Saquon Barkley

New York Giants: 3 players that could somehow survive the roster cut

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New York Giants, Paul Perkins

The New York Giants and head coach Pat Shurmur have plenty of difficult decisions to make on Saturday before the roster cut deadline. At 4 PM, the roster must be cut down to the final 53-men.

There are a plethora of players fighting for their lives to ensure they earn a spot on the active team, and some of them will be left without a job and looking to latch on elsewhere.

Three New York Giants players that could survive the deadline:

1.) RB Paul Perkins

Fourth-year running back Paul Perkins is fighting to earn another chance with the Giants. Having been injured all of last season, he certainly doesn’t hold any advantage or leverage.

Perkins was thought to be the future for the Giants at running back after he rushed for 456 yards and average 4.1 yards per carry during his rookie season. His elusiveness and ability to make tacklers miss in open space provided optimism for the team moving forward.

The 24-year-old is coming off a season where he tore his pectoral muscle lifting weights. This opened the door for general manager Dave Gettleman to draft Saquon Barkley and inject him into an offense that badly needed a star running back. However, Perkins can still be of use in a limited fashion. While he’s not the most productive runner in the “I” formation, he’s a solid back in regards to running back screens and pitch plays. He is currently battling it out with Rod Smith for the reserve back spot behind Barkley and Wayne Gallman.

Acting as a glorified scar-back, Perkins can still be of use. Smith has had serious fumbling issues this off-season and is losing ground with every passing day. The final preseason game against the New England Patriots will be very telling of what is to come on Saturday.

2.) LB Josiah Tauaefa

The undrafted linebacker out of Texas-San Antonio has been a revelation for the Giants defense this preseason. While his name hasn’t been called frequently, that is likely because he has featured towards the end of games when the second and third stringers have already taken over.

PFF graded him with an 86 .8 rating, the seventh-highest grade for rookies so far. He has earned 12 total tackles, one sack, and a special teams tackle throughout the preseason.

Looking a lot like Troy Polamalu (physically), Josiah seems to have a chip on his shoulder and is fighting for an opportunity to play with the Giants. While it is unlikely he earns a roster spot, he could be a practice squad body for the time being.

He has made waves and should earn more reps in the final preseason game against New England. Again, his performance will be very telling and give the Giants brass a better understanding of what he has to offer during the 2019 season.

3.) WR Reggie White Jr.

If Reggie White Junior manages to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, there is one specific play that could have earned him the role. The Monmouth product has above average ball skills, and he has shown that during the preseason with 100-yards receiving over six receptions.

Daunting the No.13 jersey, formerly owned by Odell Beckham Jr., White Jr. has high expectations for himself and what he can accomplish with the Giants moving forward. In addition to his past catching skills, he has also made an impact on the special-teams unit, providing a fundamental block that sprung Brittan Golden on a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown.

“I loved the catch, don’t get me wrong,” White told NorthJersey.com. “But that block on the punt return, that’s the kind of play I know I need to make in order to make the team. I have to show that I can be valuable in everything I do, and that was a lot of fun, getting to celebrate in the end zone with Golden and everything, all about team right there. That’s a memory I won’t forget, and I think it shows I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Overall, the Giants are thin at wide receiver and being that White Jr. has shown plenty in terms of value this preseason, he deserves to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. However, the final preseason game should give him the push he needs to get over the hump if the Giants brass aren’t entirely sold on his abilities.

New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Claims To Be Top RB In The League

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants don’t have a ton of stars this season, but they definitely have one major one at a very important position – that would be Saquon Barkley at running back, and while the second year player was criminally underrated in the NFL Top 100, Barkley might just be the one MVP contender that the team has this season in addition to being the frontrunner for running backs in general this year.

There’s been a decent amount of talk from a number of different sources since Barkley’s rookie season that Barkley is the best running back in the league. Barkley has more recently, however, come out and stated that he believes those statements are true and that he is the best at the position. Why? Well, Barkley elaborated on that.

“You got to believe that you’re one of the best, and that’s what I personally believe. But I do have tremendous respect for all the guys out there, especially the Gurleys and Le’Veon and the Zekes of the world, Alvin [Kamara], Christian [McCaffrey] — there’s so many I could list off,” Barkley said at an NFL Network event on Tuesday.

