[jwplayer mBxpxGO4-ThvAeFxT]
So much for building off a promising rookie year.
Defensive back Julian Love, who was projected to have a breakout campaign in 2020 by numerous outlets including ESPN and Pro Football Focus, has had a disappointing start to his sophomore season. That tough start hit rock bottom in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys when he logged zero defensive snaps.
Love’s snap count has seen a steady decline since he suffered an ankle and knee injury that limited his playing time to just 17 snaps in Week 4. And now it appears that he’s been benched in favor of former seventh-round pick Adrian Colbert, who has started at free safety the previous two weeks.
After a solid showing by Love in 2019 (37 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three pass bat downs, and an interception), the Giants were expecting big things out of him in year two.
Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned.
After rookie second rounder Xavier McKinney fractured his foot during training camp, Love was forced to takeover at free safety.
Through the first five games of the regular season, Love has made a minimal impact in this role with 20 tackles (one for a loss), one interception and one pass defensed. He also holds a minuscule PFF grade of 43.3 and has surrendered two touchdowns while allowing a passer rating of 118.7.
Love was initially expected to be the Swiss Army knife for the Giants’ secondary this season, but instead, veteran Logan Ryan snatched away the part.
So far, Love is not thriving in Patrick Graham’s system nor have his abilities been properly utilized by this coaching staff.
From the day Joe Judge arrived in East Rutherford, he preached that he was not going to attempt to jam square pegs into round holes regarding personnel.
If he is going to stay true to his word, then Love should be used to his strength in a hybrid type role lining up in the box, where he can roam around the line of scrimmage. Love saw success in a similar spot as a rookie while filling in for Jabrill Peppers.
It makes little sense for a player of Love’s caliber to be sitting on the bench.
Rather than exiling him to the pine, it’s up to the coaching staff to figure out how to use a player that’s supposed to be a key long-term piece to the puzzle that can help their defense moving forward.
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