Joe Schoen Offers Hints of What Giants Defense Will Look Like Under Shane Bowen
The New York Giants defense is expected to have back a lot of familiar faces from last season--cornerback Deonte Banks, inside linebackers Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, safety Jason Pinnock, and outside linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari.
But with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen having taken over for Wink Martindale, who resigned from his post last month, the defense will have a noticeably different--and hopefully better-- look and feel in 2024.
That's the word from Giants general manager Joe Schoen, the only member of the organization who was made available to the media during the NFL combine, which kicked off Tuesday morning in Indianapolis.
"We’re going to be very sound; it’s going to be very similar to what they did in Tennessee."
Last year, the Giants defense had issues, finishing 27th overall, 29th against the run, and 19th against the pass. While the Giants were solid on third downs (9th), they struggled in the red zone (25th) and in goal-to-go situations (23rd).
"I think the up-field pass rush is going to be more of a premium versus the read-and-react," Schoen said. Maybe a little bit less man coverage, but we are going to be physical, fast, and we’re going to be sound in our assignments.”
One of the changes expected is less blitzing. Under Martindale, the Giants lived and died by the blitz. It was quite spectacular to watch when it worked, but when it didn't, it was a disaster. According to Sports Info Solutions (SIS), the Giants blitzed 46 percent last year (2nd most in the league) with just a 46 percent success rate (23rd).
Bowen and the Titans blitzed 19 percent of the time last year(26th in the league) with a 45 percent success rate (16th). The anticipated reduction in blitzing by the Giants this year doesn't mean they won't look to add to their pass-rushing arsenal, which right now boasts Kayvon Thibodeaux and the oft-injured Azeez Ojulari at outside linebacker.
But based on the Titans' trends last year, Bowen seemed to prefer a four-man rush, running that on 77 percent of the defensive pass rushes with a 46 percent success rate.
Another change will be more zone coverage as opposed to man-to-man. As part of his definition of being aggressive, Martindale liked to play more man coverage than zone, doing so on 37 percent of the coverage. Bowen and the Titans ran man coverage 24 percent of the time, with a higher success rate.
With these and other changes likely to be made, a question of whether the Giants need to revamp their personnel to fit the new schedule was asked of Schoen.
“It doesn’t,” he said. “Bill Parcells told me a long time ago, coaches come and go, so you better not pick (players) scheme specific. Because if we had scheme-specific guys, now they are no good for this new scheme.
"So, as we picked players, or signed them in free agency, the versatility is very important to these players. The ability to play in multiple schemes is always in the back of our minds when we pick these guys. So, it shouldn’t really affect the current roster.”
Schoen didn't lay out how he plans to build up the defensive side of the ball, but based on some of these anticipated changes, it wouldn't be surprising if the Giants were to prioritize adding a veteran pass rusher in free agency.
Ojulari will get a chance to contribute in the final year of his rookie deal this coming season. Still, his inability to stay healthy is a concern, as is the fact the Giants don't really have other options besides Thibodeaux to run a conventional four-man rush (which Bowen deployed on 787 percent of the pass rush snaps last year with the Titans).
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