Spotlight: Chris Canty
by Ed Valentine on Jun 1, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in New York Giants News
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Chris Canty
Our New York Giants have had a busy off-season.
There was all the Plaxico Burress nonsense, leading to his ultimate release. There was, and still is to some degree, all the speculation about how the Giants would replace him.
There has been the promotion of a new defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan, to replace the departed Steve Spagnuolo.
There were all of the free-agent defensive signings, including Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard on the defensive line, Michael Boley at linebacker and C.C. Brown at safety.
As much as we speculate about the possible impacts of all the rookie receivers the Giants added, it is quite possible that the new Giant who could make the biggest impact is Canty. The 6-foot-7, 304 -pounder comes to the Giants after spending four seasons with mixed success in Dallas.
Blogging The Boys, SBN's outstanding Cowboys' blog, wants us to believe that the six-year contract Canty signed, one that guaranteed him $17.25 million, is way too much for an inconsistent player who never lived up to his potential.
This is what Dave Halprin, lead blogger over at BTB, told me way back when the signing first happened.
Chris Canty is a pretty good player but the contract you guys signed him to is not something I would be willing to give him as a GM. That's just too rich for the production we got out of him for four years. He was a solid contributor but never blossomed into the dominant force we thought he would be. He played DE in our 3-4 so he took on a lot of double teams which limited his stats but he was a guy who could really disappear during a gme for long strecthces. He plays the run well enough but he never got a lot of penetration and rarely disrupted plays in the opponent's backfield. Physically he looks the part and maybe playing in a 4-3 will unleash his inner beast. But we got tired of waiting for that.
Don't get me wrong, he's a good player but he's not a great player and we just weren't willing to pay him that kind of money. ... You guys got a good player but most Cowboys fans would say you overpaid.
I certainly understand the sentiment among Cowboy fans. There is some truth to the feeling that Cant's numbers as a Cowboy (10 career sacks in four years) are not tremendous. Also, however, Cowboy fans have to feel stung by losing a player like Canty to a division rival.
There are plenty of others, however, who feel that Canty's move from a 3-4 defensive end to a 4-3 defensive tackle will turn him into a dominant force.
The other day we mentioned a Sporting News ranking that had Canty as the league's fifth-best defensive tackle. That is kind of hard to justify since he has never taken a snap there, but it shows the respect his talent commands.
ESPN's Matt Mosley also thinks Canty will have a tremendous impact on the Giants' defense, which occasionally got pushed around in the middle in 2008.
I think Canty will flourish in the Giants' 4-3 defense. He'll help collapse the pocket and knock down passes with his huge wingspan. He'll also move outside and play defensive end in some sub packages. He never quite lived up to his enormous potential in Dallas. I think there's a chance he becomes a Pro Bowl player with the Giants. Tom Coughlin's already in love with him because he's watched him play so much. Very underrated move by the Giants.
Canty recently told the Dallas Star-Telegram that he believes his numbers will go up playing inside with the Giants.
"Three-four defensive lines get a bad rap of sorts, because they don’t make a lot of stats," Canty said. "They’re not statisticians out there. They don’t make a lot of big, big plays that people see on a consistent basis. It is what it is."
Thing is, Canty does not have to be a super star to be a huge help to the Giants' defense. He simply has to help neutralize the running game, pressure the passer when given the opportunity. His presence alone, on a team thin in the middle last season, makes the Giants better.
Sorry, Cowboys' fans. This was an excellent move for the Giants.
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I don't know about Canty
I can’t agree with the COwgirl fans. They really just seem to not have a clue on what DeMarcus Ware’s bodyguard did for them, they only look at stats and determine value. I would say tho that the replacement, Igor the Olshansky, is capable of the same thing as a 3-4 end cuz he did it for Merriman. Maybe that’s why they don’t feel the loss of Canty right now, maybe they are bitter..maybe they are just Cowboy fans?
I kinda agree on the contract. I thought once Bernard was on deck, and that Canty seemed to price himself out of the Giants range, that they would pass. BUt much like the Yankees with Texiera, I was completely blindsided by the Giants signing Canty.
