New York Giants Players Who Are Due for Bigger Roles in 2015

If there has been a positive aspect to having so many injuries, it’s that the New York Giants front office and personnel staffs have been able to get a real-time glimpse of some younger yet promising players, who otherwise might not have played.

For the most part, it's worked out well for the Giants.

"We have a lot of young players playing big roles on this team and getting better every week," said linebacker Devon Kennard, one of those young players who figures to have a much larger role in 2015.

"I think that is a huge testament to the organization and the guys that they have brought in, and to us players and the impact we want to have and to the future we want to have for this organization."

So while there won't be any playoffs for the Giants this year, the silver lining is that the Giants, who will have some very difficult contract decisions to make, have already gotten a head start on planning their 2015 roster, whether they wanted to or not.

Let’s look at five of those players who at the beginning of the year weren’t even in the picture—but who might end up having much larger roles on the 2015 roster.  

Running Back Orleans Darkwa

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For two years now, key members of Giants running back unit have suffered injuries, causing them to miss all or parts of the season. Given the lack of luck they've had with this unit, there has been a philosophy shift regarding the position to where a team can never have too many running backs.

One such running back who has been making a good case for a permanent roster spot next year is rookie Orleans Darkwa, whom the Giants signed off Miami’s practice squad on November 12.

In the six-plus weeks Darkwa has been with the Giants, he’s shown the coaches that he’s a fast study—a good thing considering the injury struggles o starter Rashad Jennings and the season-ending losses of Peyton Hillis (concussion) and Michael Cox (broken leg).

“If you want to talk about Orleans Darkwa, here is a young man who impressed us very much right away when he came to us,” head coach Tom Coughlin told the media.

“He picked things up very fast. I think the level of confidence was recognized by the fact that he was inserted many times in the game on third down against a [Rams] team that has a very, very complicated pressure and blitz package, and he was able to go in and help us in that regard as well.”

Darkwa credited his rapid rise to the lineup to spending extra time studying his craft.

“I’ve done some extra studying with my running backs coach (Craig Johnson) and with the offensive line just to see what they’re thinking so I can get on the same page with them, and I think it’s shown in practice with my runs and protections,” he said.

What makes Darkwa’s accomplishment so impressive is not only that he picked things up so quickly despite not having a training camp or offseason to study. But he moved ahead of Henry Hynoski, who was initially thought to be next in line for a larger role as a third-down back when the injuries began piling up at the position.

Moving forward, Darkwa will almost certainly be invited to training camp, ahead of Hillis, who, despite having another year on his contract, is likely done.

Darkwa could find himself in a competition for the third-down back duties with Cox and perhaps a still-to-be-determined rookie picked up during or after the draft.

Certainly, every positive play he puts on film isn’t going to hurt his chances in getting a leg up on that competition, and it will be interesting to see how he does after having a full offseason to really learn the playbook’s concepts.

Defensive End Kerry Wynn

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The Giants defensive line is projected to undergo a significant offseason change.

Veteran defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins could be salary-cap casualties this winter. 

Then there is star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who will be an unrestricted free agent and, despite telling reporters a few weeks ago that he hopes to “be a Giant for life,” isn’t a lock to return.

The draft and perhaps free agency will certainly be used to restock some of the depth along the defensive line, but so too will young players like Kerry Wynn, a versatile type who can play both end and tackle with the discipline and control of a veteran.

“He just plays hard. He loves to play. He has a unique ability, in my opinion, to be in the right spot at the right time,” said head coach Tom Coughlin. “He is a powerful young man, and he is just going to keep on getting better as he goes along.”

While likely not starting material yet—Wynn himself told reporters during a conference call that he’s not even thinking about challenging for a starting position right now—what he can bring to the table is some solid depth to a unit that was disappointing against the run and alarmingly soft on the edges. 

Safety Nat Berhe

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The Giants will have three unrestricted free agents at safety this winter: Antrel Rolle, Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown. Of those three, Rolle and Brown probably have the best chance of returning, if their prices are right.

The Giants are hoping that next year Cooper Taylor, who has spent each of his first two years in the league on injured reserve, can play a bigger role on the defense. Taylor had actually shown significant growth in his understanding of the defense this summer prior to suffering a season-ending foot injury.

Another player they are potentially hoping to see step up is safety Nat Berhe, one of the team’s two fifth-round draft picks this year.

Berhe, out of San Diego State, is 6’0” and weighs 194 pounds. Thus far, he has seen most of his snaps on special teams. But if you’ve blinked, you’ve probably missed the eight snaps that, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he has taken at strong safety in the Giants’ three-safety formation in the last three games.

Berhe’s development has been a work in progress, but safeties coach David Merritt, who spoke to reporters during the bye week earlier this season, said that the rookie has been showing growth in his understanding of the pro game, saying, “He is going to be a good football player for the New York Football Giants for a long time.”

While Berhe hasn’t had much of an opportunity on defense this season, he has made his mark on special teams. He currently leads the Giants with 11 tackles, eight solo, and one fumble recovery in that area.

It will be interesting to see what happens next year and how Berhe's skill set, which includes experience playing a pseudo-linebacker while in college, is utilized—particularly if the Giants make a change at defensive coordinator.

Tight End Adrien Robinson

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It’s no great secret that tight end Adrien Robinson’s career hasn’t exactly flourished since being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft.

However, Robinson has slowly started to show signs that he is getting the offense, at least as a pass-blocker. Per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he has the best run-blocking grade (3.0) out of all three Giants tight ends.

Robinson, who has quietly seen his snap counts increase over the last three games, has made the most of his opportunities.

Per PFF, he has taken 32 of his 73 regular-season snaps on offense over that period and has caught five out of six passes thrown his way for 50 yards and one touchdown.

With another year in this new offense, which appears to be a very tight end-friendly system that has benefited Robinson, he could potentially be contributing as a pass-receiver as well.

If he develops—and that’s a big “if” given his history so far—his skill set could result in the Giants offense having its most complete tight end since Martellus Bennett.

Cornerback Chandler Fenner

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

So far this year, cornerback Chandler Fenner has taken just four snaps on defense, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), those coming against the Dallas Cowboys.

You might remember that game. Fenner, a two-year pro who had two stints on the Giants practice squad this season before permanently landing on the 53-man roster, found himself isolated against receiver Dez Bryant, who burned the young cornerback for 44 yards back in Week 7.

Since then, Fenner hasn’t had any snaps on defense. Instead, he's contributing on special teams, where he has posted seven tackles (five solo).

He also came up with the huge onside kick recovery against Washington a couple weeks ago, making a heads-up play in which he quickly transitioned from blocking to recovering the ball.

With Jayron Hosley unlikely to be back and veterans Walter Thurmond and Zack Bowman in a contract year, Fenner, who flashed several times in the preseason, could be looking at a good opportunity next year.

He may be able to entrench himself on the Giants' 53-man roster as a fourth or fifth cornerback/special teams contributor.

Patricia Traina covers the New York Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and The Sports Xchange. All quotes and information obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced. Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.