So, what do you name a secondary made up of two expensive free agents and four top draft picks?
Some teams might consider it the “foundation of defense.” But for the Giants, it feels more like “oversight.”
Amid all the excitement surrounding a potential pass rush, it’s easy to overlook how the Giants shelled out $99 million to bring in safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo, adding them to safety Tyler Nubin, who was picked in the second round of the 2024 draft.
“We’re good, guys,” Nubin remarked. “We understand what we’ve got, so there’s no real need for too much chatter about us.”
The core issue is ensuring the coverage holds up long enough for players like Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kavon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence to pressure the quarterbacks.
This needs initial communication, but if the starters have issues, it might not be evident during Saturday’s game.
“It just takes time to get comfortable with people,” Phillips explained.
A more complex element is figuring out how to disrupt the offense, especially after they went 11 games without a single interception last season, which set an NFL record.
Interestingly, the starting defense managed to pick off quarterback Russell Wilson six times during camp.
“I think we need more. I think we always need more,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen stated. “But, you can see we’re concentrating on being able to force fumbles. Regardless of who gets them, we had a lot of pass attempts. There are definitely some areas we need to improve this season.”
The best perspective on the revamped secondary might come from the receivers who have had to face it in 13 training camp practices.
“It starts with the Netherlands and Nubin,” Darius Slayton mentioned. “Nubin is fierce. He’s physical yet very intense. Holland has really added a good range to our defense. He’s a great tackler and shows really impressive skills in tracking and catching deep passes.”
Banks has risen in the ranks over the injured Frotto and is now the second-string cornerback, while Frotto’s versatility is set to make him the top backup both outside and inside (especially if Phillips can’t go). Notably, Frotto led the Giants in pass breakups during spring drills through the start of camp, according to Bowen’s assessment.
“He has made significant strides over the past few years,” Slayton noted. “Frotto is a solid player who is improving. Adebo has proven to be a strong acquisition for us. I think he shines when he’s at the line of scrimmage.”
So, is there an emerging identity for this group?
“I see a lot of guys who are eager and really want it,” Nubin remarked. “Whatever you think will change, it probably will.”
