Post by plax on Apr 29, 2014 11:30:06 GMT -5
New York Giants' Positional Review -- DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Ready or not, Johnathan Hankins will be forced to produce in 2014
Today we stick on the defensive line, this time taking a look at the defensive tackle group
2013 Overview
As you discovered yesterday, the defensive ends on the Giants failed to produce and hindered the defense from reaching its potential. Carrying the bulk of the defensive line? Linval Joseph and Cullen Jenkins. Both were exceptional in 2013, and could have made an even bigger impact if they got help from their defensive line counterparts. Linval Joseph, who was the best Giants defensive tackle, posted three (3) sacks in 2013 while being an absolute force against the run. Joseph was the most consistent and most dominant Giants player up front last year. Next to him, Cullen Jenkins put up five (5) sacks of his own while being a solid all-around player.
The Giants also had good depth at defensive tackle, with rookie Johnathan Hankins, Mike Patterson, and Shaun Rogers as back-ups. Unfortunately for Rogers, he never got a chance to stay healthy, always dealing with injuries that sidelined him. Patterson was in no way flashy, but he held his own when Joseph needed a breather. Hankins looked like he could be a great defensive tackle in the near future, but the Giants did not want to rush him in, so he only got limited time in 2013. Overall, it was a solid year for the big guys in the middle.
Assessing each player at the position
Cullen Jenkins -- Jenkins now has to move into the #1 defensive tackle role with Joseph bolting to Minnesota on a lucrative deal. He will never be the force he was in Green Bay where he established himself as a top tier 3-4 defensive end, but if he can repeat the performance of 2013, no one will be upset.
Johnathan Hankins -- Called "Big Hank", the former Ohio State product was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Giants. At 6'2" and 320 pounds, Hankins is a very big body who has the potential to be a force in a few years. Due to his big size, he can clog up rushing lanes for the already-good run defense of the Giants. One thing that people do not look at is Hankins' pass rushing ability, however. He is actually quite productive rushing the passer, so with that said, Hankins can really be a big part of the Giants defense in 2014. The question is - is he ready? Barring a high pick at the defensive tackle position in the 2014 NFL Draft that kicks off next Thursday, Hankins will be seemingly forced into a starting role and asked to play a lot of snaps. He is a guy to keep an eye on as the 2014 season draws near.
Mike Patterson -- -Re-signed to a one-year deal this 0ff-season, Patterson does not offer much more than depth. As stated earlier, he can hold his own, but should not be asked to play more than 20 or so snaps a game. If the Gianter enter the year with Patterson as the Giants' main back-up at the position, they are in trouble.
Markus Kuhn -- Hammered by injuries in 2013, Markus Kuhn never got a chance to show what he could do as a depth guy. Not the "big" guy that Hankins is, but Kuhn is a very well-built player who will be looking to take advantage of the lack of depth currently at the position in hopes to make a name for himself and to take a roster spot on the team. I do not see him making much of an impact, but right now the Giants will take any bodies they can on the defensive line.
2014 NFL Draft
So looking above, the Giants need a lot of help at defensive tackle. Not only do they not have a great body at the position, but they also lack depth and talent, overall. Jenkins and Hankisn are the only two defensive tackles currently on the roster who should be getting meaningful snaps, and that is not a good sign. The name linked most to the Giants is Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, who is as explosive a player as there is in the draft. He is a hard worker, he is relentless, he is everything you want in a defensive tackle save his "under-sized" frame. If Donald had the size of other tackles in the draft, he would be a lock for a top three selection. Other popular names that enter the fold for the Giants as possible selections in the first two rounds are Ra'Shede Hageman of Minnesota, Timmy Jernigan of Florida State, Louis Nix of Notre Dame, and Dominique Easley of Florida. If the Giants want to pick up a guy later on in the draft , Caraun Reid of Princeton is a very interesting choice.
Conclusion
The Giants have guys in place to make a solid core at the position. They have a veteran talent in Cullen Jenkins and a young talent in Johnathan Hankins. They need more. however. The Giants went secondary in free agency and are expected to tackle the front seven in the draft in hopes to assemble a top 10 defense in the league. Depending on how the draft plays out, the Giants can either be looking great on the defensive line or lackluster.
One quick thing to keep an eye on is former Viking Kevin Williams. Because Minnesota brought in Linval Joseph, Williams is most likely not going back to the Vikings in 2014 .The Giants met with him a few weeks ago and nothing has happened since. If the Giants can pick him up, it would do wonders for the depth and veteran leadership on the front line.
