Post by TEM on Jul 14, 2019 7:54:54 GMT -5
247sports.com/nfl/new-york-giants/Article/New-York-Giants-depth-chart-all-time-defense-133610127/
Assembling the New York Giants' All-Time Depth Chart (Defense)
The New York football Giants have a rich history of success in the NFL that dates back to its earliest days. The Giants were one of five teams to originally join the NFL in 1925 and they are the only team of that group that still remains in the league today.
Earlier this week, we broke down the all-time Giants' offensive depth chart. It was not an easy task. We had to leave out a lot of excellent franchise players who simply did not play enough games in a Giants uniform.
Today, we will be assembling the Giants' all-time depth chart on the defensive side of the ball. Players will be left out who fans love. As a reminder, longevity in a Giants uniform plays a key role in our process for assembling the depth chart. Without further ado, let's jump right in.
Defensive End
1. Michael Strahan
2. Leonard Marshall
3. Justin Tuck
4. Jim Katcavage
Honorable Mentions: George Martin, Osi Umenyiora
The Giants have a rich history at defensive end and this depth chart goes deep. The fact that Umenyiora, who had arguably the best get-off and was the single-best strip-sack artist in Giants history, can't even crack the top-four, says a lot. Strahan deserves the top spot for obvious reasons, but Marshall sometimes goes under the radar due to the plethora of talent around him on those Bill Parcells-Bill Belichick defenses during the two Super Bowl runs. Tuck probably deserves the MVP award for one of the Giants' Super Bowl victories and his place on the depth chart is solidified. Katcavage dates back further in Giants history, and he didn't play on any Super Bowl rosters, but he was a member of the "fearsome foursome" and totaled 96 1/2 career sacks.
Defensive Tackle
1. Keith Hamilton
2. Rosie Grier
3. John Mendenhall
4. Erik Howard
Honorable Mention: Jim Burt
The Giants were never as dominant on the interior defensive line -- unless you consider the plethora of snaps Justin Tuck took at defensive tackle to qualify him at the position. During the era of Parcells-Belichick football, the defensive tackles were not responsible for rushing the passer in a traditional 3-4 base defense. However, Howard and Burt were two of the best nose tackles in their eras. Hamilton played in a 4-3 base defense and he was one of the best two-way defensive tackles in the NFL during his time. The "hammer" racked up 63 1/2 sacks over his 12-year career with the Giants.
Outside Linebacker
1. Lawrence Taylor
2. Carl Banks
3. Brad Van Pelt
4. Jessie Armstead
Honorable Mention: Brian Kelley
The outside linebacker position is another one rich with talent for the Giants. Taylor was a two-time Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowl honoree, Taylor’s visionary play helped bring about changes in how teams rush and block for the pass. He finished with 1,088 total tackles and 132.5 quarterback sacks. Banks played on the same dominant Giants defense with Taylor and is more than deserving of the No. 1 spot on any outside linebacker depth chart that doesn't include Taylor. Van Pelt was a coverage specialist at linebacker in an era where linebackers were mostly built to stop the run. Armstead was selected in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft before he went on to rack up five Pro Bowl and four First-Team All-Pro appearances.
Inside Linebacker
1. Harry Carson
2. Sam Huff
3. Pepper Johnson
4. Gary Reasons
Another position not quite as rich with talent as outside linebacker, but not too far off, is the inside linebacker position. Carson is a Hall of Famer who was arguably the second-best player on the Belichick-Parcells championship defenses. The former fourth-round draft pick went on to become a nine-time Pro Bowler with the Giants. Carson might be the best inside linebacker in Giants history, but Huff was the most famous and one of the toughest players to ever suit up in a Giants uniform.
Cornerback
1. Mark Haynes
2. Mark Collins
3. Erich Barnes
4. Jason Sehorn
Honorable Mention: Perry Williams, Dick Lynch
The Giants are not as elite at the cornerback position, but they're deep with a lot of capable players who made this list. Haynes was arguably the Giants' best coverage cornerback and the only one they ever had who was also the best at his position during his era. Collins operated as the Giants' shutdown cornerback during the Parcells-Belichick era of Giants defense. Sehorn came up during the Jim Fassel era and may have finished No. 1 on this list if his career wasn't shortened due to injuries.
Safety
1. Emlen Tunnell
2. Spider Lockhart
3. Terry Kinard
4. Antrel Rolle
Honorable Mention: Beasley Reece
Tunnell played for both the Giants and Green Bay Packers. When he retired as a player, he held NFL career records for interceptions (79) and interception return yards (1,282). Tunnell was also an excellent return specialists. When he retired, he held NFL career records for punt returns (258), and punt return yards (2,209).
I agree with a lot of this
But!!!!!!
Jimmy Patten Not even mentioned? Come on He should have been ahead of Rolle.
www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/def_int_career.htm (Number 30 on the all time INT leaders)
Also Sehorn could not have shined Dick Lynch's shoes
www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SehoJa20.htm
www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncDi00.htm