The New York Giants: Big Blue Needs Monster To Play the Middle
Not in any particular order I have accumulated a list of names….
Harry Carson, Junior Seau, Zack Thomas, Ray Lewis, Jack Lambert, Patrick Willis, Mike Singletary, Sam Mills, Jon Beason, Chris Spielman, Dick Butkus, Brian Urlacher. What do they all have in common?
They all played middle linebacker.
Whatever decade they played in…they played the position angry.
They lived to stuff running backs and deliver punishment.
This is what the Giants need anchoring their defense…anger, dedication, and athleticism!
Remember the days when Giants defense was stout and the man in middle was Harry Carson? I can picture Carson and his blood stained white pants as he swallowed up running backs right at the line of scrimmage.
How about one of the best NFL hits of all time…when No. 55 Gary Reasons, having the best game of his career, flies through the air crushing Denver Broncos running back Bobby Humphrey on a 4th and goal? Bam! John Madden raved about this hit as Humphrey’s ear piece flew out of his helmet because he got hit so hard.
I enclosed the video for you.
http://newyorkfootballgiantstalk.com/2009/11/gary-reasons-hit.html
I am not sure where you find this guy…whether it be in the draft or free agency; however, the Giants need a guy that can set a tone from the opening drive. An guy who plays with anger, passion and heart. A guy that can get in the face of Osi Umenyiora telling him when he needs to step up and still be smart enough to tell Fred “way too Big Daddy” Robbins to move his big butt out of the “A” gap.
This middle linebacker has to have the combination of size, speed and skill. A Giant leader.
It’s time that the Giants find and secure the middle linebacker of the future. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew always had that “cog” in the middle of the defense inspiring great play from those around him.
I was in full support of Jonathan Goff being granted the opportunity to see playing time at the middle linebacker spot, with a chance to win the position. However, after watching the footage over and over the last two weeks, I see a young, athletic linebacker who lacks the ability to make the play at point of attack. Goff either gets swallowed up in the interior frenzy or he scrapes too slow to make a play.
A great Middle Linebacker has the ability to bring enough pressure up the middle that he keeps the center and the guard honest while the outside linebackers or defensive ends come free.
A great Middle Linebacker meets the running back in the hole, not as the running back is cutting back against the grain and springing free for 24 yards.
A great middle linebacker can read an offense with in seconds, communicate with the rest of the defense, allowing them to make a great play.
Am I asking too much? I don’t think so. There was Huff, Carson, Kelly, Reasons, P. Johnson, M. Barrow and Pierce. They did…we now have room for the next guy.
2010 off season…here we come!
Good analysis, you clearly know your football Craig. I think you need to differentiate between some of these LB’s though. Carson, Willis, Seau were all 3-4 inside LB’s. Urlacher has been a middle linebacker in a 4-3. Of course, Thomas and Lewis have played in both schemes, so maybe merging the two groups isn’t all bad. But MLB’s have a much better chance at wracking up tackles than ILB’s. That’s why I think you need to separate the two groups.
David Harris doesn’t seem to have too much trouble racking up tackles in the 3-4…. Regardless, isn’t about the numbers, it’s about the attitude Craig described, and he’s right, we need it. Hope the kid from ‘Bama is there when we draft. He might have that factor.
Thanks for dropping in guys. It is about attitude. Play makers! Try reading those names again. The system they played in doesn’t come to mind…but getting hit in the mouth does.
I grow weary with saying how good GOFF is going to be or that this is Fred Robbins fault. I hear Spikes is great, but every insider report I read says Ricky Sapp.