FanPost

The Dave Gettleman Review: Linebacker

This post will focus on what is typically called the middle or inside linebacker position. The Giants defense has blended between 3–4 and 4–3 fronts over the past few years, so it makes sense to think of these players from their primary responsibilities instead of their technical position. In general, these players are responsible for making tackles in the middle of the field, blitzing, and covering interior pass catchers (eg. RBs, TEs, FBs).

In the 4–3 front that was run under Steve Spagnuolo, the 2017 linebacking core comprised of Jonathan Casillas, Calvin Munson, Kelvin Sheppard, B.J. Goodson, and Keenan Robinson. Of that group, only Goodson and Munson played in 2019 and they had a combined PFF rating of 60.9 in 330 total defensive snaps. Jonathan Casillas retired after the 2017 season, and both Sheppard and Robinson could not catch on with another team long enough to play in 2019.

Last year while switching to a 3–4 front, the Giants received a PFF rating of 60.6 for the team’s combined play at the two interior linebacker positions. David Mayo, who was picked off a loaded 49ers defense in the final days of preseason, led the group with a solid rating of 72.8 over 632 snaps. The rest of the group, Alec Ogletree (54.3), Deone Buccanon (53.6), and rookie Ryan Connelly (56.9), graded out as replaceable in 2019.

The linebacker play certainly hasn’t gotten much better in the past two years, but it’s not like there was talent there to begin with. The trade for Ogletree brought a few splash plays in 2018, and while the draft capital given up wasn’t significant, the $11.75M cap hits did not come close to being justified by his play on the field. On a separate note, Ryan Connelly and David Mayo have made the case for some optimism at the position, but it is clear that not nearly enough has been done to improve a part of the defense that seems to be consistently poor in coverage and tackling year in and year out.

Linebacker Situation: Unchanged.

Secondary soon. Quarterback here, Offensive Line here, Skill Positions here.

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