Giants Country

Blitzing Giants Defense Patiently Waiting for Rewards

Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale lives and dies by the blitz, but so far, the Giants defense isn't cashing in on its aggressiveness.
Patricia Traina|
Blitzing Giants Defense Patiently Waiting for Rewards
Blitzing Giants Defense Patiently Waiting for Rewards

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New York Giants

As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, a Wink Martindale New York Giants defense will certainly be among the league leaders in blitz percentage rate.

Such is the case again this year, as the Giants have, through three games, blitzed on 53.1 percent, second behind the Minnesota Vikings' 63 percent rate.

The only problem, however, is that so far, the Giants' defense has very little to show for their aggressiveness. New York has recorded just 16 pressures on 51 blitzes, putting them 30th in the league in that category with a 16.7 percent pressure rate.

Nestled within those pressures are just two sacks (31st), zero interceptions, and zero forced fumbles.

Ouch.

"I wouldn’t say they hurt," cornerback Adoree' Jackson said of those numbers Tuesday. "It’s one of those things where we know it’s still early. We keep going, keep clicking, and keep coming with the same mentality and just trying to improve. We know those things will come."

Besides the pressures not having much of an effect on the opponent, there is the matter of missed tackles. According to Pro Football Reference, the Giants are tied for third in the league with the Detroit Lions in missed tackles (31).

Add it up, and you have a Giants defense that, through three games, has given up the ninth-most yardage in the league (1,085), is tied for second (with the Raiders) for most first downs allowed via penalty (10), and which has allowed the third-most average points per game (32.7) behind the Broncos and Bears.

Again, ouch!

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Part of the problem is that the defense's back end needs to do its part by holding its coverage so the pressure can get home. But based on the average time to throw quarterbacks have enjoyed against the Giants so far this season, which, per Pro Football Focus, has ranged from 2.11 seconds (Week 1, Dallas) to as much as 2.73 seconds (Week 2, Arizona), it's easy to see what part of the problem has been.

Even when the Giants manage to hold their coverage, the pressure isn't effective in moving quarterbacks to make errant throws. Dak Prescott of the Cowboys averaged 2.33 seconds to throw when blitzed, while Josh Dobbs of Arizona and Brock Purdy of San Francisco averaged 2.56 seconds and 2.35 seconds, respectively.

It's not the kind of start the Giants were hoping for, but Jackson believes that the best is still yet to come for the defense this season.

"Obviously, we want more turnovers or more sacks, but with this being so early, you just never know how this league turns," he said. "We were 7-2 (last year), and we didn’t have too many sacks or too many turnovers like that. We know that this league is every Sunday, so we know things will change in our favor.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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