LINEBACKER NO LONGER A NEED OR A WEAKNESS FOR GIANTS

[RoanokeFan]

LINEBACKER NO LONGER A NEED OR A WEAKNESS FOR GIANTS (http://www.giants101.com/2012/02/18/linebacker-no-longer-a-need-or-weakness-for-new-york-giants/)

"The New York (http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york/) Football (http://www.giants101.com/tag/football/)
Giants are famous for their mid-eighties to early-nineties linebackers – the
“Big Blue Wreckin’ Crew”, if you will.



</p><div><a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> players Mathias Kiwanuka (94), Derrick Martin (C), and <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Chase Blackburn" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/chase-blackburn/" rel="tag nofollow">Chase
Blackburn</a> (93) wait on the sidelines during practice for the NFL Super Bowl
XLVI in Indianapolis, February 2, 2012. The <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> will play the New England Patriots on February 5. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes
(UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/football/))</div>
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Things have changed in the game, but the defensive memories haven’t. The
upcoming date in March (Free Agency) is usually the preamble to the annual
calling for a new face at linebacker that will hopefully be deemed a
difference-maker.</p>


Jersey's of past playmakers at the position can still be seen at any Giants
sports event: Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Gary Reasons and Pepper
Johnson to name a few. One quite important point is that these great linebackers
played in a base 3-4 defense. Their role was more heavily relied-upon for
pressure than current years’ 4-3 base defense. The 3-4 actually puts a premium
tag on the linebacker position as far as importance (cue the "they should switch
to a 3-4" chatter).</p>


Since the <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> actually became well-known for their fearsome pass-rush, the reality
of the need for a big-name LB has (to the doubt of many) diminished. The 4-3
base utilizes the stress of pressure from the front four. It is, without a
doubt, why the fact that a defensive end getting drafted in the first round is
no longer such a joke for this franchise. “You can never have too many pass
rushers” was a firm belief of since-retired Giants General Manager Ernie
Accorsi, and it’s worked for the types of defenses run here as of late –
especially with Defensive Coordinators Steve Spagnuolo and Perry Fewell.</p>


The current roster of linebackers: <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Michael Boley" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/michael-boley/" rel="tag nofollow">Michael
Boley</a>, Mathias Kiwanuka, <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Chase Blackburn" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/chase-blackburn/" rel="tag nofollow">Chase
Blackburn</a>, Jacquian Williams (http://www.giants101.com/tag/jacquian-williams/), <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Greg Jones" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/greg-jones/" rel="tag nofollow">Greg
Jones</a>, Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger (http://www.giants101.com/tag/spencer-paysinger/), <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jonathan Goff" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jonathan-goff/" rel="tag nofollow">Jonathan
Goff</a> and <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Clint Sintim" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/clint-sintim/" rel="tag nofollow">Clint
Sintim</a> aren’t “Big Name/Game” guys. They are, rather, hard-working,
team-oriented, blue-collar, give-all-they’ve-got players that don’t mind coming
off the field in the heavily-used nickel and dime packages. They play special
teams and take pride in doing anything to contribute to a positive outcome for
the New York (http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york/) Football (http://www.giants101.com/tag/football/)
Team. They’re humble guys with big hearts for football (http://www.giants101.com/tag/football/)…and they “fit” on this team.</p>


It’s a hard time to decide upon the future of some of these linebackers as
General Manager, Jerry Reese prepares for March and Free Agency, then April and
the 2012 NFL Draft.</p>
Neither has “Linebacker” in the pressing “Need” column.

[NYGRealityCheck]

anyone remeber when Paysinger leveled Benjarvis Green-Ellis in Superbowl 46 (accidentally taking out JPP for a play or two) after the Patriots initiated the hard hitting by clocking Nicks out of bounds on a pass?

[RoanokeFan]

anyone remeber when Paysinger leveled Benjarvis Green-Ellis in Superbowl 46 (accidentally taking out JPP for a play or two) after the Patriots initiated the hard hitting by clocking Nicks out of bounds on a pass?

Good point. What we often seem to fail to realize is that the coaches see these players at practice and in meetings that we are not privy to. The see the "potential" of each player and base their personnel decisions, in part, on those expectations.

[ELIteManning]

I am pretty sure that was Blackburn not Paysinger who made that big tackle in the superbowl. But anyways, the Giants LB isn't nearly as much as a liability as it was in the past. However, there is room for improvement in my mind so I do not think it is a position to just push aside and say we are good.

[Roxersboxers]

Yes, that huge hit was by blackburn not paysinger. But to get to the point, i believe we have a plethora of young talent at the LB position. Williams looks like he could be a big impact player on this defense for many years to come. Herzlich is another year removed from cancer and paysinger doesnt look like a slouch either. Ive wanted reese to go out and get a big name LB, or pick one up early in the draft for years now. But this year, im fine with what we have. Hopefully we do resign Goff though.