Just three days to go now until the New York Giants report to training camp. That's right -- physicals Thursday, first practice Friday. Nuts, isn't it?
Anyway, our position preview continues today with a look at linebacker.
Projected starters: Jon Beason, Devon Kennard, J.T. Thomas
Likely to make roster: Jameel McClain, Jonathan Casillas, Mark Herzlich
Suspended first four games: Victor Butler
On the bubble: Cole Farrand, Tony Johnson, Devin Unga
Can Beason stay healthy?: A toe injury wiped out basically all of Beason's 2014 season. Yes, he played in four games, but he was never fully healthy in any of them and wasn't nearly as effective as he was after the Giants acquired him during the 2013 season. The Giants will be careful with Beason early in camp, likely limiting his activity in early practices to make sure they can keep him healthy. He has talked with former Giant Antonio Pierce about the importance of the middle linebacker in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. Beason is intelligent enough to handle the role and is excited about the challenge it brings. But he's got to stay on the field in order to make it all come together. Beason has not played a full 16-game season since 2010, though he did play 15 just two years ago, and only missed one because he was traded to the Giants from Carolina late in Week 4.
Deploying Kennard: The Giants liked what they saw in 2014 from rookie fifth-rounder Kennard, who had 4.5 sacks in the final five games of the season. Kennard has had his own health issues, but if he's on the field, he can be an asset rushing the passer. So I expect the Giants to show a lot of "under" fronts, with Kennard up on or near the line of scrimmage as a pass-rusher. And yes, I know Spagnuolo's greatest glory came as a result of his ability to generate pressure with the front four in 2007-08. But given the number of question marks the Giants have on the defensive line, and given that the pass rush is an aspect of Kennard's game the Giants would be wise to maximize, it makes sense to make an adjustment like this and use Kennard to deliver support in that area.
Rotating spots: I put Thomas here as a projected starter because I know the team is high on his coverage ability, and coverage isn't a strength of Beason's or Kennard's. But given Spagnuolo's preference for physical guys in the middle of the field, it's entirely possible McClain could be the nominal starter on the weak side and Thomas could just end up playing in sub packages that require a coverage linebacker. The issues at safety, which we will address in this space Wednesday, could require some help from a coverage linebacker. As is the case on the line, the Giants will have to do a lot of mixing and matching at linebacker this season depending on situations. Casillas and Herzlich could help in certain cases, but each is really on the team for his work on special teams.
