N.Y. Giants: Defense Singing the Offensive Blues

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Go West Young Men!

WEEK FOUR

New York Giants

vs.

Los Angeles Rams

FROM

Spanking New Stadium

Lost in the Offensive Ordeal is a Representative Effort on Defense 

What if I said the Giants and Patriots were tied on defense in total yards allowed.  It's true.  Both are presently tied for twelfth with 1,073 yards allowed.  They're essentially allowing per week the same amount of yardage as the Saints, Chiefs, Patriots and even a few yards less than the Packers.  Only difference being is the aforementioned teams are playoff contenders if not Super Bowl contenders and the Giants are not.

In the meantime, Patrick Graham's defense has given up the tenth least yards passing, averaging 234 yards per game.  They've generated eight sacks (four by linebackers and three by the line) and 19 other QB hits, and recovered one fumble.  They've so far yielded the fourteenth most yards rushing (369), averaging 123 yards per game and are smack dab in the middle of the league in points allowed, averaging 26.3 points per game.

Now consider they've been on the field an average of 34:39 per game.  The San Francisco Back-Ups held the ball for 39:44 minutes.  In fact, all these numbers are quite polluted by last week's game against the Niners.

The fact that linebacker Blake Martinez is leading the team in tackles is a good thing.  Corner backs Julian Love and Logan Ryan are second and third respectively.  Fourth in is linebacker Lorenzo Carter; defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is fifth; defensive end Leonard Williams, sixth.  This is a good (not ideal) spread all things considered.  You don't want your corner backs leading the team in tackles for obvious reasons.

Otherwise, all the above speaks very well for this young defense.  

I can't say that about the other side of the ball.  The Giants are near last in passing and dead last in rushing.  I have so far seen zero offensive creativity much less adaptability from Jason Garrett.  I do not foresee much changing this week.  I just keep my eye on the offensive line and wait.