“Why do I think I’m the best back in the league? That’s just how I was raised to believe. When I do something and I’m passionate about something I’m going to go 100 percent at it so when you stick me out there I’m capable of doing anything you want a running back to do and I think I can do it at a high level. That’s why I think I’m the best back in the league. That’s my personal opinion. Everyone can have their other opinions and I respect your opinions,” Barkley continued.

Last season, Barkley managed to finish with 1,307 rushing yards and was in the hunt for the league’s rushing title until the very last week, eventually finishing second despite having status as a rookie in 2018.

Will Barkley top that total this season and lay claim to the title of best in the league? That depends on a number of factors but upgrades on the offensive line might just be an important factor when the regular season arrives – it remains to be seen how well that redesigned offensive line will hold up in the regular season, but with one more preseason game left, we’ll find that out soon enough as August turns to September and the regular season begins.

New York Giants: Ranking the best and worst unit for the 2019 season

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New York Giants, Alec Ogletree

The New York Giants are flush full of youth on their roster and have plenty of talent for the expected success in the near future. The issue is, with youthfulness comes inexperience, which could cause deficiencies and difficulties against opposing starting units.

 Here are the strongest and weakest units for the New York Giants:

The strongest group: Running backs

Saquon Barkley alone solidifies the running back corps, but their depth is also incredibly durable. The only real competition happening in this group is for the No. 3 RB spot, which is being fought over by Paul Perkins and Rod Smith. Wayne Gallman is the assumed No. 2 option given his familiarity with the Giants’ scheme and Eli Manning.

Smith has been plagued by fumbles and Perkins hasn’t played a game in quite some time. He has looked decent in the pass-game but his running ability to limited due to his lack of strength and power. He’s more of a glorified scat-back, and Gallman can operate in that fashion as well if need be.

I believe Saquon and Gallman will be the top dogs during the 2019 season but as Smith’s seniority and experience will likely earn him the last spot on the roster over Perkins, who hasn’t shown enough to stay around.

The weakest unit: The linebackers

The middle of the defense for the Giants is entirely in disarray. The idea of Ryan Connelly as the starting linebacker isn’t comforting, even though he’s looked good in limited action this preseason. It seems as if Tae Davis will be the “money backer” in DC James Bettcher’s scheme and Alec Ogletree, who has missed all of preseason with a strained calf will be the inside linebacker.

Connelly is set to be Ogletree’s backup in the middle, but if the veteran is forced to miss anytime, the Wisconsin product could find himself starting against the Dallas Cowboys week one in Arlington. An intimidating task for a mere rookie. In three games played, Connelly has eight total tackles, five being solo. He has shown the ability to shoot the gap very quickly but needs to work on his angles and tackling ability.

While he misses on this play, you can see his athleticism and speed from a stand-still position. That’s angle-work and will be refined through trial and error.

Despite his promise, the Giants are thin at the linebacker position and need their veterans to step up and perform. Health will be a concern here, and if Ogletree is forced to miss any time, Connelly will be the next-man-up.

New York Giants: How Saquon Barkley helps the entire offense succeed

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New York Giants, Saquon Barkley

The thought of Saquon Barkley taking the field during the regular season not only makes New York Giants fans excited but football fans in general. The quality he brings to the game and the physical traits he possesses makes him a must-watch plater.

The game-changing ability and magnificent plays he carries out every week lay the foundation of what he’s capable of on the offensive side of the ball. For the Giants, though, his influence comes in more ways than just handing the ball off to him.

His intangible traits are prolific — leadership, authority, control, discipline…

Barkley contains all of the attributes that form a world-class player, but it’s what he does without the ball in his hands that help the other play-makers.

Just having the dynamic back on the field is the difference between success and failure. Opposing defenses are forced to game-plan for Barkley and allocate defenders to track his every move, which ultimately gives the rest of the offense opportunities to succeed.

For example, against the Cincinnati Benglans on Thursday, the Giants utilized a fake running back screen and split tight end Evan Engram as a blocker on the opposite side – Eli Manning faked the throw to Wayne Gallman and dumped it off to Engram for the first down.

This play is far more successful and efficient with Barkley on the field drawing the middle linebacker from his position. The influence Barkley has on opening-up the middle of the field and exposing single-coverage is significant, and I fully expect head coach Pat Shurmur to scheme around him to keep the defense guessing.

What makes New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley so great?

As one of the league’s best tailbacks, Barkley has an exciting way about finding space in the defense to operate. Compared to runners like Ezekiel Elliot, Saquon is not quite as efficient or disciplined in sticking to run designs. What makes the Giants’ player so great is his ability to create space for himself and improvise.

