while Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis are battling a hamstring injury and concussion respectively, putting the Giants at a thin level of depth for this part of the roster.

“It’s unfortunate, but he’s got a really bright future and he’ll come back from this. Part of being a pro sometimes is coming back from injury. If he approaches this the way he has approached the game, he’ll be back here full strength,” Pat Shurmur said about the injury.

The Giants have managed to handle their roster problems pretty well this season so far, whether that’s Golden Tate’s suspension or Saquon Barkley’s injury which will keep him out until midseason most likely. Hopefully, that trend continues and the team can continue to perform at the linebacker position while Connelly works on making a full recovery.

New York Giants: Star rookie defender could be lost for the season

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants dominated the Washington Redskins in week four the regular season, beating them 24-3. Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones led the team was 225 yards and a touchdown to help secure the win. He also threw two interceptions displaying hit his rookie hiccups.

However, the biggest news comes on the defensive side of the ball, as another rookie, Ryan Connelly, left the game on a non-contact injury that seemed to involve his knee. Connelly has had issues in the past while playing at Wisconsin and this could surely spell trouble for a defense that has relied on his services thus far in the season. He finished the day with three tackles, two assists, a sack, and an interception.

Connelly has been one of the bright spots for the Giants this season after three consecutive weeks of weak defensive play. Against Washington, they were without Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis, two starters. Connelly showed he has the qualities to lead the defense and be a focal point moving forward, which makes his injury even more significant. After the play, he was immediately carted off the field.

Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter also left the game with a neck injury and was previously nursing an elbow ailment before the start of the game.

The New York Giants could be in trouble:

The Giants will take on a better team in the Minnesota Vikings next week. They will need their defense to be at tiptop shape if they wish to compete, as they have a considerably better defense and offense in comparison to Washington. The next few games will present a severe challenge for Big Blue, especially if they’re without several influential players on defense.

If Connelly’s injury ends up being significant, the Giants will have to hope Ogletree and Davis can replace him quickly and recover from their injuries

New York Giants: 3 players that need to step up against Washington Redskins

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants will face off against a winless Washington Redskins team in week four of the regular season on Sunday. The Giants are coming off their first win of the year behind rookie passer Daniel Jones.

Throwing for 336 yards and two touchdowns, accompanied by two rushing scores, Jones is in a position to continue his success in just his second start in the NFL.

The rookie’s home debut will be exciting, but the Washington Redskins are no easy team to play, especially as a division rival with safety Landon Collins seeking revenge.

Here are three New York Giants players they need to step up:

1.) Ryan Connelly

With linebackers Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis both missing Sunday’s matchup against Washington, rookie Ryan Connelly will be the catalyst the position.

Already ascending to the top linebacker spot for Big Blue, Connelly is in a position to lead the unit and show that he can communicate with the defense. After three difficult weeks in the first half of games, Ryan has stood his ground and made consistent plays to help the defense get off the field.

In week three against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Connelly made an essential stop on third-and-two on the Giants’ 5-yard-line to hold their opponents to a field goal. This ultimately allowed the offense to score a touchdown and take the lead — a pivotal moment in the game and a testament to his speed and efficiency in the open field.

The Giants need him to step up in the absence of Ogletree and Davis — this game represents a big challenge for Connelly, which I think is more than capable of handling.

2.) Janoris Jenkins

After being tortured by Mike Evans for 190 yards and three touchdowns last week, Janoris Jenkins will need to elevate his game and play like the cornerback he’s capable of being. He will have a tough matchup against Terry McLaurin, a young wide receiver that is rising in the NFL.

The Redskins top pass-catcher struggled with a hamstring injury this week and could be on a snap count, which would benefit Jenkins. However, stopping him will allow the defense to increase their efficiency and make third-down plays to keep the offense on the field.

Ultimately, Jenkins is on this list because we need to see a quality bounce-back performance from him. If the Giants can go into week five at 2-2, they will gain back Golden Tate and be in a position to succeed moving forward.

3.) Wayne Gallman

With Saquon Barkley missing time due to a high ankle sprain, the Giants will roll with number two running back Wayne Gallman on Sunday. Gallman has been waiting for this opportunity, and in his third season, he will receive it. The Giants expect him to be an in-between the tackles runner and pick up yards to help the offense move the chains. Having a balanced offense is part of head coach Pat Shurmur’s game plan, meaning Wayne must provide value to support the overall production of the offense.

