Giants.com is counting down to the start of 2024 Giants Training Camp with 24 questions in 24 days.
7) What is the biggest area the Giants need to improve on defense?
Matt Citak: Over the last three seasons, the Giants have allowed an average of 132.4, 144.2 and 129.0 rushing yards per game. All three of these marks led to the Giants finishing in the bottom eight in the NFL, including bottom five in each of the last two years. Stopping the run was the biggest strength of the Titans defense while Shane Bowen was coordinator there, so I do expect that area to improve drastically. That is why I'm going with the pass rush as the biggest area the Giants need to improve on defense this season.
The Giants had a pass blitz rate of 54.2 percent last season, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL. Despite this fact, the Giants still managed to record just 34 sacks on the year, which tied with the New Orleans Saints for the fifth-fewest in the league. As we've discussed at length over the last few months, Bowen's defensive scheme will look a lot different from what the Giants have been running the last few years. During the three seasons he ran Tennessee's defense, his unit ranked 31st (16.2 percent), 30th (15.7 percent) and 24th (20.4 percent) in blitz rate across the league. Of course, this means that the pass rush relies heavily on the front four to succeed in getting after the quarterback, which likely played a significant role in the Giants' trading for outside linebacker Brian Burns.
The unit's front four now includes Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence, which has to be up there among the NFL's best pass-rushing trios heading into the 2024 campaign. The group registered 148 total quarterback pressures between the three of them last year, according to PFF. Based on the draft capital surrendered in order to acquire Burns, along with the accompanying contract extension he received, it seems clear that GM Joe Schoen also came to the conclusion that the pass rush needed a big boost.
View photos of the New York Giants' 2024 active roster as it currently stands.
CB Deonte Banks
OLB Boogie Basham
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
LB Curtis Bolton
OLB Brian Burns
DL Elijah Chatman
DL D.J. Davidson
QB Tommy DeVito
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan (6)
RB Eric Gray
CB Tre Hawkins III
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
S Anthony Johnson
TE Theo Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
G Jake Kubas
DL Dexter Lawrence II
QB Drew Lock
TE Chris Manhertz
CB Nick McCloud
LB Micah McFadden
ILB Darius Muasau
WR Malik Nabers
T Evan Neal
S Tyler Nubin
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
ILB Bobby Okereke
WR Gunner Olszewski
CB Dru Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
DL Jordon Riley
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
G Jon Runyan Jr.
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
S/LB Isaiah Simmons
RB Devin Singletary
WR Darius Slayton
G Aaron Stinnie
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
RB Tyrone Tracy
G Greg Van Roten
OLB Benton Whitley
Previous Questions
Get excited for the 2024 season with photos from Media Day at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Dane Belton (24)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
T Evan Neal (73)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Evan Neal (73)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Evan Neal (73)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
QB Drew Lock (2)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
DL Ryder Anderson (90)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
G/C Austin Schlottmann (65)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Dane Belton (24)
RB Eric Gray (20)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
RB Eric Gray (20)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
RB Eric Gray (20)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Nathan Rourke (3)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
K Graham Gano (9)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
WR Miles Boykin (81)
Elijah Riley (34)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
WR John Jiles (0)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
T Evan Neal (73)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (36)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Jon Runyan (76)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Ayir Asante (19)
WR Ayir Asante (19)
DT Casey Rogers (91)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Dante Miller (25)
Jake Kubas (63)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
RB Dante Miller (25)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
QB Drew Lock (2)
Marcellus Johnson
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
DL Timmy Horne (96)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
OLB Benton Whitley (48)
S Gervarrius Owens (39)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
TE Jack Stoll (89)
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Lawrence Cager (83)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Lawrence Cager (83)
Dane Belton (24)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Dane Belton (24)
Darrian Beavers (43)
Dane Belton (24)
Dane Belton (24)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
RB Eric Gray (20)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
RB Eric Gray (20)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
RB Eric Gray (20)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
Micah McFadden (41)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
Dennis Houston (88)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
Dyontae Johnson (54)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
Dennis Houston (88)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Dyontae Johnson (54)
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
QB Nathan Rourke (3)
Dyontae Johnson (54)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Boogie Basham (55)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Nick McCloud (44)
Nick McCloud (44)
Miles Boykin (81)
Nick McCloud (44)
Miles Boykin (81)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Marcus McKethan (60)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Elijah Riley (34)
Elijah Riley (34)
Boogie Basham (55)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Matt Nelson (68)
Ryder Anderson (90)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Ryder Anderson (90)
Graham Gano (9)
Boogie Basham (55)
Gunner Olszewski (80)
Graham Gano (9)
Jordon Riley (95)
Elijah Riley (34)
Graham Gano (9)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Aaron Stinnie (64)
Matt Nelson (68)
Jordon Riley (95)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Austin Schlottmann (65)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Jamie Gillan (6)
D.J. Davidson (98)
Jamie Gillan (6)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Tomon Fox (45)
Tomon Fox (45)
Tomon Fox (45)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Tomon Fox (45)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Andrew Thomas (78)
John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Jalen Mills (21)
Jude McAtamney (99)
Drew Lock (2)
Benton Whitley (48)
Deonte Banks (25)
Matthew Adams (49)
Drew Lock (2)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Drew Lock (2)
Joshua Miles (77)
Tre Hawkins III (37)
Benton Whitley (48)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Deonte Banks (25)
Deonte Banks (25)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Deonte Banks (25)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Deonte Banks (25)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Jason Pinnock (27)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Matthew Adams (49)
Gervarrius Owens (39)
Timmy Horne (96)
Jack Stoll (89)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Jack Stoll (89)
Jack Stoll (89)
David Long Jr. (20)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Chris Manhertz (85)
David Long Jr. (20)
Deonte Banks (25)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Matthew Adams (49)
Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Chris Manhertz (85)
Malik Nabers (9)
Jalin Hyatt (13)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Elijah Chatman (94)
Darius Muasau (53)
Malik Nabers (9)
Jalin Hyatt (13)
Daniel Jones (8)
Brian Burns (0)
Malik Nabers (9)
Darius Muasau (53)
Jon Runyan (76)
Dru Phillips (22)
Elijah Chatman (94)
Devin Singletary (26)
Malik Nabers (9)
Dante Miller (25)
Dante Miller (25)
Joshua Ezeudu (75)
Darius Muasau (53)
Isaiah Simmons (19)
Jon Runyan (76)
Jalen Mills (21)
Darius Muasau (53)
Darius Muasau (53)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (36)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
G/C Austin Schlottmann (65)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
S Dane Belton (24)
DT Jordon Riley (95)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
DL Ryder Anderson (90)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
Nathan Rourke (3)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
DB Jalen Mills (21)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
DT Casey Rogers (91)
WR Allen Robinson II (15)
Jimmy Morrissey (67)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
OLB Boogie Basham (55)
Alex Johnson (25)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
K Graham Gano (9)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Dante Miller (25)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
Jake Kubas (63)
T Evan Neal (73)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
WR John Jiles (0)
OLB Jeremiah Martin (53)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
