It seems hard to believe, but if he makes the 53-man roster, this will be the fifth season with the New York Giants for linebacker Mark Herzlich. Let's take a look at Herzlich as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp in a few weeks.
2014 Season in Review
Herzlich started eight games as an outside linebacker last season, the first time he had ever started more than two games in a season. He ended with a career-high 52 tackles (35 solo), and the only sack of his career. Significantly, those starts came as an outside linebacker rather than at the middle linebacker spot the Giants asked Herzlich to play during his first three seasons. Herzlich is a far better run defender (+11.4 Pro Football focus score) than pass defender (-8.1 PFF score).
2015 Season Outlook
It seems like reporters and bloggers keep trying to get rid of Herzlich. I know in years past yours truly has made plenty of 53-man roster projections that did not have Herzlich making the team. Herzlich, though, is like a cat. He seems to have nine football lives. He just keeps finding a way onto the Giants' roster.
He probably will again in 2015, too. If everyone is healthy (fingers crossed) Herzlich is probably the sixth linebacker (Jon Beason, J.T. Thomas, Devon Kennard, Jameel McClain, Jonathan Casillas being the others). It's hard to see the Giants keeping fewer than six linebackers on the roster, so Herzlich should once again be a valuable special teams player and reserve linebacker.
He has made a nice niche for himself in that capacity, and more than likely that continues in 2015.
Other Profiles
OT Will Beatty (pre-injury)