So I'm re-watching the Bills game and the run D is really sticking out. It really is impressive. After a quarter of the season I think it's fair to call the league leading Giants rush defense quite a pleasant surprise. A little background/refresher to give this turnaround some perspective...
The run D was a cellar dweller last season. Two spots from the bottom of the league in surrendering 135 YPG on the ground and worst in the league in allowing 4.9 yards per clip. The offseason didn't do much to give hope for a major turnaround as the biggest additions to the front 7 were a career backup DT (who subsequently failed to make the roster) and a rangy, physical LBer who had flashed and appeared to be ready for a bigger role but who had also already been with 2 teams in his first three seasons. I suppose you could add Collins to the list of Reasons for Improvement but you can't expect a rookie safety to turn around an ailing run D by himself. After a less than stellar preseason the run D was a huge concern, especially when the first month of the schedule featured some of the best running teams in the game. And that's not even touching the ongoing JPP fiasco.
Then something funny happened: they started playing the games. And this is how the first (Washington), seventh (Buffalo), thirteenth (Atlanta) and sixteenth (Dallas) ranked rushing offenses have faired against the Giants...
Dallas: 23 carries/80 yards, 3.5 per
Atlanta: 22 carries/55 yards, 2.5 per
Washington: 20 carries/88 yards, 4.4 per
Buffalo: 24 carries/55 yards, 2.3 per
That's a league best 69 yards a game to match a league best 3.1 yards per carry. They've allowed only 2 rushing TDs and only one run of more than 20 yards (a season long 24). Detractors will point to playing with a lead affecting attempts, some might even claim they had it easy with Buffalo being without McCoy. But I think that's failing to give credit where it's due and not recognizing some really good performances against top notch competition. Dallas has one of the leagues best OLs and a stable of above average backs. Devonta Freeman is one of the leagues up and coming backs and leads the league in TDs. Washington has the best ground game in the league and a true bell cow in Morris. Buffalo was without McCoy but still has a heckuva OL and Karlos Williams was already contributing (3 TDs in his first 3 games) before breaking out in week 3 in spelling McCoy, burning Miami for over 100 yards and 9.2 per carry. Long story short: these were in no way pushovers. In fact they are quite the opposite. Teams with legit top running games led by top notch OLs and dangerous skill players. And each one was in turn shut down.
So where did the turnaround come from? First off I think Spagnuolo's has been a breath of fresh air. There are still areas to address and deficencies to improve. But he clearly has these guys fired up and playing aggressively. They're physical, swarm to the ball, and gang tackle in a way I haven't seen the Giants D play in quite awhile. Guys have clearly stepped up on the DL as well. Kerry Wynn continues to impress and should he also continue to develop they appear to have a keeper on their hands. Hankins picked up where he left off and is now regularly attracting extra attention. While I've been critical in the past and still am not a huge fan of him at DE full time Jenkins has done a nice job setting the edge on early downs. Bromley has flashed the past two weeks as his opportunities have increased (I'm excited about a Hankins/Bromley tandem going forward).
At LBer the additions of Thomas and Casillas has been better than expected, at least against the run. Although Thomas has gotten the starts and seems to be emerging as a leader on the D(he always seems to be talking to the LBers on the sideline, getting guys psyched, etc) Casillas has actually logged a few more defensive snaps. They appear to be splitting the duties and while there are kinks to work out in coverage I love the way these guys fly around the field. They're aggressive, will attack the LOS, and swarm to the ball carrier. At the other outside spot Kennard continues to look like a budding star. Big, strong, and plays with that high level of physicality that can only be called "violent". Right now he's on pace to become the first Giants LBer to collect 100+ tackles in a season since Antonio Pierce in 2007.
Finally, despite the near-sleepless nights the safety position gave Giants fans they've managed to hold it together. Collins has come as advertised and has really come on the last two weeks with some nice stops near the LOS and 2 TFL. He seems to be playing faster, more instinctively. I'm not a big fan as I think it's an overused phrase but I think the game is slowing down for him. Meriweather has been better than expected as well, bringing the physicality everyone knew he had while thus far playing smart, critical as mental errors nearly bounced him out of the league,
So what are everyone's thoughts on the run D? Any theories on the turnaround? Guys I missed or didn't mention? I couldn't be any happier about it but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked...
Also, it may be worth a mention that, in the Washington game, 26 of their 88 yards came on the game's final play - a draw where the entire defense was playing for a longer pass. If you want to tease that out, our numbers look even better - 2.86 yards per carry and 63 yards per game.
In terms of YPC:
2015: 1st (so far)
2014: 32nd
2013: T 4th
2012: 24th
2011: 16th
2010: 7th
So bizzare
As mentioned though, some of the big spikes in the past in run defense quality has been through the additions of some big time defensive linemen. However, it's not like the Giants added Suh or some big studs in the offseason as Spags is working with a fairly similar roster.
I guess biggest reasons have been....
1- Health (asides from JPP and Odi, line has been pretty healthy)
2- Depth (maybe not a lot of stars but the depth is there)
3- More physical safeties
4- More speed with the linebackers
5- Proper playing time (playing Jenkins at DE more and Wynn as opposed to players such as Kiwi and Moore have made a big difference)
Don't mean to discredit Beason, his leadership is huge, but from what I company tell he's been on the field for less than a quarter of th pie defensive snaps. Since returning two weeks ago he's still splitting time with Unga. At the same time the last two weeks have been arguably the most impressive so maybe I'm not giving him enough credit.
