1) Will our defense suffer early in the season because the players are learning the new scheme? i.e. more than breakdowns in assignments then normal for the first few games. Or is it more they should know their jobs and make the transition somewhat smoothly.
2) Do we have more or less talent on defense then last year? Loss of JPP and DRC addition by subtraction(?). Picked up Ogletree, drafted Carter, Hill, and McIntosh. Or perhaps too early to tell.
3) Does the new scheme help us against division opponents for the first year? First time Eagles, Dallas, and Washington will face us with the new scheme...though they can watch tape of the Cardinals in prior years.
2. Hard to say...lbers seems much more athletic....plenty of beef across DL....the DBs are a concern. Hopefully better talent across the field.
Much easier to find tweeners like Von Miller types or a straight up pass rushing LB.
DB depth is a major issue. Assuming Jenkins, Collins, Apple and Thompson can stay healthy and play to the best version of themselves, the base defense will be significantly better than last year. But nickel and dime packages will not be as good without DRC... And if anyone gets hurt, this could be the achilles heel of the team. Need to hope several of the recent signees step up...
I am looking forward to seeing how Bettcher implements his flexible 3-4 scheme and leverages the talent and depth of the talent. I am optimistic that this approach will be a big upgrade from last year and best match up against the other NFC East offenses. Barring injury, I have to believe we will get back to a top five defense in the league as we were in 2016.
Sideline to sideline, run-stuffing MLBs for 4-3 are rare.
I think we have more talent, but only marginally more talent. We don't have a good pass rush and could have some secondary issues, but hopefully much more focus/effort this year vs last.
I don't know about your last point...no one does.
- ER (time will tell if the more athletic unit can compensate)
- CB (would like to see DRC picked up, doubt it will happen)
-with very different players attacking all different gaps, and then add in safety or ilbs or corners and it's even wider.
So it will just be to memorize all those variations then pin your ears back and go....or not go....or drop...etc
Mediums; Mauro and McIntosh, any shade or any gap.
Smalls: Wynn, Moss, Okwara and most of the OLBs. Any gap or on an end on an OT heads up, or wide
Lights: Carter and the Ilbs and safeties. Any wide open gap or wide.
The ways to do it are almost infinite.
So it's to build mixes that give advantage.
How many times, did we see Receivers catch balls, well short of first downs, and yet get YAC and the first down?
Complete opposite for our offense....we catch a short pass, and are immediately tackled....
This defense has absolutely no depth, just bodies....a key injury or two, and the defense will be in trouble...
I have no idea which defense Bettcher will stress, but somehow he has to create pressure from the front 7, because his defensive back field, outside of Jenkins, is suspect....
And which Collins is going to show up this season?
This offense may have to score points, to help this defense get it's mojo over the course of a season....
It’s a young man’s league. We need the young players here to emerge.
I’m not concerned about the secondary as this is a scheme predicated on stopping the run and pressuring the QB. If the front 7 does their job the Giants won’t need 5 stud corners.
I remember last year in camp Spags saying the players were in graduate school now, in year 3. Didn't turn out too well. Seems the longer Spags stays the worse his D gets. Sure it's not as simple as that, but it seems to be a trend.
If you've been watching, Vernon has played from a 2 pt. stance a ton the last 2 years. It started when he injured his wrist in 2016 and Spags tried to limit the wear & tear. He is pretty good at it and has made some good plays downfield in coverage.
I remember last year in camp Spags saying the players were in graduate school now, in year 3. Didn't turn out too well. Seems the longer Spags stays the worse his D gets. Sure it's not as simple as that, but it seems to be a trend.
Yes, that was my impression of Bettcher's defense as well. Hoping Bettcher's defense is simpler and easier for the players as part of helping them play fast.
I’m not concerned about the secondary as this is a scheme predicated on stopping the run and pressuring the QB. If the front 7 does their job the Giants won’t need 5 stud corners.
That was my understanding of Gettleman's thinking. Focus on the trenches.
The lack of CB depth is scary right now, but I think they are not done adding to that depth. I also think Apple is going to have a big year this year. The guy never lacked talent, but never was able to put it together. I think he was humbled by what happened last year and from everything I heard, this system will play to his strengths.
It is going to be an interesting first year, but the hope is, with a better offense and a running game that can chew up more clock, the defense will be on the field less. It helped Dallas' defense the past few years with Zeke, and those defenses were less talented than the Giants current defense.
As for the OP's questions, talent-wise I think we're worse off this year due to the loss of JPP, DRC, Cockrell, and Kennard. While we arguably upgraded the front 7 talent with Martin, Ogletree, and the draft picks, it'll take some significant surprises to replace DRC and Cockrell in the secondary.
I also think the 43 base was more equipped to stop our division foes who all feature strong OLs. That said, I expect to see Vernon lined up with his hand on the ground quite often and if Snacks, Tomlinson and whoever wins the other DE spot can keep Ogletree 'clean', he's got the speed to cover sideline-to-sideline and rack up the tackles.