A pair of massive thighs and low center of gravity allows him to change direction on a dime and shed tackles at an impressive rate. Having incredible east-west fluidity is essential to his play-style — he almost seems like a glorified scat-back, but his strength and power allow him to plow ahead for extra yardage.

A multi-tooled player, Barkley, helps the team in various facets, but his tangible traits are hard to ignore.

 

New York Giants: New Undrafted Rookie Added To The Backup Running Back Competition

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The New York Giants are still organizing their roster heading into the third week of the preseason. Their running back position is locked in with Saquon Barkley as the starter. Barkley lead the league in scrimmage yards last year with 2,028 yards en route to winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Behind Saquon Barkley, things are not as set in stone. There was a three-way competition for the second-string running back position, but this competition has now grown to a four-way.

Initially, the job battle was between Wayne Gallman, Paul Perkins, and Rod Smith. All three have flashed their potential but also shown great weaknesses. Now, a new back has been added to the mix. Jonathan Hilliman competed hard in the Giants’ second preseason game and could make a push to remain on the roster this season.

Jonathan Hilliman Stats and Highlights:

Jonathan Hilliman was a locally signed undrafted free agent who finished his collegiate career at Rutgers. Hilliman’s first three years were spent at Boston College. Jonathan totaled 1715 rushing yards through his four-year career with an average of 3.5 yards per carry and 19 rushing touchdowns.

These are not overly impressive stats from Jonathan Hilliman, but he flashed enough potential for the Giants to sign him after the draft. And now, after an impressive first preseason game, Hilliman has flashed enough to propel himself into the conversation to make the final roster.

Hilliman received a team-high 16 carries on Friday night versus the Bears. Hilliman continued his average 3.5 yards per carry as he went on to total 56 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. Jonathan lead the Giants in rushing yards and flashed his elusiveness a couple of times.

Jonathan Hilliman’s touchdown rush was a perfect example of what Hilliman does best. He is a shifty runner who can jump cut and slither his way through the holes to get into the end zone.

Hilliman played an impressive game, especially for his NFL debut. But this does not lock him in on the roster. He lead the team in rushing yards and carries, but his average yards per carry was only third of the runners. Paul Perkins averaged 5.8 yards per carry and Rod Smith averaged 4.2 yards per carry.

So it was a fantastic debut for the New Jersey native Hilliman, but he has a long ways to go and tough competition to win if he wants to be on the Giants’ roster in September.

New York Giants: 3 ways Daniel Jones could start in 2019

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New York Giants, Daniel Jones

The future for the New York Giants might be a bit better than we previously anticipated after the drafting of Daniel Jones. After two preseason games, Jones has completed 16 passes on 19 attempts, with 228 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been sacked one time and fumbled twice. The most exciting part about his performance so far has been his completion percentage. Sitting at 84.2%, Jones has barely missed his target.

Both of his touchdown passes were perfect throws, one to Bennie Fowler in the right corner of the endzone and the other to TJ Jones on a fade route. His accuracy and poise in the pocket have been extremely impressive and noteworthy. He has moved through his progressions well, and his footwork has been calm and collected. Additionally, his throwing motion is quick and precise, something you like to see from a rookie quarterback trying to leave his mark on the preseason.

However, some have already begun to discuss when he might take over for Eli Manning. There are only three ways he can get starting playing time during the 2019 season.

Disclaimer — I knocked on wood twice before this

1.) Eli Manning gets injured

In the scenario that Eli Manning gets hurt, which is very unlikely considering his injury history, Jones would be the next man up to take over. His preseason’s totals are impressive, but starting level talent is a much different beast and would likely see him struggle.

I anticipate Jones earning some reps against first-team defenses later in the preseason when Manning is rested and preparing for the regular season.

2.) Eli Manning is playing horribly

At this point, it doesn’t seem as if the Giants are willing to replace Eli Manning during the regular season. Even if he is playing terribly and unable to complete a single pass, the Giants will stay committed to their veteran quarterback and two time Super Bowl winning MVP.

On the off chance that owner John Mara and head coach Pat Schirmer elect to throw Johns into the mix over Manning, it would be shocking and unlikely. We should expect to see Eli play the entire season if he remains healthy. A rebuilt offensive line and Saquon Barkley won’t allow Eli to struggle that much, but you never know in the NFL.

