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Fortunately, the giants still print names on the backs of uniforms.
How else would anyone recognize who is rushing the ferryman?
As the Giants kick off a season-ending streak against a slew of double-threat quarterbacks on Sunday, they look to Jabaal Sheard, Trent Harris and rookies Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown and Niko Lalos for the outside linebacker. None of those five players played a defensive game in Week 1: Sheard and Harris were free agents, Brown was inactive, Lalos was on the practice squad, and Coughlin was on special teams.
“All of the guys we have here have given us a variety of weapons,” said coach Joe Judge. “We’ve been able to do some pickups in season and Cam and Carter are really coming. We have found different ways to use other parts of our staff to complement and be used on the edge in different packages.
Sheard, 31, went from watching first week games on his couch with his kids to a last-minute strip-bag to claim last week’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the only outside linebacker over 25.
“I don’t feel old at all,” Sheard said. “I just feel like I’m spreading knowledge. I love the energy here. Everyone is hungry, looking for answers, asking questions. It was funny.”
The Giants started the season with Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines, Kyler Fackrell and Markus Golden as their top four edge players. It was an intriguing combination of two recent third-round picks that came out on top and two veterans signed to one-year contracts in a bid to prove seasons spent with double-digit sacks were no fluke. .
None of those four will be in uniform for at least the next three games because Carter (Achilles) and Ximines (shoulder) have end-of-season surgeries, Fackrell (calf) is on the injured reserve, and Golden has been traded.
Sheard has 52.5 career sacks and has seen almost it all. But what level of attrition?
“In my 10 years, I can’t really say I’ve done it,” said Sheard, “but in football we know it’s always about the next man and to be ready for. your opportunity. “
The Giants signed Harris to the practice squad on October 14. Three days later Harris was elevated to the active list. Three days later, Sheard was signed from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Three days later, Golden was gone.
He’s a wonderful defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and outside linebackers coach Bret Bielema kept the names straight, not to mention the stratagems.
“A group that really put a lot of different guys together to form the unit every week,” Bielema said.
Sixteen different players compete in the Giants’ 27 sacks – good enough to rank No.11 in the league. The outside linebacker’s new top five combine for 2.5, which is less than Fackrell’s three.
Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks is the first of three quarters of the Giants’ last five games that will see unruly pass-rushers plunge into empty ground. Kyler Murray of Arizona and Lamar Jackson of Baltimore will follow.
“You have to play with a lot of control and space and be able to tackle these guys. It’s much easier said than done, ”Judge said. “The biggest mistake you see is when Russell comes out of the pocket people panic and they run forward to try to attack him.
“All of a sudden he has a free runner coming down the field. An open man is not going to be missing. You can’t blink your eyes. You can’t think of a game as a play off. That doesn’t exist with these guys.
The Giants could put a “spy” on Wilson.
“You’re trying to teach disciplined rushing,” Graham said. “What are you looking for [in a spy] is someone who can tackle himself, someone who has the speed to stick with him. He must also have some wisdom about it.
Wilson saw a lot of spies. He hasn’t seen most of the Giants’ edge rushers. Few have.
Remember, it’s Sheard in # 91, not Justin Tuck.
“When I got here it was the biggest pressure,” said Sheard. “You give me this number – one of the biggest that was here with the Giants. I am honored to wear the number. I’ll just make the most of it. Rock out like a G-man. “
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