Behind The Line
Behind The Line: Have To Stop This NYG Defender
Football analyst Bucky Brooks goes behind the line this week to preview the Giants matchup as both teams are still alive with a shot at winning the NFC East.
Who is the Guy? Leonard Williams
The former first-round pick has blossomed as a player since joining the Giants in a midseason trade in 2019. Williams leads the team in sacks (8.5) while flashing a combination of size, speed, and strength that overwhelms blockers at the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-5, 302-pounder is a monster at the point of attack and the Cowboys must keep him under wraps to have any chance of moving the ball on Sunday.
Know His Name… Blake Martinez
The tackling machine at the center of the Giants' defense will take on the challenge of slowing down Ezekiel Elliott between the tackles. Martinez displays outstanding instincts, awareness, and range within the box, and his physicality will play a role in the Giants' old school defensive tactics.
Don't Sleep On… Darius Slayton
Slayton flies under the radar as a promising young receiver but the second-year pro leads the Giants with 729 receiving yards. The Cowboys couldn't keep him under control in the Week 5 matchup as he chalked up his only 100-yard game (eight catches, 129 receiving yards) of the season.
Under Pressure… Daniel Jones
The Giants' QB1 has battled through an assortment of injuries that have robbed him of his trademark athleticism and running skills. Without the ability to threaten the perimeter with his explosiveness, Jones will need to be at his best as a pocket passer. Considering his turnover woes (37 giveaways since 2019, 2nd-most in NFL), the Cowboys could take advantage of a young quarterback forced to play like a sitting duck.
Numbers Game
The Giants have allowed 100-plus rushing yards in each game since Week 13. After surrendered 100-plus yards in one such game in the previous six games from Weeks 6-12. The Giants have watched teams hit the century mark on the ground in four straight games.
Matchup To Watch… James Bradberry vs Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup
The Giants' high-priced cornerback must neutralize Cooper and Gallup to prevent Andy Dalton from enjoying another banner day on Sunday. The long, rangy corner possesses the size to challenge each receiver at the line of scrimmage but his lack of top-end speed could prevent him from maintaining proper positioning down the field. The Giants will attempt to play some man coverage to put an extra defender in the box to slow down Elliott but the veteran must hold his own on the perimeter for the tactics to be effective.
Defensive Scheme
Patrick Graham deserves a ton of credit for building a rock-solid defense in New York. He built the scheme around the Giants' formidable defensive line with Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Dalvin Tomlinson controlling the trenches. Graham creates opportunities for his trench warriors by utilizing a variety of stunts, games, and designed line movement to blow up opponents' run blocking patterns and pass protection schemes. In coverage, the Giants will mix in man, zone, and blitz-zone coverages to confuse quarterbacks while also keeping the ball in front of the defense. The clever defensive coordinators want to force opponents to drive the ball the length of the field without surrendering big plays that flip the field. The Giants' defense is fundamentally sound with 11 defenders committed to running to the ball, gang tackling, and playing with outstanding discipline.
