Breaking Down All the New Faces on the 2015 New York Giants
The New York Giants roster didn’t exactly undergo a wholesale turnover in the offseason, but that doesn’t mean changes weren’t necessary and hence made to a roster that last year finished 6-10.
For the most part, the core of the roster is set, but the coaching staff is going to be looking to a few new faces to step in and upgrade areas where the team was lacking last season.
By now, fans already know the names of the newcomers. However, in the following slides, let’s take a look at how the newcomers are likely to help the Giants get back on the path to glory.
RB Shane Vereen
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The Giants knew they were going to miss David Wilson, who was forced to retire early because of a neck issue.
They probably didn’t realize just how much they’d miss their 2012 first-round draft pick until injuries struck down starter Rashad Jennings.
With Wilson and Jennings not on the field, the Giants had zero threats to run out of the backfield, a critical missing part to the West Coast offense.
With no true receiving threat to test the second level, the Giants also couldn’t really run the types of screen plays that offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo desired.
How bad was it? Last season Jennings, Andre Williams, Peyton Hillis, Orleans Darkwa and Michael Cox combined for 469 yards on 62 receptions with zero touchdowns.
Vereen? He alone posted 447 yards on 52 catches with three touchdown receptions.
In addition to being a receiving threat out of the backfield, Vereen figures to be the first man called to step up if Jennings, who has yet to make it through a 16-game season, has to miss time again.
LB J.T. Thomas
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The Giants coaching staff no doubt hoped that Jacquian Williams, their starting weak-side linebacker whom they selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft, would finally turn the corner and develop into a solid player for them for a long time.
That didn’t happen, especially in coverage, where Williams had all the tools a team desires in a weak-side linebacker—speed, quickness, agility and athleticism—but was missing that one critical element: instincts.
Williams, who is currently an unrestricted free agent, finished with a minus-5.7 grade in coverage from Pro Football Focus and a 105.5 NFL rating in coverage.
While he finished fourth on the team in total tackles with 74—this despite missing six games with a concussion—he allowed an average of 13.1 yards per reception, which meant that many of his tackles were happening down the field.
The Giants are hoping that J.T. Thomas, who was with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, offers some improvement. Thomas, who began last season as an outside linebacker before moving inside because of injury, finished with a 98.0 NFL rating, but as an outside linebacker, he was quite effective in coverage.
In his natural position, Thomas allowed 55 of 70 pass targets to be completed for 471 yards, fewer than nine yards per reception.
What’s more, he only allowed an average of 4.3 yards after the catch, which means that he was anticipating better and making his tackles closer to the line of scrimmage.
DT Kenrick Ellis
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The Giants run defense finished 30th in the NFL last season, its lowest finish under now former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and its worst such finish in head coach Tom Coughlin’s era.
While part of that was the absence of inside linebacker Jon Beason, far too many opponents’ rushing attempts were making it past the defensive line and to the second level. This was because the Giants didn’t really have a legitimate plugger who could occupy multiple blockers with any sort of consistency.
That’s where defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis is going to come into play. The 6’4”, 346-pound Ellis is a true space-eater and the largest man currently on the Giants defense.
The hope of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is that Ellis—much like Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield, who were the space-eaters for the Giants during Spagnuolo’s first tenure—will occupy multiple blockers, which will allow the linebackers to shoot the gaps and disrupt the action in the backfield.
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LB Jonathan Casillas
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After signing linebacker Spencer Paysinger to a second-round tender in 2014, the undrafted free agent out of Oregon who split time as the starting weak-side linebacker in 2013 disappeared from the landscape, receiving just 81 snaps on defense in 2014.
Paysinger ended up being limited to special teams duty, which he performed well, according to Pro Football Focus. It graded him with a 4.5 overall mark, the second-best grade on the team last year behind Damontre Moore.
So why the upgrade to Jonathan Casillas, who was part of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl championship team last season?
The Giants lacked a big nickel type of linebacker with good sideline-to-sideline speed and solid coverage skills, something that Paysinger lacked and something that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has historically favored in his linebackers.
Enter Casillas, who projects as that big nickel linebacker. Last year, Casillas allowed an average of 8.2 yards per reception in coverage, which meant that he usually kept things in front of him.
Casillas also figures to step in to provide firepower on special teams.
DE George Selvie
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In 2014, the Giants pass rush ran hot and cold based on the opponent it faced. As a result, it finished with a 17.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, putting it 14th in the NFL.
With the pass rush being a staple of every NFL defense—but in particular that run by new Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo—New York went on an offseason mission to restock some of the firepower lost from that pass-rushing attack.
Veteran George Selvie, whom Spagnuolo drafted in 2010 for the St. Louis Rams, hasn’t had eye-popping career numbers as a pass-rusher.