3.) The Giants are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs

The third scenario is quite self-explanatory, as the Giants would be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs which would give them the green light to start Daniel Jones against first-stringers.

This essential tape would allow him to refine his skills and prepare more for the 2020 season. Something the Giants failed to do last year with Kyle Lauletta when they were eliminated from the playoffs, they can do right by Jones and provide him with the film necessary to continue developing and refining his technique and fundamentals. Additionally, seeing quality defenders would allow him to learn a few tricks an activate his preparation.

New York Giants Practice Report, 8/11: Eli Manning Lights It Up

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The New York Giants held their first public practice since defeating the New York Jets on Thursday, August 8th. They are preparing for their next preseason game which will take place on Friday, August 16th as they host the Chicago Bears in MetLife Stadium.

Players Who Stood Out:

Eli Manning had one of his best practices of the summer. At one point he was 11/12 with 3 touchdowns. He had a strong connection with each of the starting pass catchers and he was sharp on all 3 levels of the field. In total, Manning attempted 23 passes, his highest total of the summer. His previous high was 15.

Saquon Barkley had a big day through the air. He caught 2 passes that would’ve gone for touchdowns and one of them was deep down the field. He also handed out a “welcome to the NFL” moment to Ryan Connelly who did his best to track him down.

Cody Latimer and Eli are building strong chemistry with one another. They make plays not only deep but anywhere on the field. Latimer could become another legitimate asset on offense even when Shepard and Tate are both available.

Bennie Fowler made a handful of tough catches, he was able to hold on when Jenkins gave him a little extra pop after the catch.

Jabrill Peppers continues to flash outstanding coverage ability. He was able to keep up with Engram on a play and break up the pass. If he can cover Engram he should be able to cover any tight end in the league.

Another practice, another display from Daniel Jones and Alonzo Russell. They’ve made big plays together in every practice and yesterday was no different.

Alex Wesley made some noise with a tough catch contested by Julian Love. As a player who was known for being a burner in college, it’s nice to see him make tough catches in the intermediate area of the field.

Camp Battles:

Ryan Connelly and Tae Davis are both ahead of BJ Goodson at this point. When significantly younger players move ahead of a veteran it’s hard for the veteran to take his job back.

Bennie Fowler has seemed like a guy that’s been destined to move down the depth chart at times but he’s held onto his first-team reps so far. His touchdown reception from Daniel Jones in the preseason game and his handful of nice grabs yesterday make a compelling case for him to stick around.

Alonzo Russell has made a strong push to make this team. He’s arguably very good for Daniel Jones’ development since he thrives when throwing to Russell. He also created a ton of separation in the preseason game. Yesterday he made his daily big plays with Daniel Jones.

Alex Wesley had some chances with the second-team offense and fared well with a tough catch. He’s a longshot to make the team but getting time with the second-team this quickly shows some legitimate intrigue from the coaches.

Wayne Gallman is making a resurgence in his race for the number 2 running back role. Paul Perkins has looked better throughout camp but Gallman has looked better since the preseason game against the Jets. He was the tougher runner in the game and has picked it up in pass protection. Protecting the quarterback was one of the main reasons the coaches were prioritizing Perkins over Gallman.

Sean Chandler made a nice play intercepting Daniel Jones in the back of the end zone. He appears to be on the roster bubble but could make a mid-camp resurgence to secure a roster spot.

Notable Bumps and Bruises:

Sterling Shepard and Grant Haley were both in yellow jerseys. Both players are very important to this team but both are optimistic about week 1 of the regular season.

Sam Beal remained on the sideline, his timetable for returning remains unclear.

Alec Ogletree has calf soreness and shouldn’t be missing for very long.

Deandre Baker sprained his knee in warmups, the team hopes he can return for week 1 as they depend on him to be the number two cornerback in 2019.

Significant Injuries:

Geroge Asafo-Adjei remains in the concussion protocol.

Brian Mihalik remains sidelined with a burner.

Final Thoughts:

The offense easily won the practice. There were a couple of plays where the defense locked down and made Eli throw the ball away. Outside of those plays Eli had his way with the defense. Eli is clearly in survival mode between his extra measures in the offseason and putting together his best camp in years. Daniel Jones also continues to impress but Eli would need to come back down to earth a little bit to have any legitimate talks of close competition for the starting role.

New York Giants: What should we expect from Daniel Jones against the Jets?

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New York Giants rookie quarterback, Daniel Jones during voluntary OTAs.

