Special teams could be Ray-Ray Armstrong’s ticket to a roster spot

The New York Giants emphasized special teams improvement with many of the moves they made this offseason. Could that be the thing that helps linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Let’s look at Armstrong as we continue our profiles of the players the Giants will bring to training camp.

The basics

Age: 27
Experience: 5
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220

2017 season in review

Armstrong played the final five games of the season for the Giants after being claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. Armstrong had signed a two-year, $3.1 million deal with San Francisco before John Lynch became GM. He didn’t make it through the first season of the deal before being waived.

The Giants picked up Armstrong because injuries left them depleted at linebacker. He played only 53 defensive snaps for New York, but showed his special teams value over those five games with three tackles and a forced fumble.

2018 outlook

Entering his sixth NFL season, Armstrong is with his fourth team. It’s apparent by now that he really isn’t a starting-caliber linebacker. He will likely compete for a reserve spot. If he makes the team, though, it will likely be because of his ability on special teams coverage units.