Big Blue View
Did the Giants do enough to boost this group?
The New York Giants have struggled to stop the run for years despite quality defensive linemen. Last season, however, Dexter Lawrence was the only notable name after the departure of both Leonard Williams and A’Shawn Robinson during — and after — the disappointing 2023 season.
Understandably, the Giants’ defense allowed 4.6 yards per carry and 136.2 yards per game, both ranking 27th in the league last year. The lack of talent and competency around Dexter Lawrence, coupled with the transition to a more two-high shell defense, resulted in increased responsibility for the linebackers and a concerning inability to stop the run.
The overall defense finished 29th in EPA per play, and Shane Bowen had to tailor his defense to lackluster personnel after the Lawrence injury just to stop the run. This Giants’ regime trusted the expertise of the defensive line coach Andre Patterson to develop and maximize lesser investments, such as Jordon Riley and D.J. Davidson.
This approach allowed Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll to focus on other areas of the roster while addressing different issues that were plaguing the Giants. New York found themselves lacking depth along the defensive line, and the young players never took the necessary step forward to strengthen the defense.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches led the team in defensive line snaps with 608, followed by Lawrence at 551 (injured after 12 games). Elijah Chatman — a rookie UDFA — played 423 snaps, and Riley and Davidson each had less than 300 (248 and 261, respectively).
Nunez-Roches is a respectable rotational player, but not a 40-snap-a-game type of player. The biggest question surrounding the Giants’ defensive line group is: Did the Giants do enough to strengthen the defensive line?
New York drafted Darius Alexander in the third round after they signed two veteran free agents: Jeremiah Ledbetter and Roy Robertson-Harris, while still having Nunez-Roches, Lawrence, Chatman, Davidson, and Riley on the team. I love that they drafted a player like Alexander, and I’m happy with the veteran additions that should allow the cream to rise to the top throughout training camp.
Furthermore, the Giants also signed EDGE/DL Chauncey Golston from Dallas, who will likely kick inside and play along the trenches as well in certain situations.
With that said, I’m not sold that it’s enough. If anything were to happen to Lawrence, this unit is significantly undermanned from a talent perspective. It’s plausible that Alexander and possibly even a young player like Riley or Davidson take a significant step forward in their development. However, the unit still has several older players, some of whom are in decline.
It’s a better situation than last season, though, and I’ll sign up for that every day of the week.
Who will be the starter opposite Dexter Lawrence in base personnel? Will Alexander quickly seize this role in training camp, or will one of the veterans earn reps early on with Lawrence? These are questions...