I think as an athletic and tall DT that he’ll be great for the Giants. Since they wanted Haynesworth, I’ll compare what he does with Big fat Al. If its anything close, the Giants got a bargain by paying Canty less than half of Al’s guaranteed cash.
All he really has to do is stop the run and occupy blocks, much like he did in Dallass. If he gets 5-6 sacks, I’ll be happy.
If you wanted a run-stopper, you got the wrong guy
His real value is in the pass rush. I never felt like he made any difference in the run game. He doesn’t have that low center of gravity that some good run-stopping DTs have. Bernard and Cofield are better choices. On third down you should project a superior pass rush with Osi, Canty, Tuck and Kiwanuka.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
-Winston Churchill
Coming from a die hard Cowboys fan...
I liked Canty. I disagree that he was inconsistent… I think he played at the same level week in and week out, but it wasn’t a superstar level. I think he was very good against the run occupying blockers and shedding them from time to time. But… I also think he was a non-factor in the pass rush more often than not. I don’t recall any period of time where he dominated the man across from him. No swat and swim, spin move with a crushing sack of the QB.
Having said that, I have always been frustrated with the way the Giants D-line brings pressure on Tony sometimes appearing to be a hot knife through freaking butter (With Osi back and Tuck in the lineup, I doubt there will be any difficulty bring pressure). I think he may be a good pickup to stop the run, but he’s only going to be a 2-down player. I will echo the sentiments that he is overpaid if he is going to be just a 2-down run stopper, since that is basically what Igor Olshansky is and he cost 1/2 as much of Canty.
And yes… I do regret Canty going to the Giants. Bills or Browns, I wouldn’t care as much, but the move to the Giants does hurt. Especially since there is some question that the Cowboys coaching staff doesn’t bring out the best in players because of a lack of creativity in the scheme, and I would be especially annoyed if he does become a force in NY.
Thank you
for sharing a well-formed, honest opinion. I think Canty will be a huge help to the Giants. He doesn’t have to be a superstar, he just has to play the run well, occupy blockers and give Antonio Pierce a chance to make plays with a free run. Plus, he’s better than Jay Alford, I know that much.
Thank you +2
But, we’re talking about a prototypical 3-4 DE in Canty. His size and stats all measure up to his cohorts of the same style in a 3-4 DE. Amazingly, his 3-4 DE stats over the course of his career, measure up, or are on par with other (including Haynesworth) 4-3 DT’s? That’s where he’ll predominantly play with the Giant’s!
IMO, i really don’t want to sound like i’m insulting some peoples intelligence here, but a 3-4 DE vs. a 4-3 DT, their role’s are very similar. Take up space and blockers, hence their size. In all actuality, some of the Cowboy faithful have dimissed Canty, brought in Olshansky, and everything is fine? Their size and stats are comparable! Olshansky may be an economical replacement, but production shouldn’t be expected. Coincidentally, the Cowboys drafted Marcus Spears (1st) and Jay Ratliff (7th) of the same year, while Canty was a 4th! All of their production is on par. If that’s the case, why harp on Canty, when in fact, Spears is on equal footing (wait until his contract is up)? What do they (Cowboy fans) want? A Bruce Smith production type 3-4 DE? They’re not a dime-a-dozen!
I’ll take Canty’s big butt, plop him in the middle of our roatation any day. A prototypical-sized 3-4 DE that moves inside, that would almost seem unfair? It’s like having 3 DE’s in certain rotations/situations!
Besides, atleast the Giant’s aren’t paying him Haynesworth money. Even though it’s slightly less than half of Al’s contract, i’ll go on record and say that Canty will out-perform him, per contract to stats!!!
Maybe I'm missing something,
but I don’t see why Canty has to be so good against the run. If I remember right, when we got him, JR and Coughlin were saying how much they liked his versatility. Maybe playing him at end in rushing situations and at tackle in passing situations. I don’t think he is a huge improvement in rush defense over our current tackles or Bernard, but his height might come in handy in blocking passing lanes.