What should we expect out of New York Giants rookie Daniel Jones in his NFL Pre-Season debut?

The New York Giants will take on the New York Jets in their first preseason game of the season. While we might not see some of the veteran/elite players like Eli Manning and Saquon Barkley, we will undoubtedly see rookie quarterback Daniel Jones showcase his skills after a zig-zagging off-season.

Jones has impressed with his arm strength despite having pre-draft concerns in that facet. He will likely earn a substantial chunk of playing time in his debut, but they will not overuse him and put his confidence at risk.

However, the Giants can’t baby Jones. They must allow him to fail and learn from his mistakes just like any other quarterback entering the NFL. Allowing him to play with the first-team offensive line for a few possessions will benefit him greatly and will give us an idea of how he can operate under pressure against a starting-caliber defense.

The film that he will bring back from the first preseason game will be essential in his development and refining his skill set.

“I think it’ll be valuable. I think over these last few weeks, I think we’ve built chemistry kind of across the board with everyone, whether you’re throwing in routes or seven-on, or whatever it is. So, I’m confident in all the guys, and I think it’ll be good,” Jones said.

The Giants released their unofficial depth chart on Tuesday afternoon, which placed Daniel Jones as the number two quarterback in front of Alex Tanney and Kyle Lauletta.

Jones has already begun scouting the Jets’ defense and what they are capable of. After drafting Quinnen Williams this off-season, their defensive front will be a challenge for a newly built Giants offensive line.

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Giving Jones the experience of pressure behind an NFL caliber line and facing an intimidating defense will be the perfect exposure for him.

“We want him to execute the offense. There are some plays that they have flexibility to do what they do,” Shurmur said. “Then there are other things that we have that are what I consider ‘run it’ plays, where you just call it and run it. We want him to execute, and we want him to do it in a way that represents how we run our offense.”

The preparation for an NFL game is far different than at the college level. Learning from Eli Manning in this facet will be extremely important and give him the tools to succeed down the road. It will be exciting to see him in his first action of the year and will provide us with a good gauge on where he’s at in his development.

New York Giants: Training Camp and 2019 Season Thoughts

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The start of the New York Giants training camp is a time when most fans find a reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season for the football team they dedicate 17+ weeks to. It’s also necessary to pause and provide some introspection on the team and address some of the mainstream storylines that have circulated across the Giants message boards and Twitter.  Below are my thoughts at we conclude the first two weeks of training camp. 

  • The Giants desperately need Lorenzo Carter to take a major leap. The Giants linebacking unit may be the worst in the league. Carter was their best cover linebacker last year and is the only player I trust to not be a liability on third down. It wouldn’t surprise me if B.J. Goodson and Alec Ogletree’s playing time was reduced in passing situations, both struggled in coverage last season. Carter might even be more valuable to the Giants playing out in space as he is rushing the passer.
  • The defense will likely stink again this season. The Giants had the 24th ranked defense by DVOA last year and is unlikely to improve this year. The Giants don’t have anyone on the roster that proved they could consistently rush the passer last season, their linebackers will struggle to defend the run and the pass and they don’t have any corners that played well in coverage last year. Furthermore, the Giants will be relying on a lot of young players (B.J. Hill, Carter, Dexter Lawrence, Sam Beal, DeAndre Baker, Grant Haley, Julian Love, and Oshane Ximines) to play well this year. It’s unrealistic to think that most of these young players can be impactful on a consistent basis.
  • Evan Engram is an upgrade over Golden Tate. The loss of Golden Tate will hurt the Giants, but not as much as people may think. Evan Engram will get more targets in Tate’s absence, and at this point of their careers, Engram is a more explosive receiver than Tate. Engram needs to improve his route running and struggles to shake from coverage, but Shurmur finally figured out how to use Engram in the second half of the season. Get him in space and let him run. I expect the Giants to use him more to stretch the field than they have in the past. 
  • The offense will not be better without Odell Beckham Jr. this year. For the first time since 2010, the Giants should have an above-average pass-blocking offensive line. However, don’t expect the Giants offense to be better than last year when they ranked 13th by DVOA. It’s too simple to look at the last four games of the season, wipe out the Titans game and come to the conclusion the Giants offense can thrive without Beckham. It can’t. Without Beckham, defenses can focus on containing Barkley and will have confidence their secondary can hold up against the Giants receivers. Shurmer will have to be extra creative with his scheme and play calling to help the Giants receiver get open against man coverage.
  • Daniel Jones needs first-team reps. The Giants can help Jones grow without sacrificing victories this season. He needs to be given first-team reps in training camp and the preseason. Eli Manning does not require 100% of the reps with the starters to get himself ready for the season. Giving Jones a portion of those reps will help Eli rest his arm while giving Jones valuable experience playing behind the first-string offensive line. The Giants will learn very little about the potential of their first-round pick if he’s spending camp and preseason running for his life. 

