T-Rock's Take on the Giants

What's wrong with rotating Defensive Lineman in and out? If we actually have a wealth of talent at that position, it keeps everyone fresh and enables them to make more plays (especially Strahan, who's not getting any younger).

Additionally, while he should continue at LB, Kiwi should also be used in the DL rotation once in a while. He's a natural and should be used as much as possible to get to the damn QB.

Can we have a 5-man line and only 2 linebackers? Or a 6-man line and only one linebacker? :-)

Mr. Staple..... You bring up a valid point. I do think that Tuck and Kiwi are by far the best players on defense. I think Tuck should start for Strahan but I know that won't happen. I also feel that when we are in passing downs then we move tuck n kiwi inside and have Ross be the blitzer from strahans side..he seems to be good at taking the right angles...not like wilson who stinks at blitzing....I like Robbins but habe not seen much from cofield

Tuck will be a great on and off the field lineman untill Strahan retires. But Kiwanuka has to start on the D-line somehow, just hope that Coughlin and Spags put their brains together and figure out how! Oh yeah, forget about R.W., Aaron Ross can start the rest of the season as far as I'm concerned.

I think it has to be Barry Cofeild as odd man out. While he did play pretty well last year as a rookie, hes not overly big and does just ok against the run. Robbins is a bigger guy and has the ability to break into the backfield and disrupt the passer as well as to stop the run. By taking out cofield and putting tuck in there, your not sacrificing as much size as if you took Robbins out. Tuck is good against the run, excellent against the pass and just a strong playmaker in general. You cant take out Osi because he is our best d lineman when healthy. you cant take strahan out because he can be dominant and has been for almost 15 years. You can spell Strahan from time to time though. Less playing time for Cofield seems to be the best option but he should still see the field. Go with a 6 man rotation (including Kiwi) and just tilt the playing time towards Tuck

Can trade Strahan? I love Strahan but I've soured on him more recently with his hold out. Osi, Tuck and Kiwi are the future at DE. Let's do what another already suggested - Move to 5 DL, two LBers (make Torber one of them if healthy) and play that way. Kiwi could be the blitzing LB/DE hybrid.

Also, any news On Gerris?

It's too hard to just say "put in x for y" when I don't have a very good feel for what the job the interior of the D'Line really is right now.

Are they supposed to engage the O-Line and take on the FB so the LBs can flow to the ball carrier or QB?

Are they supposed to get into position to make the play when the ends squeeze the QB?

Are they supposed to get pressure into the backfield?

Combination of all?

I believe they need to rotate between the 5, bringing Kiwi to one of the end positions on 3rd down for MS until he can demonstrate an effective pass rush, bringing in Wilk or Blackburn to take Kiwi's original spot.

I see some here are advocating the old 5-2-4 and the ever popular 2-9 defense we see advocated on BBI from time to time....I wonder when the "Why don't they just get a couple Sumo Wrestlers for the line?" comments begin! ;>)

Tuck's playing time has to come at the expense of Strahan. The Redskins were starting backups on the right side, and Strahan still failed to make an impact. I remember one third-down pass play where Cooley blocked Strahan by himself. Benching Strahan would probably be too disruptive, so Spags has to get creative about rotating in Tuck and Kiwi along the DL. Fortunately, Spags comes from Philly, where they rotate d-linemen as well as anybody. Regardless, Strahan should be the one getting most of the breathers.

Going forward, I hate to push one of our all-time greats out the door, but it's really best for the Giants if Strahan retires this off-season, freeing up cap space and playing time for Tuck and Kiwi.

I would have to say Tuck should be in there more often for Strahan. Strahan has not been very effective this year, and this will probably be his last year on the Giants, so start preparing Tuck for a starting role next year. But as John said in the first post, the ideal situation is a rotation that allows all of the d-line to be fresh and more effective.

Why do we have to cater to Osi, if he isn't producing at the level of Tuck? I understand he's a good player, but he's had one outstanding year and that's it. We're not talking about a year-in/year-out All-Pro performer. Maybe a bit of time on the bench, rotating him not benching him, wouldn't hurt.
I could see using Kiwi in situations like we used LT. He was called a LB, but he rushed the QB more like a DE. NOT saying Kiwi is on a level with LT.

Since Strahan showed a PULSE then i say keep Tuck in the role he is now.
Is the same role DE Mark Anderson from the Bears was playing last year and he had a crazy year. and now hes the starter and future there. Same thing here.

Next year hes a starter and i think thats one reason why Reese wants Kiwi at LB.

hes not stupid guys im surprised ya haven't picked this up. Reese is thinking long term here and Tuck could emerge into a STAR so hes a future starter Osi is already our future at the other end so then where does Kiwi fit in?

he has 3 starting DEs and he has to start tehm all next year so Kiwi has the best tools to be a LB.

your thoughts ARTHUR on my theory here?

ARTHUR!!,

Next weeks Q of the week has to be does Gerris Wilkinson replace Kawika Mitchell who seems liek hes good against the run but hes SLOW in coverage. Wilk is a excellent cover LB he was there in the nickel and dime package last year.

Or does S Michael Johnson(6'2 212) replace S James Butler who SUCKS!!!

Where is this evidence that Wilkinson is an 'excellent over LB'? I dont remember seeing him play that often last year. Not that Mitchell has been great, but lets see Wilkinson get on the field and healthy before we give him the starters job.

As for Tuck, he definitely needs to be on the field more and he should be in on every third down at Cofield's expense.

Yeah I'd have to say that he rotates with Strahan and sometimes Osi on running downs and comes in for Cofield on sure passing downs.

That 3rd and long set where the 4 DE's come to the line is definitely an ominous pass rush, but I guarantee that every team who plays us this season is planning a play for it already.

I say Tuck plays opposite where ever the TE plays and always levels him on the way to the QB. On passing downs take out someone in the middle of the line like Cofield or Robbins. On running downs take out a LB.

Considering how much of a selfish player Michael Strahan has been in recent years, it only will be fitting if he is pushed out the door at the end of this year, which for money reasons will be the case.

Pretty sad that the lasting memory of this first-ballot Hall of Famer will be him pointing to the scoreboard in San Francisco in the midst of the Niners' comeback from a 38-14 deficit in the 2002-03 playoffs.

That said, Kiwanuka is NOT an LB in any sense of the word. Just because he is athletic for a DE doesn't mean he has an LB's body or instincts; he does not. He should be blitzing from the outside and disrupting the passing game.

Next year the Giants can go with a three-man DE rotation and sign or draft some quality LBs. Other than Pierce, they've got jack.