However, he started to come alive in that regard during his two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, for whom he recorded 10.0 sacks over 36 regular-season games.
According to Pro Football Focus, Selvie was also at his best for the Cowboys against the run. In 2013, he finished the last three regular-season games with positive run-defenses grades en route to a 2.5 overall mark.
In 2014, Selvie picked up where he left off, finishing with a 7.8 grade in run defense.
Signed to a one-year contract, Selvie projects as the one who will likely replace Mathias Kiwanuka in the starting lineup. Whether he will be an every-down player still remains to be seen.
DB Josh Gordy
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Realizing that it probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea to add some veteran depth at safety who had some starting experience, New York signed former Indianapolis Colts defensive back Josh Gordy to a one-year deal.
Gordy, who spent the last three seasons with Indianapolis, has 11 career starts out of 53 NFL games played since 2010. He is a former cornerback who converted to safety, taking care of the free safety spot for the Colts but also having gained experience covering the slot receiver as well.
Because of his versatility, Gordy should provide some help to the Giants at both cornerback and safety. It’s unclear at this point where he projects to see most of his snaps or just how involved he will be in the slot cornerback position that’s going to include incumbent Trumaine McBride and challenger Mike Harris.
OT Marshall Newhouse
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Talk about deja vu.
Last year, the Giants signed offensive lineman John Jerry to serve as a backup in the event of injury.
So what happened? Guard Chris Snee realized he had to retire, and the other projected starter, Geoff Schwartz, ended up missing most of the season because of toe and ankle injuries, all of which forced Jerry into the starting lineup.
This year, history has unfortunately repeated itself. The Giants signed veteran offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse to provide depth at both left and right tackle.
What happened? Yup, starting left tackle Will Beatty suffered a freak pectoral injury during weight training and will miss a good chunk of the upcoming season, thus forcing Newhouse into the starting lineup.
However, rather than plug the veteran in at Beatty’s left tackle spot, the Giants are instead planning to insert first-round pick Ereck Flowers at that critical position and have Newhouse man the right side.
Both moves come with a lot of risks but high rewards. Flowers, the future at left tackle, will skip the introductory courses and go straight to the advanced stuff as far as his NFL “education” is concerned.
Meanwhile, Newhouse, the veteran journeyman, will try to hold down the fort at right tackle.
The results on Newhouse have been mixed.
Last year as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, he played both left tackle and right tackle, taking the majority of his snaps on the right side, where, per Pro Football Focus, he finished with a minus-13.0 overall grade playing on the right side and a minus-4.0 grade as a run-blocker.
The Giants are probably hoping to get the 2013 version of Newhouse, who played for the Green Bay Packers that season. That year, Newhouse played seven games at right tackle, starting two.
He broke even in the run-blocking department with a zero grade and allowed just 18 quarterback pressures (including hits, hurries and sacks) in 231 snaps at right tackle.
WR Dwayne Harris
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At the end of 2014, it was clear that the Giants were going to try to upgrade their return game on special teams.
As they should. Last season, the Giants averaged 23.3 yards per kickoff return, tying them for 17th with the Buffalo Bills.
Punt returns were worse. New York finished 19th in the league with a 7.7 yards-per-return average.
Well, the Giants addressed their return game, adding former Cowboys return specialist Dwayne Harris, who averaged 24.7 yards per kickoff return and 9.2 yards per punt return, both better than the Giants’ team averages last season.
Here is where things became interesting. New York gave Harris a five-year deal worth $17.5 million with $7.1 million fully guaranteed.
You read that correctly: five years, $7.1 million for a return specialist.
The reason for the hefty contract is that the Giants are looking at Harris as more than just a return specialist despite his limited career production as a receiver, in which he has logged 33 receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns.
Harris figures to be the Giants’ fourth receiver, a man who can potentially line up outside or in the slot, depending on the desired matchups, and a guy they can use on an end-around or reverse given his speed.
"I came in, from a personnel standpoint, where we have certain plays where they have to give me the ball, line up in different places," Harris told Nick Powell of NJ Advance Media. "We're going through the plays, running them, where ever [offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo] puts me at."
The Draft Picks
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Here’s a quick look at the Giants’ 2015 draft class and where each man likely fits into the 2015 mosaic.
Round 1: OT Ereck Flowers, Miami (Florida)
Ereck Flowers, drafted ninth overall, was initially chosen with the intention of letting him develop as a starter at right tackle for a season or two before ultimately shifting him to the left side.
Unfortunately, the torn pectoral muscle injury veteran starting left tackle Will Beatty suffered put the kibosh on that plan. That forced Flowers to move to the left side, where he played for the Hurricanes, and to learn to adjust to the speed of the pro game on the fly.