Ready or not, Johnathan Hankins will be forced to produce in 2014
Today we stick on the defensive line, this time taking a look at the defensive tackle group
2013 Overview
As you discovered yesterday, the defensive ends on the Giants failed to produce and hindered the defense from reaching its potential. Carrying the bulk of the defensive line? Linval Joseph and Cullen Jenkins. Both were exceptional in 2013, and could have made an even bigger impact if they got help from their defensive line counterparts. Linval Joseph, who was the best Giants defensive tackle, posted three (3) sacks in 2013 while being an absolute force against the run. Joseph was the most consistent and most dominant Giants player up front last year. Next to him, Cullen Jenkins put up five (5) sacks of his own while being a solid all-around player.
The Giants also had good depth at defensive tackle, with rookie Johnathan Hankins, Mike Patterson, and Shaun Rogers as back-ups. Unfortunately for Rogers, he never got a chance to stay healthy, always dealing with injuries that sidelined him. Patterson was in no way flashy, but he held his own when Joseph needed a breather. Hankins looked like he could be a great defensive tackle in the near future, but the Giants did not want to rush him in, so he only got limited time in 2013. Overall, it was a solid year for the big guys in the middle.
Assessing each player at the position
Cullen Jenkins -- Jenkins now has to move into the #1 defensive tackle role with Joseph bolting to Minnesota on a lucrative deal. He will never be the force he was in Green Bay where he established himself as a top tier 3-4 defensive end, but if he can repeat the performance of 2013, no one will be upset.
Johnathan Hankins -- Called "Big Hank", the former Ohio State product was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Giants. At 6'2" and 320 pounds, Hankins is a very big body who has the potential to be a force in a few years. Due to his big size, he can clog up rushing lanes for the already-good run defense of the Giants. One thing that people do not look at is Hankins' pass rushing ability, however. He is actually quite productive rushing the passer, so with that said, Hankins can really be a big part of the Giants defense in 2014. The question is - is he ready? Barring a high pick at the defensive tackle position in the 2014 NFL Draft that kicks off next Thursday, Hankins will be seemingly forced into a starting role and asked to play a lot of snaps. He is a guy to keep an eye on as the 2014 season draws near.
Mike Patterson -- -Re-signed to a one-year deal this 0ff-season, Patterson does not offer much more than depth. As stated earlier, he can hold his own, but should not be asked to play more than 20 or so snaps a game. If the Gianter enter the year with Patterson as the Giants' main back-up at the position, they are in trouble.
Markus Kuhn -- Hammered by injuries in 2013, Markus Kuhn never got a chance to show what he could do as a depth guy. Not the "big" guy that Hankins is, but Kuhn is a very well-built player who will be looking to take advantage of the lack of depth currently at the position in hopes to make a name for himself and to take a roster spot on the team. I do not see him making much of an impact, but right now the Giants will take any bodies they can on the defensive line.
2014 NFL Draft
So looking above, the Giants need a lot of help at defensive tackle. Not only do they not have a great body at the position, but they also lack depth and talent, overall. Jenkins and Hankisn are the only two defensive tackles currently on the roster who should be getting meaningful snaps, and that is not a good sign. The name linked most to the Giants is Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, who is as explosive a player as there is in the draft. He is a hard worker, he is relentless, he is everything you want in a defensive tackle save his "under-sized" frame. If Donald had the size of other tackles in the draft, he would be a lock for a top three selection. Other popular names that enter the fold for the Giants as possible selections in the first two rounds are Ra'Shede Hageman of Minnesota, Timmy Jernigan of Florida State, Louis Nix of Notre Dame, and Dominique Easley of Florida. If the Giants want to pick up a guy later on in the draft , Caraun Reid of Princeton is a very interesting choice.
Conclusion
The Giants have guys in place to make a solid core at the position. They have a veteran talent in Cullen Jenkins and a young talent in Johnathan Hankins. They need more. however. The Giants went secondary in free agency and are expected to tackle the front seven in the draft in hopes to assemble a top 10 defense in the league. Depending on how the draft plays out, the Giants can either be looking great on the defensive line or lackluster.
One quick thing to keep an eye on is former Viking Kevin Williams. Because Minnesota brought in Linval Joseph, Williams is most likely not going back to the Vikings in 2014 .The Giants met with him a few weeks ago and nothing has happened since. If the Giants can pick him up, it would do wonders for the depth and veteran leadership on the front line.