[jwplayer rl0KQWmM-ThvAeFxT]
The New York Giants have been scouring every and all avenues in an attempt to generate a pass rush. They selected Oshane Ximines in last year’s draft, re-signed their top sacker from a year ago in Markus Golden and added Green Bay outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell in free agency.
The 28-year-old Fackrell, a 6-foot-5, 245 pounder selected by the Packers in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Utah State, registered 10.5 sacks in 2018. One of the linebacker coaches on that club was one Patrick Graham, who now happens to be the Giants’ defensive coordinator.
Fackrell told reporters that Graham was actually the inside linebackers coach while he played on the outside. He still knows Graham very well and the type of defense that he likes to employ.
“It’s similar in a lot of ways (to Green Bay’s), especially they’re both 3-4 schemes” Fackrell told reporters Thursday. “But I think it’s kind of similar to the Patriots scheme, which is a little bit of what Pat has done before. On third downs and in those rush situations, there’s a little bit more creativity I would say with Pat’s defense.”
Making the transition to the Giants will also be eased by the fact that another former Packer, Blake Martinez, will be the Giants’ signal caller at inside linebacker. Fackrell has a strong relationship with Martinez.
“Yeah, definitely,” he replied when asked if Martinez can be the leader of the defense. “Especially because the whole team really, but definitely the defense, is very, very young. He’s done a great job of kind of stepping up and filling that role. That’s kind of the role of the Mike linebacker anyways. Yeah, he’s done well with that.”
And speaking of those young players, outside of the veteran Golden, Fackrell will by vying for snaps against the likes of Ximines and Lorenzo Carter as well as rookie Carter Coughlin. He sized up the group as such:
“A lot of talent, honestly. A lot of raw ability,” Fackrell said. “I think we’ve been working, we’ve been getting a lot better in the one on ones and everything. That work has been great. We were watching some clips from last year with pressures and stuff. As a rookie, X produced. I think he had four, four and a half sacks, which is awesome for a rookie. The same kind of thing with Zo. He’s going into his third year.
“I think it’ll be… It’s a fun room, it’s a fun group to be a part of. The mixture of us as outside linebackers as well as all the talent in the interior d-line. I think third down is going to be a fun down.”
That’s exactly what the Giant fans want to hear. Third downs haven’t been much fun around here in quite some time.
[lawrence-related id=654728,654710,654719]