Why DT Johnathan Hankins Is New York Giants' Most Underrated X-Factor
The New York Giants have their superstars in quarterback Eli Manning, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. When the Giants win, these players are praised. When they lose, we’re quick to blame them for the team’s shortcomings.
The so-called X-factors, on the other hand, have a specific job to do, and they’re expected to execute it consistently. Sometimes, they do their respective jobs so well that they go largely unnoticed.
New York’s most underrated X-factor is not an electric return specialist. He’s not a situational pass-rusher or a third-down running back, either. Most teams turn to these highly specialized athletes when identifying their most underrated X-factors, but the Giants point to a 6’3”, 320-pound defensive tackle instead.
Johnathan Hankins’ value to the team is understated, though not underappreciated, by the fanbase. Rotund, robust and only 23 years old, Hankins has quickly developed into a dominant interior force for the Giants.
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 7 |
The Giants selected Hankins, an Ohio State product, in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. At the time, Linval Joseph was approaching free agency, and the team needed a backup plan at defensive tackle in case he could not be retained.
Much like Joseph, who took over the position when Barry Cofield signed with the Washington Redskins before the 2011 season, Hankins did the same when Joseph signed with the Minnesota Vikings before the 2014 season.
After appearing in only 11 games as a rookie, Hankins thrived in his new starting role last year. He became the Giants’ most dependable defensive lineman with 51 tackles on the season. Former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell touched on the tackle’s tremendous versatility in an interview with Tom Rock of Newsday late last season.
"I think Johnathan does a good job with the center as well as the three-technique pressing the guards. Last year [2013] he was a spot player for us. Then when we started to use him and use him a lot more when we had an injury, we found out that he can play any position on that defensive line, which he showed us in college.
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But the Giants still struggled to slow the opposition on the ground, which is Hankins’ main responsibility as a 4-3 nose tackle-type. They allowed a league-worst average of 4.9 yards per carry in 2014, surrendering a total of 2,162 yards through 16 games.
That may not have been Hankins’ fault, though.
Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media graded New York’s defensive tackles after the 2014 season, and Hankins got an A—no other tackle received a mark higher than a C. Raanan wrote the following about Hankins’ performance during his second season as a professional:
"Defensive tackle is one of those ‘grunt’ positions that usually doesn't get a lot of glory unless a player consistently jumps out for being disruptive in an opponent's backfield. In his sophomore season, Hankins turned out to be exactly that kind of player for the Giants in 2014, putting together a breakout performance that put him in the conversation as one of the top young interior linemen in the game.
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Hankins got his fair share of national attention, too. He was a Pro Football Focus All-Pro (second team) and came in at No. 69 in the outlet’s ranking of the top 101 players in the league last season. He also received the highest PFF grade of any Giants defender in 2014, plus-20.2 (h/t NJ Advance Media).
Pro Football Focus noted that Hankins had the eighth-most stops against the run among all defensive tackles and cited his Week 5 performance against the Atlanta Falcons as his finest from the 2014 season. In that game, Hankins recorded a game-clinching sack.
Let’s take a look at the film of that play:
At the outset of the play (pictured above)—a 4th-and-1 with the Giants up by a touchdown—Hankins is lined up on the outside shoulder of Atlanta’s left guard, which is described as the 3-technique. Pierre-Paul is lined up to his right; Markus Kuhn is to his left.
Moments after the snap, Hankins sets the guard up like he’s rushing to the outside. He then comes back inside, slapping the guard’s hands away with a swift swim move. Hankins already has him beat.
The center and right guard are both preoccupied with Kuhn, leaving an open path right down Broad Street for Hankins to close in on the quarterback. The left guard, who was overmatched from the start, is now chasing him.
For a big guy, Hankins controls his weight well. He breaks down, aims at the quarterback’s waist and wraps him up low, wisely avoiding contact to the head that could have cost New York 15 yards and extended Atlanta’s drive.
Turnover on downs; Giants go on to win, 30-20.
The sack was not an anomaly for Hankins. He recorded seven of them last season, ranking second on the team after Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 12.5. The tackle’s emergence as a pass-rusher was unexpected but certainly welcomed.
Hankins credited improved hand placement for his sack surge, according to Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media. His flawless technique was on display in the game film above.
"More handwork, I've been doing a lot of using my hands, that technique aspect of it," Hankins told NJ Advance Media. "But more just getting the opportunity, getting the chance to go out there and rush, making the best out of it and I've been racking up some sacks, which has been good."
Yet despite his breakout season, Hankins was still snubbed from the Pro Bowl—a sign that he remains far from a household name. To get to that level of popularity, the Giants must first win more than six games. Then, if and when they do, fans must credit Hankins for his contributions, not take them for granted.
In the meantime, Hankins promises to keep putting in the hard work.
"I just gotta work harder and have a better season," Hankins told Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News.
Hankins’ rising impact and dedication to his craft, combined with his relatively low profile, make him an easy pick for New York’s most underrated X-factor.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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