EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants always insist that their defensive line must boil, ignite and feast. When they featured recognizable names there in the last decade, including Strahan and Tuck and Umenyiora, well, there was harvest.
The ‘no-name’ Giants defense finds a way
The Giants defense couldn’t afford a rebuilding year in 2015, even with Jason Pierre-Paul sidelined. After two weeks of finding its way, a group without much star power finally had its statement game.
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Jason Pierre-Paul for the last five seasons had continued that tradition. His hand injury, however, has left him out with an uncertain return. It left an echoing hole. It helped to make the Giants a vulnerable 0-2 team.
On Thursday night here at Metlife Stadium against Washington, the Giants committed to going old school with a fuzzy cast.
"We understand what people were saying," Giants linebacker Devon Kennard said. "We know they think of our defensive linemen as a bunch of no-names. But there is a way you go about making a name for yourself in this league."
That would be whipping your man. Residing in the offense’s backfield. Shuttling the running game and making the offense simplistic. Pressuring and hitting the quarterback.
Once the “no-name” Giants defensive line accomplished this against Washington, the rest fell into place. Three turnovers ensued. The entire defense rose. The Giants offense responded.
It ended with a healing 32-21 Giants victory where "no-name" defensive linemen like Kerry Wynn created a ruckus. It led to the Giants limiting the league's No. 1 rushing team to 88 rushing yards. It made Washington run it 20 times compared to a stunning and ill-fated 49 Kirk Cousins passes.
It was the axis of the Giants revival.
"As a defense, we knew we just had to do something," Giants rookie linebacker Uani Unga said. He contributed an interception, a forced fumble, nine tackles and two passes defended. "If a defense controls up front and then gets turnovers, good things seem to happen."
Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara was in the thick of it, artfully defending three passes and intercepting one.
“We were desperate, hungry, starving to get a win,” Amukamara said. “We are a team that loves to fight and I’m glad we displayed that tonight. Our defense built some momentum in this game.”
The Giants defense was prickly from the start. It limited Washington to six points until deep into the fourth quarter. Defensive linemen Cullen Jenkins, Jay Bromley, Johnathan Hankins, George Selvie and Damontre Moore combined for 11 tackles and two quarterback hits. Wynn alone produced eight tackles and a quarterback hit.
“We played technique, set the wall, tracked the hip, set the edge,” Wynn said. “We had each others’ backs.”
Washington head coach Jay Gruden saluted Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“They had a lot to play for,” Gruden said. “They were active, flying around. They were getting off our blocks. They put us in some bad situations.”
Spagnuolo returned to the Giants this season initially thinking, even with Pierre-Paul, that this could be a rebuilding season for the Giants defense. He was told by Giants coach Tom Coughlin and others that thinking would not do. That his job would be to teach and mold this Giants defense into a winning unit now. This game was his signature on what this Giants defense could become and, specifically, how this defensive line can play.
The Giants see Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor next, an Oct. 4 Giants road game that features another team with a power running attack and young quarterback. Unlike Cousins, Taylor is fleet; thus, the Giants defense will be tested in not only its up-front power but discipline in restricting Taylor and not allowing him to win on the edges. That will be worth watching because even some of the Giants' sturdiest defenses have struggled with that task.
The Giants entered this season insisting that their offense needed to score at least 28 points a game for this team to do anything special. That was not an indictment of the defense as much as a willingness to embrace and match the realities of hybrid, explosive NFL offenses today. Managing 32 against Washington after scoring 26 and 20 points in losses to Dallas and Atlanta, respectively, pleased the Giants.
But this Giants defense has a major role to play. Especially up front.
“Our defense has to be the glue,” Amukamara said. “That’s just who we are and what we have always been. This was a good step.”
Washington's exceptional tight end Jordan Reed noticed.
“We made early mistakes, but they were in the middle of it,” Reed said. “Their defense was really playing hard. We have to stay confident.”
Washington has to enforce its formula. Run the ball. Protect Cousins. Play faster and harder on defense. Run the ball some more.
The Giants?
Some of their younger defensive players flashed against Washington. They grew. Rookie safety Landon Collins was among them.
“It all starts with our defensive line and when it is humming, we ball,” Collins said. “We know he (Pierre-Paul) is not here. The defensive linemen we have are what we have and who we are right now. They will step up to the challenge. They will hold it down until he gets back, which we welcome.”
No guarantees on that for the Giants. But promise.
"We were hungry, we wanted this," Giants running back Andre Williams said. "I believe in what we can do with one mind, one goal."
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