What does Strahan's injury do to the Giants defense (1 Viewer)

[redman]

Strahan and Umenyiora are both injured, with Strahan out for at least weeks if not the rest of the season with the dreaded lis franc injury. They're also banged up at LB, with only MLB Antonio Pierce manning the spot that he was in to begin the year.

I've always viewed that defense as one that was weighted towards the front seven, meaning that as the front seven went, so did the rest of the defense. If they can generate pressure up front with their line, and clog the running lanes with their LB's, then they're doing what they want to do. Their defensive secondary, by comparison, is simply expected to do the basic things that they need to do to cover long enough for the pressure to reach the QB - they have no one who (at least at this stage of their careers) is going to be confused with Champ Bailey or Ed Reed back there.

Currently they're ranked a respectable 9th in my league, but I'm wondering whether I ought to replace them with another (currently lower ranked) defense given their injuries. Are they going to at all resemble the defense that has played through the first half of the year, or are they set up for a drastic decline?

 

[Isotopes]

I was wondering the same thing - I picked up the G-Men to fill a bye week and have left them in my lineup that past 3 weeks. I don't know the status of Osi - but if he is back and the other end from BC is playing well - they could still get to the quarterback. The Giants seem to be a team high on emotions, and if they continue to "ball" they could be solid D/ST for your ff team.

 

[Bri]

Strahan has taught me something about the game. If you go with this quote "team X never throws at CB Y because he's so good" then you can understand in a similar vein that Michael cuts the field in half. I'd heard it with Bruce and Reggie but I guess I didn't realize what it meant.

The game, the opposing team's O, is completely different when Strahan is not in. Granted now he's getting older but I still think most teams give him this tremendous respect. Osi may be Sean Jones or he may be Strahan's successor. I don't know. I wish he'd be healthy so we could get a glimpse of the future.

A few years back the Giants pretty much called it a year when Strahan went down. They switched from Kurt to rookie Eli and that was about it for them. Their young LBers that I thought had potential and all were quite exposed playing behind Michael. I don't even think but 1 is still in the NFL. Dhani Jones. Kevin Lewis was cut and no one picked him up. A starting LB still young cut, free for the taking.

The Giants pass D is more opportunistic than good cover guys. Without Osi and Michael they're so exposed. Kiwi looks like an awesome pick by Ernie. I think he's started 2 games and has 2 sacks. He gets to the QB with some regularity and looks like a fine pick now. I criticized the pick with Osi and Michael, why did they need another DE, but I understand now.

The Giant DTs have been playing wayyy better than expected. I wonder how they're gonna do now.

I imagine a tired Pierce being real real frustrated on Sunday.