The defensive line question

by Ed Valentine on Jan 28, 2009 7:00 AM EST in News Comment 15 comments

Fred Robbins

When the off-season began I started looking at a series of questions facing our New York Giants next season.

I want to look at one that might not be as obvious as the linebacker or wide receiver questions but is nonetheless an area that needs to be discussed.

The defensive line.

The first question, of course, is will Mathias Kiwanuka be a defensive end or a linebacker in 2009?

I think he should stay at defensive end, and if I had to guess right now I would say that is where he will be for the rest of his career.

When the Giants won the Super Bowl in the 2007 season they were able to rotate Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck at defensive end, and occasionally line up Kiwanuka at tackle as a pass rusher. The Giants led the league with 53 quarterback sacks.

This season the Giants did not have that kind of depth with Strahan retired and Umenyiora hurt, and they eventually paid for it. Thirty of the teams 42 sacks came in its first eight games. The second half of the season the line wore down and opposing quarterbacks were rarely pressured unless the Giants sold out and blitzed a corner or safety.

Leaving Kiwanuka at defensive end solves that problem, giving the Giants a solid three-defensive end rotation. Moving him to linebacker might or might not help the linebacking corps, but definitely still leaves the Giants thin on the line.

We still have not discussed defensive tackle, where I also think the Giants could use an upgrade. At the least, they need more depth at the position.

The Giants went through most of the season with only three defensive tackles on the roster, and that isn't enough. You simply can't have an undersized guy like Dave Tollefson or Renaldo Wynn lining up at tackle, which the Giants were occasionally forced to do.

Fred Robbins is coming off another very good season, and I think both Barry Cofield and Jay Alford are decent members of a tackle rotation. But, I think the position could use some help.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Giants use a first-day draft choice to try and find another run-stuffing defensive tackle, or try and find a veteran free agent to add to the mix at tackle.

Your thoughts?

Poll

Where would you prefer to see Mathias Kiwanuka play next season?

Defensive End

144 votes

Linebacker

30 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 15 comments

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Comments

No question re Kiwi.

He belongs at DE.
I would like to see some shoring up of the DL, but priority has to be given to LB and WR

by blue gonz on Jan 28, 2009 7:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think kiwi should play a hybrid position let him rotate a little

by shenkthetank92 on Jan 28, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fred Robbins

is starting to get up there in age, and I think his contract is nearing its end as well. It wouldn’t hurt to get another player to spell him and Cofield, while being prepared for any injuries. I agree that this need would be best filled by a first day pick in the draft.

by rzor on Jan 28, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No, no, no.

Defensive line is NOT one of our top three needs.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jan 28, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Draft DL

In the draft LB & WR are the priorities, but a run stopping DT is definitely a need. On passing downs Tuck can slide over to DT and wreak havoc, but a big body is needed for the run.

What ever happened to William Joseph?

by potroast on Jan 28, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Joseph?

A bad memory. I hope you aren’t serious. He was terrible. Went to the Raiders after the Giants released him, got cut, didn’t play for anybody in ’07 and played 6 games for Oakland this season.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 28, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That was definitely a joke

by potroast on Jan 28, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Robbins and Cofield are solid but an upgrade is needed for a third tackle to rotate in and give them a rest. A first day pick could fill that role and be groomed to take over for Robbins in the next couple of years when age/injuries start catching up to him. I have doubts that Alford can be that guy. A DT will have more of a chance of having a first year impact than a WR and I would not mind even using our first pick on one.

by Mount17 on Jan 28, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he should be a hybrid as you suggest

Kiwi, Tuck, Umenyiora and even Tollefson is a pretty good DE foursome, and if we can get an upgrade at OLB, they might make those four even more dangerous.

So my main wish for the offseason is Suggs

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 28, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think he's a 2-down LB

Obviously move him to the line for the 4-Aces package on 3rd down, but have a defensive rotation is a luxury and it guarentees one of those guys is going to have go. In the cap era you don’t have 3 starting caliber guys playing 2 positions. I think it’s a waste. Kiwi can play LB, and we have a major need there.

by queler on Jan 28, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That is why

this is a fun argument. You can make a valid case either way.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 28, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Put him back at linebacker.

Our defensive line play will still be good and the glaring hole we have at linebacker will at least be partially plugged.

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 28, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Back to LB

I really feel that given Kiwanuka’s body type and intelligence I feel that he should be moved back. Lets face it not all players can make a transition like this but I really believe that he is one that can do it and be successful. He has long arms and really tried very hard to learn what he needed too. Take you all back to the 2007 season, remember the first game vs. the Cowboys he was exploited and many fans were say ing the there is no way he can last at LB. During the course of the season he really made great strides and accomplished alot then the broken fibula. Had that not happened he would have still been at LB, obviously we had no choice but to put him back with Stray and Osi.

by GiantRB27 on Jan 30, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Keep him at DE

ETVal I totally agree with you to keep him at end. Both Tuck and Osi have missed time in their careers due to injury, and if either of them were to go down then Kiwanuka would just be moved back to end. This wouldn’t be going for his development nor the continuity of the team. They really do need that 3-end rotation to be able to return to a top flight defense. Plus we don’t know what level Osi will be at when he returns, that injury usually takes 2 years to fully recover.

I also agree that DT depth is an issue that can be addressed with either of their 2nd round picks, or even at least 3rd round. Their main priority for the draft should be speed at the LB position, and I don’t think they’ll be able to get the type of help they need at WR from the draft.

Am I crazy, or is it possible for them to pull off a trade for Boldin and to sign Housh?

by mymanren on Jan 29, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs