just cuz he can play DT.

Osi’s fast and unlike a lot of speed guys, he’s good against the run too, mainly cuz he sheds blocks and runs down the ball carrier.

Its really not by a whole lot either. But Tuck is better, cuz he’s nearly as fast but a whole lot bigger.

Im just gonna like watching what these 2 do together on the field again. And Kiwi will join them on 3rd down too. Sucks to be the other team.

Ed you make a very convincing argument as to why Tuck is a better DE at this point and I’m going to have to agree with you. Tuck is a beast plain and simple! But I know we are ALL hoping that both of these guys have monster years for all of our sakes!

I saw both of them at the Cotto fight Saturday night, and in person the size difference does not seem like much. That being said, I have to go with Tuck, just because he did it solo last year where as Osi did it with Strahan taking up some of the double teams. Tuck also seems more athletic and dosent disappear for stretches the way Osi does from time to time.

Either way, Im glad they are on my team.

Okay, then I’m taking the sentimental favorite: Osi.
Disclaimer: I LOVE both of these players. I think they’re both not only physical beasts and great players but company men and great for morale & team.
I’m not taking the statistical approach, I’m taking what I’ve seen and a broader sense of value to the team. I’d agree that Tuck is the physically superior athlete. He’s probably quicker. He probably has more transcendent natural talent. That said, I think for this year at least, Osi will be more valuable to the team. If anyhing he’s probably only a shade behind Tuck athletically, but I get the sense he also has the aspect of a field general and a team leader.
The real questions, I think, will be: 1.) How much will the missed year affect Osi? (i.e. has he “lost a step”) 2. Will Tuck continue to take major strides forward in terms of how he impacts a game?
If both of those questions go Tuck’s way, then yeah, he’ll be the more valuable player on the field. In fact, I’m talking myself out of taking OU. I’ve just got my fingers crossed for Osi to be as great as he can be, which I think makes him a hair more valuable. (p.s. what a great argument to be having!)
I think of the example of Jason Varitek. For christ’s sake it seems like he’s hitting .073 over the last few years. But his value to the team is immense, and I think if the sox traded him for Posada, they’d lose at least ten more games over the course of the year despite the gained offense.

but Osi is on 5 hour energy now, therefore the superior player

I like how Osi was the beneficiary of having Strahan on the other side, but somehow Tuck didn’t benefit from playing on the same line with both of those players? I think Tuck helped to expose a unique weakness of most offensive lines: Guards aren’t used to blocking pass rushers. Warren Sapp made a career from that. And although Tuck was playing the DT position for a year, let’s not kid ourselves, he was there primarily as a pass rusher, so let’s not overstate his run stopping capabilities. I still feel Osi is the better football player, because when he is healthy he is capable of getting six sacks in a single game, or 14.5 in a single season. Until proven otherwise, I believe Osi is capable of doing that again.

Tuck.. think about this though: our two starting defensive ends were picked outside the top 50 and the G-Men were chided for picking Osi so early.. ridiculous. Tuck was a third round pick. Justin Tuck may be the most versatile defensive player in the league. I have no doubt that he could start at defensive tackle in a tampa 2, be an end in a 3-4 (cue 57), an end in the 4-3 and an outside linebacker in the 3-4 as well. I remember him saying that he lined up at every position except safety in ’07.

Because he appears to be more versatile plus Osi is coming off an injury. Having two good DE is a problem I like to have.

it would be Tuck….

because i love Notre Dame football. it’s the same reason why Mark Bavaro is the best tight end ever, ever.

most of the best linemen in the NFL play left tackle – at least that is what is assumed – Osi goes up against them every week – if Tuck and Osi switched positions Tuck would still get doubled on the left side and be more of a force and put up more numbers – I think Osi would put up the same numbers on the other side – the fact that Tuck can go anywhere on the line and be effective – pretty much dominate – makes him the better lineman and overall player

Both are great, don’t get me wrong, but I think a lot of Osi’s lure comes from that monster game against Philly. Delete that game and you have to ask if Osi makes the Pro Bowl that year. With a 6 sack game under his belt, you would have to think he would have threatened Stray’s sack record. This combination is going to be great. We’ve got the best bookends in football and the guy on deck is not too bad (that’s why his name is always coming up in trade talks).

but after hearing the arguments here i have been converted to Tuck. Great discusssion and another reason why BBV is the best giants blog ever.