Giants Defense: Linebackers Are Key

One team made plays and the other team didn't. As unsatisfying as it is overused, this one sentence cliche has started to become the standard analysis of NFL playoff games. While it explains nothing, it still is the go-to explanation for broadcasters, regardless of what actually happened.

In reality both teams made plays. Two teams calling and running plays is actually what constitutes a professional football game.

So what are we actually supposed to take from this increasingly hackneyed saying?

One team successfully executed the plays they ran in the most important areas of the game and the other team did not. In a nutshell, this is what happened in the Giants first round loss to the Eagles last year. I'm inclined to dig deeper.

For the entire season the strength of the Giants was their defensive pressure and their running game. After a close first half in which both teams missed opportunities on offense, the Eagles managed to successfully execute on third down (the most important area of this game) while the Giants could not.

The Giants defense recorded no sacks and not for lack of trying. They chased Eagles QB Donovan McNabb around but he always managed to find an open receiver underneath.

The Giants linebackers just couldn't cover Philly's backs and receivers. It was a problem all season and came back to seriously hurt the Giants, especially on third down.

The Eagles converted four out of eight third downs in the second half as opposed to the Giants two for six. The game came down to third downs. The Eagles executed successfully while the Giants didn't.

It was evident that the Giants needed to upgrade their speed at linebacker to ensure that quicker QBs like McNabb don't find open receivers underneath when the line is able to get pressure. The additions to the defense this off-season directly address this problem.

First they signed Michael Boley from the Falcons, a speedy, versatile linebacker who lost his playing time in Atlanta due to a new scheme implemented in 2008.

Boley seems a perfect fit for this defense. He loves to get out and rush the passer which is essential to the Giants scheme, but is also quick enough to stay back in coverage against backs and tight ends, something the Giants linebackers just couldn't do last year.

Additionally, the Giants used their second round pick on Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim. Sintim played in the 3-4 at Virginia where he was able to be an effective pass rusher.

He has great straight ahead speed and closes quickly on quarterbacks often delivering big hits. His tackling is solid and seems like he will be perfect for those third down blitzes that the Giants love to dial up.

However his lateral speed isn't great and he didn't play much in coverage at Virginia. Thus if the Giants use him at strong side linebacker (which is the plan as of now) he'll have a tough time chasing down backs and tight ends both off the line and out of the backfield.

If he is able to hold his own in coverage, it looks like he'll be a starting linebacker in the NFL. If not, it is going to place an even greater weight on the shoulders of Boley and Antonio Pierce. 

Pierce, the Giants defensive captain for the past few seasons, both on the field and off, started to show his age (and weight) last season.

He was absolutely terrible in coverage. He was often given the task of covering opposing tight ends and running backs and for the most part just could not keep up with them (in the playoff loss to the Eagles, Philly's backs and tight ends combined for 10 catches for 53 yards).

While his psychological impact on the defense can't be quantified, his physical skills are diminishing. He never got the contract extension he wanted a season ago and is not going to get one this season (apparently management is worried he is overweight and also need to give Eli an extension).

Is this the issue that turns into a major distraction down the line? Probably not given Pierce's veteran maturity (not at all the type of diva that Plaxico Burress is), but is still something to be aware of as the season starts.

And then there is the pu-pu platter of Danny Clark, Chase Blackburn, Zak DeOssie, Gerris Wilkinson, and Bryan Kehl. All decent linebackers, none good enough to be a starter right now.

Wilkinson has a ton of potential but can't seem to stay healthy and thus can't seem to find playing time. DeOssie is one of their best special teamers but is nowhere close to being an every down linebacker. Clark and Blackburn are both solid but you know what you're getting with them and it's not mind-blowing.

All this indicates that the Giants' front seven are going to be in constant rotation this season, at least until someone gets hurt.

The steal of free agent Chris Canty from Dallas, a versatile tackle-linebacker hybrid (who they will rotate in coverage and on the rush depending on the situation) only adds to their depth and flexibility. Both him and Sintim come out of a 3-4 system, and with all the athleticism in their front seven the Giants will be running a lot of stunts, which will allow them the drop their linemen into coverage and rush their linebackers.

New defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, former linebacker coach, has said that he doesn't plan on changing former D-coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system. Spagnuolo, now the head coach of the Rams, was also a linebackers coach (for the Eagles) before coming to the Giants.

The Giants defense this season has a chance to be special. With the return of Osi Umenyiora, and the addition of Canty, their outstanding defensive line from last season will only get better.

If the new additions at the linebacker position are able to flourish, this defense will be among the best in the NFL.