IDP Position Spotlight: Giants Defensive Ends (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

2009 IDP Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The IDP Forum here has grown quickly over the past few years and is probably the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things related to IDPs. In what we hope to make an annual tradition, the IDP Spotlight series will be a key part of our preseason effort this year. As many of you know from what has been done with offensive players over the years, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we hope to publish IDP Spotlights for approximately 20-30 players, which should account for many of the most interesting IDP starters for this year and possibly years to come.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discuss expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week (or possibly longer) of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways.

1) At the end of the week (or longer when necessary), we will tally the projections into a consensus.

2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: NY Giants Defensive Ends: Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty

Justin Tuck Player Page

Osi Umenyiora Player Page

Mathias Kiwanuka Player Page

Chris Canty Player Page

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player or players in question, and your expectations for said player(s)
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, we request that you provide projections for the player(s)Projections should include the following categories at minimum:

For DLs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, PD
For LBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PD
For DBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PDNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[sgtrobo]

I've been going back and forth on Justin Tuck constantly since the end of last season. I've been of the opinion that he's the best all-around 4-3 DL in the game. He seems to be able to produce whether he's rushing from the inside or the edge, and he is simply dominant. He'll play more time at tackle so his sacks will probably go down, but I still can't disregard his ability to collapse the pocket from the inside. With Osi back, he won't be the guaranteed double-team draw anymore, and that will free him up. He'll be a monster again and he'll make a huge impact. He'll be the first to the ball, and when he's not the first, he'll be right there assisting.

51 solos, 22 assists, 11 sacks, 3 PD

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Just to be clear here, the hope is that people will try to project several and hopefully all of these players. How do you think everything will shake out given the return of Umenyiora, free agent signing of Canty, and continued presence of Tuck and Kiwanuka. Is there enough snaps to go around for these guys?

If you only feel like talking about one player, that's fine too. But, I think it will be interesting to try and figure out how they all might fit together as a group.

 

[Jene Bramel]

What a defensive front this is going to be. Established pass rushing talents in Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka. A talented end/tackle prospect in Chris Canty. A host of disruptive defensive tackles. And a couple of OLBs who can also be successful bringing pressure. Obviously, the question is who gets the most playing time and who gets the highest leverage snaps for statistical purposes. We're hearing that Canty and Clint Sintim may play on the line in nickel packages. I think that playing time comes at the expense of less dynamic talents like Kiwanuka and the defensive tackles.

I'm betting on a pecking order of Tuck > Umenyiora > Canty > Kiwanuka right now. I think Tuck is easily the safest bet. He'll be hard to sit on base defensive downs and has already proven that he can play anywhere on the line in any subpackage. With his recent history of injury, Umenyiora is a riskier call. He could be rotated out frequently given the depth here in the hopes that he'll be fresh for a playoff push. Canty has a different body type, but a similar positional profile to Tuck. He won't be as dynamic, but he can play anywhere on the line on any snap. I think he'll be on the field for a significant majority of snaps. Kiwanuka is most at risk of losing snaps. There are too many strong options both inside and outside and Sintim looks to see some snaps that Kiwanuka was getting last season.

Projection:

Tuck: 46 solos, 13 assists, 11.5 sacks, 3 FF/FR, 0 INT, 2 PD

Umenyiora: 32 solos, 7 assists, 10 sacks, 5 FF/FR, 0 INT, 2 PD

Canty: 40 solos, 16 assists, 5 sacks, 3 FF/FR, 0 INT, 4 PD

Kiwanuka: 28 solos, 8 assists, 5 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 0 INT, 1 PD

 

[Benchwarmers]

I don't think Canty will have a huge impact. I think Canty plays DT mostly especially on passing downs. Kiwanuka with his long arms will make some plays.

Tuck: 46 solos, 18 assists, 13 sacks, 3 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumble Recovery, 2 PD

Umenyiora: 36 solos, 7 assists, 9 sacks, 4 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumble Recovery, 3 PD

Kiwanuka: 32 solos, 11 assists, 7 sacks, 5 Forced Fumbles, 3 Fumble Recovery, 5 PD

Canty: 40 solos, 26 assists, 3 sacks, 3 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumble Recovery, 4 PD

 

[ninremix]

who gets the double teams .. Tuck or Osi

 

[Jene Bramel]

who gets the double teams .. Tuck or Osi

The Giants can scheme their front such that it's extremely difficult to double either of these guys regularly on nickel downs by putting them both inside at tackle. I'd expect to see one in a three-technique on every passing down. Generally speaking, it's easiest to double the strong side defensive end (LDE). If both Tuck and Osi are at end, that'll be Tuck. But the Giants may play Canty at LDE on base downs, with Osi or Tuck rotating out at times, playing inside at tackle or at RDE. That'll force the offense to shift formations presnap or move a lineman after the snap to double team.