Run
Well, he is primarily going to play tackle. So, he better be able to play the run.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 1, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
March 1st Daily News Quote
BY Ralph Vacchiano DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
…the Giants broke the bank for another defensive lineman, signing ex-Cowboy Chris Canty to a six-year, $42 million deal. They also gave him $17.5 million in guaranteed money and announced he’d play both end and tackle on what is now a very, very loaded and crowded defensive line.
“He gives us a lot of flexibility in that respect,” said GM Jerry Reese. “Our defensive line did a very good job last year, but without Osi (Umenyiora) and (Michael Strahan), we seemed to get worn down late in the season and we weren’t able to generate the kind of pass rush that we’re accustomed to. Hopefully with the addition of Rocky and Chris, and with Osi coming back, that won’t happen again.”
— Has something changed since this point? It sounds to me like the primary idea of bringing him in was improving the pass rush.
Why are we arguing?
He improves the depth, and he’s a good player.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 1, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
fans
Normally I’d be worried about fans telling another team they overpaid for a guy. I said the same thing when the Eagles signed Dhani Jones. But I don’t have a lot of faith in the casual fan evaluating DTs an 3-4 ends who’s value isn’t necessarily all sacks or tackles
It's a little like the draft, all conjecture until the hit the field.
And especially with him entering a new system, he might be good. But fans watch the games, and we know when a player makes a great play. Sheds a block, tackles the runner behind the line. Same with sacks.
It just seems as though Canty is being paid like he is a much better player than he previously demonstrated. If the NFL network runs any of the game over again, just look at how he affects the game. More often than not, you barely notice if he is on the field.
I watched a replay and I did notice Canty
In your system he plays like a Gaurd on the o-line. He hold and shifts blockers away from linebackers and sheds them when they run his direction. What I did notice was that even when the play was to the opposite side he shed his block and persued well. He may not have made the play but he was close so that was was good. I haven’t seen him get knocked off the ball yet.
Also his wingspan is amazing. The man really tries to swat every pass he can and he is fast.
I still think
he was overpaid as well. To think he’ll make more money than Tuck? Maybe the guy will transform himself into a Pro Bowler with the switch in positions, but I find that a tough pill to swallow at this point.
That being said, our D-line is going to be filthy with him there.
Money
Unfortunately, it’s the way the market works. Tuck will get his money when the time comes.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 1, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
But what happens if your in a cap bind and you have don’t have the money to resign him to market value because you overpaid for Canty. There’s the real problem with overpaying free agents.
The Giants
have traditionally handled the cap pretty well. I’m not worried about it. When it’s Tuck’s turn to get paid, he’ll get paid.
The interesting thing to see will be ...
how creative our D scheme can be with all those D-lineman, and especially with guys like Canty and Tuck who can be lined up in a number of spots depending on the situation.
I hope we get to see some 1st or 2nd downs with Canty at DE to help stuff the run, so that on 3rd and long we can have both Osi and Kiwi in there fresh and not worrying about being blown off the ball on a run play, but pinning their ears back and getting after the QB.
And I’m more interested to see the number of blocked / batted passes that Canty creates (some tips for INT’s ?) when in at DT on pass plays, than the number of sacks he gets.
What do you think of Spagnola's replacement.
Obviously it’s too early to say he’s a good replacement, but was their a collective groan when Spags left?
Just my opinion ...
but I think we all expected Spags to get a HC job. There was no obvious heir apparent, and one could conclude that it’s the system Spags brought from the Iggles that the higher ups coveted most. Sheridan’s elevation is a commitment to continuing the system.
No idea if he’ll be good or bad, but the Canty deal does present a wrinkle, as you would have to think that JR and the whole coaching staff had to consult and conclude that Canty could be more in a 4-3 than he was in a 3-4 to committ those kind of $$ to him. So, they have to be thinking some creative ways to use a guy like that, which does put more pressure on the DC to mix things up a bit.
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