It’s been a while since the New York Giants could hang their hats on their linebacking unit. Those days may be returning.
The combination of inside linebackers Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is making some noise these days and people are taking notice.
Micah McFadden: 89.8 PFF grade vs. the Commanders
1st among all LB's in Week 7 😤 pic.twitter.com/nzGRuGavMu
— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) October 23, 2023
McFadden was the highest-graded linebacker in Week 7 by Pro Football Focus with a 89.8 grade against the Commanders. He logged in five total tackles with two QB hits and a half-sack.
Okereke had another strong game, leading the Giants with 11 total tackles and a pass defensed. Thibodeaux had a sack and a half and almost had a sure pick-six in the game.
Don't look now but not only has Bobby Okereke led the team in tackles the past four games, he's also logged double-digits in each of them.
Okereke also climbed the NFL leaderboard this Weekend, as he's recorded the eighth-most tackles in the league with 64.#NYGiants pic.twitter.com/jdGahTW0Dd
— Tommy (@TommyG105) October 23, 2023
Thibodeaux has 5.5 sacks on the season now and is on pace for 13.5 this year.
Head coach Brian Daboll is encouraged by what he has seen in the defense the past two weeks.
“There’s certainly been things that we’ve improved on in every area as a team and today ball security was a problem for us,” Daboll said. “But we got the ball again. I think we’re making small strides in different areas and the guys are working with a great attitude and great intention, but we’ve still got a ton to clean up from this game, but I appreciate the approach and the mindset and how they go about their business on a daily basis here.”
The 2-5 Giants face the 3-3 Jets this Sunday and the game — which at one point just a few weeks ago had little juice — suddenly has some significance. You can thank the defense for a lot of that.
