Why the NY Giants Don't Need to Panic About Their Safety Situation

One look at the New York Giants’ official roster, and it’s easy to understand why many people are in a panic about the current situation at safety.

The roster lists two safeties, Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor, both recent draft picks, and undrafted free-agent defensive back Thomas Gordon, who was with the Giants last year in camp, as being under contract.

That’s three safeties with a combined 35 NFL snaps, per Pro Football Focus, which includes 32 for Berhe at both free safety and strong safety last year, and three for Taylor in 2013, all coming at free safety.

So why shouldn’t the Giants panic about the numbers, or rather, the lack of numbers at safety as of this writing?

Because they do have options for the position, and some of those options, while carrying a risk like any player at any position in the NFL does, are better than what some people think.

Turn Back the Clock

In 2007 and 2008, Steve Spagnuolo, then a first-time NFL defensive coordinator, fielded a top-10 defensive unit (seventh in 2007 and sixth in 2008).

His secret? Stop the run on first down and force the opponent into 2nd-and-long yardage.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

In both 2007 and 2008, the Giants’ run defense was the sixth best in the league and a big part of why New York finished with a 26-11 record (including postseason games) in those two years.

To stop the run, Spagnuolo fielded a run-heavy personnel set that included two big bodies in the defensive interior (Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield) and three thumpers at linebacker (Antonio Pierce, Reggie Torbor and Kawika Mitchell).

Remember who the safeties were? No?

In 2007, Spagnuolo had their 2004 fifth-rounder, Gibril Wilson, team up with undrafted free-agent James Butler; in 2008, Wilson was replaced by their other seventh-round pick in 2007, Michael Johnson.

While the league has fallen in love with the big-play pass since Spagnuolo’s first stint as defensive coordinator, so far it appears that the Giants are rebuilding their defense to mirror what they did in 2007 and 2008.

The Giants have three solid run-stoppers in defensive linemen Jason Pierre-Paul, Johnathan Hankins and newcomer Kenrick Ellis, whose signing was announced in a press release Wednesday. The identity of the other defensive end is still to be determined.

They also added J.T. Thomas to a linebacker unit that is also projected to include Jon Beason and Devon Kennard.

At cornerback, Spagnuolo has a pair of studs in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara.

What about at safety?

Glad you asked.

A "Berhe" Logical Option

One way or another, the Giants are going to add a veteran at this position if for no other reason than to have someone else in the room to serve as a mentor.

That someone at free safety could be Stevie Brown, who in 2014 was in his first year back from ACL surgery.

A possible reason for the delay in re-signing Brown could be the offseason foot surgery that Pro Football Talk reports Brown had at some point earlier this winter.

In the meantime, Nat Berhe (pronounced burr-hay), one of two fifth-round picks from last year, looks as though he could be the thumper at safety who will help the Giants against the run.

Although Berhe’s body of work at the NFL is very limited, he still showed flashes of being that “thumper” at safety via his special teams work that the Giants likely seek in a full-time strong safety.

Here is what Inside Football, in its January 2015 issue, had to say about Berhe’s rookie NFL season:

"

The rookie’s role was primarily that of a special teams player, and we were very impressed by his tenacity and the way he hits people. With the art of tackling slowly becoming a lost art, Berhe brought it back and we’re excited to see a safety lay the wood—much like Will Hill did when he was here. Berhe likes to mix it up and when he hits someone, they go down. That alone is encouraging.

"

Still, there were questions regarding Berhe and why he didn’t get on the field much last year, especially when Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps struggled.

Safeties coach David Merritt told me for Inside Football at the end of the mandatory minicamp that Berhe's struggles were typical given that they were asking him to do things the young man had never done before.

"

Nat is a typical rookie. He’s a young man who’s learning, who’s trying to understand the NFL game, the concepts and the things we’re asking him to do are probably a little foreign to him. So right now, we’re going through this slow, growing pain process. But overall with this young man, he’s proving that he has the ability to play on this level and his ability to be able to pick up the concepts of the pass game is going to be key for him.

"

Although Berhe knew what to do, knowing and actually doing it are two different things, like knowing how to write by hand but having to do so left-handed despite being a natural right-handed person.

As a result, Berhe didn’t play as quickly as he probably needed to out there because he was still digesting and adjusting.

Let’s go back to Berhe’s NFL.com draft scouting report, particularly the strengths that were outlined by Nolan Nawrocki, who praised the former San Diego State defender as being, “tough, confident and competitive” and “lives and breathes football.”

Does Berhe have weaknesses in his game? Yes—every player has some sort of weakness that he brings to the table.

However, in the 6’0”, 194-pound Berhe’s case, one such weakness mentioned in his NFL.com bio was his limited special teams experience—a weakness he turned into a strength this year.

Berhe finished as the Giants' team leader in special teams tackles in 2014 with 11 (eight solo) and was their third-highest graded special teams player, according to Pro Football Focus.

With an opportunity to start in a defensive system from scratch, which he and the rest of his teammates, both rookies and veterans alike will be doing under Spagnuolo, Berhe, who has a high football IQ, should find himself a lot more comfortable as he grows into a potential role as a starting strong safety.

Remember, the Giants went through a similar situation at tight end with Larry Donnell, and he started to develop into what they need. There should be no reason why Berhe can’t follow suit and be even better if he earns a starting job.

Feeling a Draft

While many fans might think that Alabama’s Landon Collins could be the answer to their problems at safety, it would be surprising if the Giants, who have other needs such as pass-rusher and offensive line, spend the ninth overall pick on a player who is ranked as the 17th-best prospect by NFL Draft Scout.

Instead, the Giants might be better off waiting until Day 3 where, according to NFL Draft Scout’s prospect rankings, they might have a few more options that represent better value.

Some names to watch at free safety include Kurtis Drummond (6’1”, 208 lbs) of Michigan State, projected to be a late fourth-round/early fifth-round pick; Durell Eskridge (6’3”, 208 lbs) of Syracuse, projected as a fourth-round pick; and Gerod Holliman (6’0, 218 lbs) of Louisville, a projected late third-/early fourth-round pick.

It would not be surprising if the Giants go for a free safety on Day 3 and have him compete with Cooper Taylor, who needs to stay healthy this year if he is to stick around, for a roster spot.

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Thinking Outside the (Safety) Box

One of the traits that Spagnuolo brings as a defensive coordinator is that he is creative. He puts together personnel packages that sometimes even surprise the players, and best of all, he seems to improvise at will as games grind on.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

In certain situations, it wouldn’t be surprising if, for example, he ran a three-safety package that included linebacker Jonathan Casillas as the third safety, depending on the matchups.

By fielding a linebacker against a bigger, more physical receiver or tight end lined up in the slot, takes away any size advantage the opponent might gain.

It will be interesting to see if Casillas takes on that role, or if Taylor, who at 6’4”, 228 pounds has the size and physical skills to match up against bigger receivers and tight ends, gets the nod in the sub packages.

Unless otherwise noted, advanced stats are from Pro Football Focus.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow @Patricia_Traina