Round 2: S Landon Collins, Alabama
The Giants got themselves a steal in the second round of the draft with their selection of safety Landon Collins, a player they traded up to get.
Regarded as the best safety prospect in the draft, according to NFL.com’s rankings of the position, Collins will be one of the Giants’ two new starting safeties this season, barring injury.
Round 3: DE Owa Odighizuwa, UCLA
Odighizuwa is a versatile pass-rushing specialist who primarily worked in a 3-4 base defense while in college. Listed at 6’3”, 270 pounds, Odighizuwa has the ideal size the Giants tend to prefer in their defensive ends, but he is probably a year away from being ready to become a full-time starter.
Instead, look for the Giants to use Odighizuwa, who has an injury history involving his hips and who was limited during OTAs with a knee issue, as a situational player during his rookie season.
Round 5: S Mykkele Thompson, Texas
The surprise of the draft class, Thompson is a good-sized (6'2", 191 lbs), versatile but still raw player who, right now, projects to safety.
Might he eventually line up as a slot cornerback down the road? That’s certainly a possibility once Thompson settles in as an NFL safety.
Thompson, who will battle veterans Josh Gordy, Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor for a roster spot, can help himself tremendously if he can show an ability to cover the big, athletic tight ends who seem to be the rage in the NFL these days.
Round 6: WR Geremy Davis, UConn
Geremy Davis gives the Giants yet another tall (6’2”) receiving target. However, in addition to being able to contribute in spot duty as a receiver, Davis will need to make his mark on special teams.
Currently, the Giants are projected to keep six receivers. Four of the six—Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle and Dwayne Harris—are set in stone, barring injury.
The battle for the remaining two spots will probably come down to Harris, Preston Parker, Corey Washington and Ben Edwards. The Giants will likely add one of Edwards or Davis to the practice squad with a solid camp.
Round 7: OL Bobby Hart, Florida State
Because of injuries, rookie Bobby Hart, who projects as a guard in the NFL, has seen some snaps at right tackle.
Assuming the Giants keep a minimum of nine offensive linemen, which should be the case, there should be a place for Hart on the 53-man roster if he stays healthy. However, don’t expect to see much of him as a rookie while he looks to expand his skill set to include offensive guard.
The Key Undrafted Free Agents
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Last but not least, the Giants added several undrafted free agents who will compete for roster spots this summer.
Here is a look at some of the brand-new faces who could make training camp a little too close for comfort for some of the veterans at their positions.
TE Matt LaCosse, Illinois
The Giants haven’t really had a solid blocking tight end since the days of Jeremy Shockey and Kevin Boss.
They’re hoping that Matt LaCosse, who specialized in blocking in college, can bring back that dimension to an offense that last year saw its running game finish 23rd in the NFL.
With the question marks concerning the reshuffled offensive line, it’s imperative that the Giants get better blocking from their tight end spot. LaCosse will be someone to watch in this regard.
TE Jerome Cunningham, Southern Connecticut State
Jerome Cunningham joined the Giants when training camp was in progress last year. While he flashed ability as a receiver, he never really looked comfortable back then.
This year it’s been a different story. Cunningham has received reps with the starters, this thanks to incumbent Larry Donnell’s tendinitis. For Cunningham, it’s been a night-and-day difference, as he looks much more polished running routes and getting in and out of breaks.
If he can show an ability to block, the Giants might just have something in this chiseled-looking 24-year-old prospect.
OL Michael Bamiro, Stony Brook
Last year, the Giants made an under-the-radar move when they signed offensive tackle Michael Bamiro to their practice squad.
That move could end up being huge for New York, and not just because at 6’8”, 340 pounds, he is the biggest player on the Giants’ 90-man roster.
After a short stint with Chip Kelly in Philadelphia in which Bamiro tried to learn to play guard, he will get opportunities to put his size to good use for New York as an offensive tackle, where his length and wingspan could come in handy down the line at a position (offensive tackle) that right now is paper-thin.
TE Will Tye, Stony Brook
Will Tye is another big player from Stony Brook, a tight end who has looked impressive in the limited snaps the media was allowed to view.
In addition to potentially giving quarterback Eli Manning another big target, Tye seems to relish having a role on special teams.
WR Ben Edwards, Richmond
Ben Edwards isn’t very tall—he stands 5’10”—but he’s a rock-solid 197 pounds and is a sparkplug who has shown this spring that he has a nonstop motor.
Edwards has worked from the slot and on punt returns. As a receiver, he’s been rather impressive running routes and has not dropped any catchable balls thrown his way during the OTAs open to the media.
Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. Unless otherwise noted, advanced analytics are from Pro Football Focus, and contract information is from Over the Cap. All other quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.
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