 

New York Giants: Who Are The Pro Bowl Talents?

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The New York Giants have been one of the league’s worst teams over the past two seasons. In 2017, they finished with a 3-13 record awarding them with the second overall pick in the Draft. Then, they showed minimal improvement in 2018 with a 5-11 record and the sixth overall pick.

The Giants need to turn things around as soon as possible. The team needs more elite talent in order to be a playoff-contending team. But that’s not to say that New York has no talent whatsoever. There are a few players that could earn a trip to the Pro Bowl if they live up to their potential in 2019. But who exactly on the Giants actually has a chance of making the Pro Bowl in 2019?

Saquon Barkley (Obviously)

Saquon Barkley is not only a Pro Bowl talent, but he is also arguably the best player in the NFL at his position. As a rookie, Saquon lead the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,028 total.

His record-breaking season earned him a few prestigious awards, too. Including Pepsi Rookie of the Year and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. A decorated rookie season for a generational talent.

But that was year one for Saquon Barkley. Year two looks to have plenty more in store for the Penn State alum. Barkley is a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl this year. That is unless he manages to carry Big Blue all the way to the Super Bowl…

Kevin Zeitler

It is surprising that right guard Kevin Zeitler has not been to a Pro Bowl yet. The former Cleveland Brown has had a very successful career thus far and made a name for himself based on his elite-level pass-protection.

The New York Giants have not had an offensive lineman selected for the Pro Bowl in seven years. 2019 very well could be the year that this drought ends. Zeitler allowed all of 11 pressures all season long, and he owned the highest pass-blocking grade of any offensive lineman in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.

If Eli Manning is able to put together a solid season behind his new rebuilt offensive line, Zeitler could receive his first-career Pro Bowl selection. But, what if the Giants saw two offensive linemen make the Pro Bowl?

Will Hernandez

Will Hernandez is another gem from the Giants’ 2018 draft class. Hernandez was a first-round talent that slipped into round two. Luckily for the Giants, they had the second pick in the second round and were able to steal Will Hernandez.

Hernandez was excellent in his rookie season. According to PFF, Will allowed only 5 sacks in his rookie campaign. This was tied for the ninth fewest of all guards in the NFL. But, almost more impressively, Hernandez committed only two penalties on 1,027 snaps. This is an incredible accomplishment for a rookie and it truly demonstrates Will’s advanced technique and discipline.

So, of course, there are a couple of other players on the Giants’ offense who could earn the nod to Orlando if they break out this season. Evan Engram has all the potential in the world if he stays healthy and Sterling Shepard is a solid receiver poised to break out in an expanded role. And even Eli Manning, if the veteran quarterback can revert to his old form then, of course, he could be selected, too.

But what about the defense? Is there any real talent on the other side of the ball?

Jabrill Peppers

Giants Nation loves rooting for an exciting defensive presence. Prior to his departure, Landon Collins was one of the most popular athletes in New York. Despite being placed on injured reserve and having the worst season of his career in 2018, Giants Nation still voted Landon Collins to the Pro Bowl.

Peppers has already begun to see that same love from Giants fans. If he puts together the season that he is capable of he could break out and make it to Orlando.

Jabrill Peppers is capable of a lot more than he gets credit for. He is not just a box safety who defends the run. Jabrill is one of the most versatile young safeties in the league.

The Browns used Peppers as a jack-of-all-trades defensive back in 2018, like he was used in college at Michigan. Most of his 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.

This lead to a better statistical season from Jabrill Peppers. He played all 16 games and finished with 79 combined tackles, 1 interception, 5 passes defended, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

The Giants have a lot more talent than people want to give them credit for. Granted, much of their talent is unproven and based on potential, but that is something that the Giants have a lot of.

Hopefully, not a single player from the Giants plays in the Pro Bowl because they are too busy prepping for the Super Bowl. But if New York is unable to make it back to the promised land, fans should expect to see a couple of Blue helmets playing in Orlando in January.