Through two games, the New York Giants are 0-2, scoring just an average of 12 points per game. Their offense is surely an issue but their defense is concerning as well.
The Giants are getting chewed up by the run, allowing 163 yards per game to opponents over the first two weeks. They have been lax on third downs, permitting opponents to convert on 41.7 percent of attempts, and have failed to stop either of their two fourth-down chances.
As a result, opponents have been able to sustain drives and hang onto the football. Last week in Washington, the Giants lost the time of possession 37:32 to 22:28.
“Bad tackling and penalties,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said this week when asked what he felt the issue was. “We were on the field a long time. We didn’t do well tackling. We didn’t stop the run well. And the penalties on third down. We won a lot of first and second downs, but those third downs really got us.”
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen agreed when quizzed by reporters about the run defense.
“I think tackling. Tackling showed up. Missed some tackles, even on the scramble plays,” he said. “We had guys in opportunities to make plays on those to get off the field on third down. And tackling showed up. I think a couple were fit issues. One, we just get too nosy. We got him bottled up, we get nosy and he leaks out on us. The post safety gets a little nosy, as well, and it goes for 40 (yards). It’s a potential third and one stop that turns into 40 yards.
“Just continuing our fits. Making sure we’re flying around, running to the football. Making sure the missed tackles don’t turn into… because they’re going happen. We got to reduce them. They’re going to happen from time to time. But making sure those missed tackles end up being two to five additional yards instead of 10-plus. Just continue to work. There’s good in there. They ran the ball 35 times. So, there’s some good snaps in there. We got to eliminate the explosive runs.”
The Giants have been dealing with injuries at inside linebacker. Micah McFadden missed the opener with a groin injury and was thrust into action last week when his understudy, rookie Darius Muasau, was forced out with a knee issue.
The Giants also are in flux in the secondary. They have a rookie, Tyler Nubin, starting at support safety and the box is dealing with a lot of movable parts. When that settles down, and the inside backers get their footing, the run support should improve.
