Ten New York Giants that will test the Detroit Lions
By Ash Thompson
The Giants secondary
The Giants have a potentially very good starting secondary. They have a combination of veteran savvy, young studs, and guys trying to prove they were not mistakes.
I have to admit that I may have missed my pre-draft assessment of Eli Apple. I saw a player who should have a quick and easy adjustment to the NFL from Ohio State. He was physical at the line, a trait most college corners completely lack. He had all the athleticism and size you could ask for. He was ready to go, or so I thought.
None of that materialized for the Giants under the previous coaching staff. He alienated teammates, disappointed coaches and he was a part of the team’s massive internal issues last season. He is looking for redemption in 2018.
Janoris Jenkins is living proof that teams need to draft and develop their corners. He signed the biggest contract a corner had ever signed in 2016. He has been a really good player for them, but certainly not among the NFL’s elite corners. Like the entire Giants corner group in 2017, Jenkins had a bad season. He earned his below average ranking from PFF. He is looking to re-establish his position in the team’s future plans.
If they are not fighting their coaches and focus on the field, they could be one of the NFL’s better groups. It will be interesting to see them line up agianst the Lions starters for a few series.
Luke Willson, in particular, will be interesting to watch. The Giants Landon Collins is one of the best strong safeties in the league. The two should find themselves in the same part of the field on a fairly regular basis.
Alec Ogletree is the linebacker most likely to contest Willson’s efforts to make an impact this week. He is a tackling machine and will limit the Lions big play opportunities. He generally does allow underneath completions though. If Willson can’t get free for against Ogletree, it is difficult to see him as a legitimate starter.