Should he somehow manage to stay healthy he'll obviously make an impact. I just don't see it happening though. Some guys, talented as they may be, just can't seem to stay healthy. It's not a toughness thing, some guys bodies just don't hold up to the pounding, and the cumulative effect of all those injuries just makes it worse. Beason seems to be one of those guys. He hasn't played a full season in 6 years.
To be honest I still think the contract was a mistake . 17 mill for a 30 yr old LBer who in the 3 seasons prior to the deal missed 28 of 48 games is not a wise investment. Unfortunately he's remained true to form and has only appeared in 6 of 20 games since signing the deal.
Check out Beason's comments about Kennard in his latest interview. Kennard isn't merely doing his job. He's performing above and beyond. I'm not sure there's a better LB in the league right now - maybe Barr of the Vikings? Is Bowman back to 100%?
Team speed at LB is vastly different with Unga, Thomas and Casillas at LB... DRC and Prince supporting the run well, and Collins getting better every game; he is as advertised "moving forward."
In Spags scheme they are even more agressive to the ball and they always seem to have that back side covered. I believe what the Giants have are a bunch of very good run stoppers as opposed to pass rushers. Not that they don't get in there with pressure but I believe Spags knows what he has and that is a bunch of guys who can really shut down the run and he is playing to that strength.
It's almost like an offense that sets up the pass with the run. Or if the strength is passing they set up the run by making the defense honor the pass. I believe Spags sets his defense up by going to his strength and that is stopping the run. Make the offense one dimmensional then he can defend the pass better because the know what is coming.
Kuhn.
;)
The other guy to credit is Hankins who they have primarily playing a NT position if I understand it correctly. Seems to have solidified the middle. The vets like Jenkins and Selvie are also doing their job. Bromley has stepped up too.
Clearly Fewell and Rolle had a connection that worked in 2011, but eventually lost its edge, became stale and, eventually, soft.
I think letting Rolle go was partly to clear the way for a new regime under Spags.
Probably a combo of some better athletes (Kennard, Collins) and a better DC stressing fundamentals too
The Washington stats were padded significantly by the final snap where the Giants were in total prevent and gave up 24 yards on a handoff. Prior to that - 19 carries for 64 yards - an even more impressive feat.
Roster make up - people have complained about the roster, the number of DL and WR don't seem to match a typical year. The DL are getting snaps - Spags has all these guys in there. From one drive to another we have seen different combinations, and in running downs you see strength against the run. Passing situations you see Moore and even Whitlock getting snaps, but you don't see much of them early on when teams are looking to establish the run.
Read option - haven't really seen that much this year, and when we have the Giants have been ready for it. In past years the Giants would at times appear stout against runs by the QB and would be vulnerable to the QB, so they might keep opponent's RB's to 80 on the ground but the QB gashes them for another 50.
Better tackling. The Giants gave up so many yards on missed tackling last year. It was horrific actually. I read an article where Spags told the defense it was over 1300 yards (iirc) in missed/broken tackles. The Giants have done a much better job this year of securing the tackle even when making solo tackles in the open field.
Clearly a defensive coordinator can't work magic. These seemingly magical results are related to Spags' focus on stopping the run first and improved tackling.
And of course, as you mentioned, you cannot overstate the impact that playing with a late lead has on rushing statistics. Keep it up defense!
I have barely seen Jenkins playing DE since the preseason. Almost all of his snaps have been inside.
The two noticeable improvements were 1) holding the edge on off tackle plays and 2) Kennard.
I noticed Owa (still can't write his name), even in his first game, stayed true and didn't crash inside as others have done so often in the past. Credit to Spags for teaching discipline.
When he is more consistent at tackling the sky is the limit.
Also a bit inconsistent but definitely shows promise in pass coverage -- has made some nice adjustments to the ball.
It's rather hilarious how you will twist yourself into a pretzel to avoid saying anything complimentary about Steve Spagnuolo, ever since you planted your flag into the "Spagnuolo sucks" hill because you thought it would give cover to Coughlin when you assumed the defense was going to suck.
https://twitter.com/art_stapleton/status/651197256649961472
How could anyone think this about 2nd year players that had even shown a bit as rookies. Especially DLs who take some time to develop.
They may not be household names, by this defense is stacked with players that are young and hungry to compete, to get paid, and to prove they belong. That makes them dangerous.
Those stats are a little skewed - a lot of that yardage has come in garbage time. Could we be better? Yes, a lot. A pass rush would help
Washington passed almost exclusively in the second half on the thursday game, and Buffalo was forced to pass for most of the second half as well.
the giants have had double digit leads in every game thus far.
https://twitter.com/art_stapleton/status/651197256649961472
Thanks for sharing that link. While watching it I thought of Collins losing track of Witten on the drag route in our first game, and how that rookie mistake hurt us. I had a smile because I knew watching this that Witten doesn't get in on that play again with Collins in coverage.
He does a great job of closing on ball carriers - we've seen several examples of it already.
Atlanta's duo of Freeman and Coleman was supposed to be formidable - the same for Washington's duo of Morris and Jones.
Then Buffalo was missing McCoy, but everyone said not to sleep on Williams.
We've faced some of the better backs in the NFL - ones who had success before and after facing the Giants.
we dont have big talent up front but guys are doing what they're asked even if its a job that will make them look bad IE the ends playing contained rush. look at route the DEs take in the Bills game - they almost slowly walk wide and just stop. They aren't trying to rush: they're keeping Taylor in the pocket no matter what. takes tremendous discipline and belief to not go for sacks + let the Offensive Tackle basically dominate you. but they've boughten in
I'll stick with Odi Wan Kenobi - easier and cooler ;)