If you are a member of the NY Giants secondary or linebacking corps, you should get down on your knees and thank Jerry Reese for assembling easily (at least on paper) the deepest and most dominant defensive line in the NFL. Think about it; Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield and Dave Tollefson....Wow!
With the possible exception of Tollefson, the rest of these guys would start for any team in football. Period. That kind of depth at a position where depth is critical just does not happen these days. Yet the Giants pulled it off. (In fairness, I fully realize there are some health questions regarding Robbins and Cofield but I have been hearing they should be ready to go).
Why should the Giants other defensive units be so happy about this? Because the D-line will make them better. Remember when Ray Lewis was the most dominant player in football years ago? Then, after losing Tony Siragusa (who by the way is an awful TV analyst, but I digress) and Sam Adams (no, not the beer dude), his production declined sharply. The reason was obvious, without those two in front of him occupying blockers, Lewis was no longer free to roam the field untouched and make plays everywhere. In a similiar manner, the Giants linebackers will prosper in the run defense departmant since their D-line occupies blockers freeing them up to make plays. It even may allow the Giants to speed up the process of getting talented rookie Clint Sintim significant playing time as the pressure on him will be reduced.
The secondary benefits in a very obvious way. In obvious passing situations if the Giants line up, say, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka, Tuck and Canty that is an awfully fierce pass rush. If opposing offenses think they can just roll out their five lineman and expect their QB to stay upright long enough to see a receiver----good luck! More likely they will keep in an extra blocker or two meaning many times you will see just three receivers running routes as the rest are tasked with trying to stop the Giants front four. That could leave, if the Giants do not blitz, seven men in coverage against just three recievers. The numbers favor the Giants and their secondary who will not only have plenty of help, but likely won't have to cover for very long.
Can you see why I am so looking forward to the 2009 season....