The Giants offense of line has ranked in the top five this year so far in the run game. Gallman should have the resources necessary to break off a few solid runs. However, most of his value will come in the form of protecting Daniel Jones and allowing him to operate at a high-level.

 

 

The New York Giants should be very excited about this rookie

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New York Giants, Giants, NYG, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants are undoubtedly very excited about rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, especially after he led a game-winning drive to cap off a 336 yard, four score performance. Jones won the Offense of Player of the Week for the NFC after just one start in the NFL, which not only provides optimism but excitement for the future.

While the offensive side of the ball seems to be in good hands with Jones, the defense has been lackluster this season. However, one rookie has stood out and is beginning to make a name for himself within the Giants fan-base.

Wisconsin product Ryan Connelly has been stellar at times for the Giants and is proving his worth quickly. After recording five assisted tackles and two solos against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Connelly showed why he could be a starting linebacker for the future.

He also picked up an interception in the win, which helped flip the momentum in the Giants favor and gave them a fighting chance at extracting their first victory of the season. The defense struggled in the first half of the game, allowing 28 points. The second half was far better for New York who seems to elevate their game after making mental and physical mistakes early in contests. They allowed just three points the entire second half, showing their resiliency and ability to overcome adversity.

“This feeling, you got to hold onto this feeling,’’ Connelly said after the game. “And we also got to hold onto the feeling of getting off on those third downs, the short drives we were able to keep them to.’’

Interestingly enough, the Giants defense improved after they lost Alec Ogletree to a hamstring injury on what ended up being a dead play. With Ogletree likely out against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Connelly will be the MIC linebacker, shuffling play calls and coverages to the defense.

As just a fifth-round pick, Connelly’s emergence as a starting player is significant. The Giants managed to secure a quality player later in the draft without having to allocate a premium pick to the position.

One of the positive aspects Ryan brings to the table is his tenacity and confidence. He’s hugely versed in shooting gaps with speed and can get into the backfield in a hurry. His short-area burst is excellent and gives him an advantage in the run game. Also, he’s instinctive in coverage, allowing him to cover running backs in the flat and cross tight ends (not ideal).

Connelly is a player to keep an eye on and watch his development. He’s quickly becoming a favorite for defensive coordinator, James Bettcher.

New York Giants: The Unsung Hero of the Win Over Tampa Bay

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New York Giants, Ryan Connelly

The New York Giants finally broke through in week three against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They captured their first win of the 2019 season, avoiding a dreaded 0-3 start. The Giants had a Quarterback not named Eli Manning under center for just the second time since 2004. Rookie QB Daniel Jones stole the show throwing for 336 yards and 2 TD’s, while also adding 28 yards and 2 TD’s on the ground. He is the player the media will be praising for the next few days. There is another rookie on the team who deserves some praise, though. Linebacker Ryan Connelly, a fifth-round pick in this past year’s draft, led the defense in just his second career start.

Why Ryan Connelly deserves more recognition after the win:

He became a leader

When starting Linebacker and defensive captain Alec Ogletree left the game in the second quarter, Connelly came in and filled his role. Ogletree is perhaps the most important person on defense, as it is his job to relay the play call from the sideline to the huddle. When he went down, someone had to fill in for him.

Connelly stepped up in just his second career start in the NFL. He took command of a defense that had been struggling mightily for the entire season. In the second half, he and his teammates held Tampa Bay to just 3 points. To put into perspective how impressive that is, the same defensive unit allowed 28 points in the first half. Connelly led the defense to a complete turnaround in the second half.

His individual performance

Besides his leadership in the huddle, Connelly also had arguably the best game of anyone on the New York Giants’ defense. He tallied seven tackles, tied for the third-most on the team. He also recorded an interception, the Giants first and only takeaway of the season thus far.

Don’t take away any of the attention that Jones is getting – he earned it. But Connelly proved that he is not only a starting linebacker in the NFL, but he is a leader on defense. For a fifth-round pick to come into the game and takeover the defense in just his third NFL game says something about the kid from Wisconsin.