What Do We Think Of The 2 DL 'Starting Defense'?

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The Giant Take Podcast @TheGiantTakePod Starting Defense Today: DT Dexter Lawrence DT Ryder Anderson EDGE Brian Burns EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux LB Bobby Okereke LB Isaiah Simmons CB Dru Phillips CB Deonte Banks CB Cordale Flott S Jason Pinnock S Dane Belton

First, this "starting defense" seems like it will be the typical 3rd and long defensive personnel, not a 1st down defense necessarily.

I understand the classic 3-4 (80s, early 90s) versus 4-3 (mid 90s through mid 10s) defenses that Giants employed are not the same clear distinction in player body type, size etc. in today's defenses. The relatively new term "Edge" is part of that change.

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From the Roster section, key Defensive Linemen: 99 Jordan Phillips DT 6-6 330 98 D.J. Davidson DT 6-5 320 90 Ryder Anderson DT 6-6 280 91 Casey Rogers DT 6-5 305 97 Dexter Lawrence NT 6-4 340 93 Rakeem Nunez-Roches NT 6-2 305 95 Jordon Riley NT 6-5 315

and key OLB from Linebackers:

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0 Brian Burns OLB 6-5 250 5 Kayvon Thibodeaux OLB 6-5 258 51 Azeez Ojulari OLB 6-3 240 55 Boogie Basham OLB 6-3 274 45 Tomon Fox OLB 6-2 245

Given my 80s Giants bias, the defensive linemen in a classic 3-4 are all 300+ pounders. In my very limited detailed knowledge, in a classic 3-4 the defensive linemen play "2 Gap" and hence need for "beef" to regularly take on double teams. Leonard Marshall, Eric Dorsey etc.

The classic 4-3 the linemen play a "1 Gap", right? Don't need quite as much beef. Ryder Anderson doesn't seem to have the beef (i.e. much less than 300+ lbs) to play a classic 2 Gap I'd assume. I'm probably traumatized from Winks playing 2 DL on obvious running downs with Dex getting double teamed and the Giants giving up huge yardage.

When I look at size and weight of Thibs and Burns, I see guys that are very close to size and weight of some classic 4-3 defensive ends. Osi and particularly Strahan played in the 260s, maybe even high 250s late in his career I believe.

Based on this review, it seems to me that Bowen's likely 3rd down defense should be more thought of as a 4-3, with Thibs and Burns more playing a defensive end role. Is this a 2 Gap or 1 Gap defense in this alignment?

I think I heard Bowen say his defense is a 3-4. So my guess is on first and second downs, we'll see a more classic 3-4 look, with three DLs along with Thibs and Burns, Okereke at MLB/ILB and either McFadden as a true 3-4 ILB or in some situations, Simmons as the ILB/3rd Safety ("Money")?

I know I'm getting hung up on the older, more strictly distinct 1 Gap 4-3 versus 2 Gap 3-4 definitions, which are more blurred today.

I am a little concerned that other than maybe Basher, the Giants really don't have Edge players beyond Burns and Thibs to play the Edge/4-3 DE role.

Bottom line after reviewing the roster height and weight of the key front 7 personnel, I'm less concerned with the DT Dex, DT ??? Edge Thibs, Edge Burns alignment on 3rd down.

Anyway, my two cents. I appreciate corrections / other thoughts.