Tag: T.J. Brunson

2020 Giants training camp: Position battles to watch

As the New York Giants ready themselves for padded training camp practices, here are some key positional battles to watch.

Every summer brings NFL training camps and every training camp has their share of roster battles.

With a new coaching staff and a load of new faces to pit against some unproven old faces, the New York Giants’ camp will have quite a number of battles for key positions this year.

AP Photo/Roger Steinman

Offensive tackle

Nate Solder was going to have to prove that he was still left tackle timber this summer before he opted out for the season. So, left tackle was very much in play. Now, it’s their priority.

The Giants are hopeful that first round pick Andrew Thomas slides right in and starts from Day 1. That could still happen. He’ll have plenty of company, though. Third round pick Matt Peart will now be thrust into the mix for the left tackle spot as well.

Right tackle is even more wide open. The loser of the left tackle role will have to fend off veteran free agent Cam Fleming and the Giants’ everyman, Nick Gates. These are the two biggest question marks of the summer.

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2020 Giants training camp: Ranking rookies in terms of importance

As the New York Giants embark on their 2020 training camp journey, Giants Wire ranks all of their rookies in terms of importance.

The New York Giants are likely to have anywhere from 10 to 12 rookies on their 2020 roster. They used all of their 10 choices and went and signed a few undrafted players as well this spring.

Here’s a list of those players in the order of their importance (from most to least).

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle

The fourth overall selection out of Georgia this year is a complete tackle who plays the run and pass protects very well. He can play both the left and the right side. He becomes the most important rookie now that the starting left tackle, Nate Solder, has opted out for this year. The Giants ideally would love to see Andrew Thomas come in at left tackle and own the position from Day 1 and never look back.

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Giants roster outlook: Upgrades, downgrades or lateral moves on defense

Giants Wire examines the New York Giants defense and the changes made this offseason, offering a verdict on each unit.

The New York Giants went into the offseason knowing they had to make some changes on their 25th ranked defense.

General manager Dave Gettleman used his free agent money and seven of his 10 draft picks in an attempt to revamp and revive a group that simply allowed way too many easy scores to opponents in 2019.

Here is a quick rundown on each unit as training camp begins

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Defensive line

Gained: Austin Johnson

Lost: Olsen Pierre

The Giants’ big move was made last October when they traded two draft choices to the Jets for Leonard Williams, an impending free agent. They could not come to an agreement this offseason, so they applied the franchise tag to retain Williams at a price of $16.1 million. He’ll be a starter along with Dalvin Tomlinson and Dexter Lawrence. B.J. Hill, R.J McIntosh and Chris Slayton are returning as well. Johnson will provide some veteran depth.

Verdict: Slight upgrade

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Report: Giants agree to terms with rookie T.J. Brunson

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with seventh-round linebacker T.J. Brunson on his rookie deal.

It’s been a long, drawn-out offseason, but the New York Giants are slowly getting their ducks in a row as rookies, quarterbacks and rehabbing players begin to report to East Rutherford ahead of training camp.

Already the team has signed seventh-round linebacker Tae Crowder and agreed to terms with four others — cornerback Darnay Holmes, offensive linemen Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart, and linebacker Cam Brown — in recent days. But they’re not done yet.

Art Stapleton of The Record and USA TODAY reports that the Giants have also agreed to terms with rookie linebacker T.J. Brunson.

Brunson, 22, was a seventh-round pick of the Giants back in April and will likely factor in on special teams in 2020.

“T.J. played at South Carolina as you guys know. He’s a little bit smaller. He plays the stack Will linebacker. He’s fast, he’s really athletic, he’s got good instincts. He’s just a little bit on the small side but he plays at about 230. We feel like he will be a really good fit and also has a lot of special teams value,” general manager Dave Gettleman said in April.

Four of the Giants’ 10 draft picks remain unsigned or without a contract agreement, including first-round offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

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PFF ranks Giants’ linebackers 23rd in the NFL

Pro Football Focus recently ranked the New York Giants’ linebackers 23rd in the NFL, which is higher than expected.

The New York Giants have been weak at the linebacker position for roughly a decade, and in an effort to combat that, general manager Dave Gettleman went out and signed Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell in free agency, while adding Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown, T.J. Brunson and Tae Crowder through the 2020 NFL Draft.

Is that enough to bolster the unit and prevent it from being a weak point on defense? Time will tell, but at least on paper, things seem improved.

That line of thinking was recently shared by Pro Football Focus, who ranked the Giants’ linebackers 23rd in the NFL — not great, but certainly better-ish.

23. NEW YORK GIANTS

Blake Martinez is the biggest offseason addition after he racked up the tackles over the last few years with the Packers. Martinez has had a quirky career, both at Stanford and in the NFL, as he has a top-10 season against the run (2016) and in coverage (2018), though he has just one year with an overall grade above 70.0 (74.0 overall in 2018). Martinez is a solid player — though the tackle stats are misleading — and he’s yet to put together a high-end season in all facets.

David Mayo was a bright spot last season, ranking second in the league with a 90.1 grade against the run, though he struggled to a 48.8 coverage grade. It was Mayo’s first time playing more than 150 snaps in a season, and he made the most of it. Former fifth-rounder Ryan Connelly also returns after grading at 57.1 across 187 snaps as a rookie.

The Giants added a pair of linebackers in the seventh round in Tae Crowder and T.J. Brunson to round out the depth chart. This group’s success will be determined by which Martinez shows up in his first year as a Giant as well as Mayo’s development in his second year of extended action.

PFF focused more heavily on the inside linebackers than the outside linebackers, which are also a concern for the Giants from a pass rush perspective.

Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines each have untapped potential, while the return of Markus Golden certainly gives the unit more of an edge. Kyler Fackrell should also boost the linebacker production, but there are no guarantees across the board.

The Giants have a lot of questions at the linebacker position and without a preseason, it may be difficult to find answers for quite some time.

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T.J. Brunson ready to bring leadership, tenacity to Giants

T.J. Brunson is tenacious, versatile and a two-time team captain in college. Now, he’s ready to bring that all to the New York Giants.

On Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants used six of their seven selections on defensive players, four of which were linebackers.

All four players don’t exactly fit the physical prototype of the modern day NFL linebacker. T.J. Brunson (6’1″, 230 pounds), selected 238th in the draft, is an inside linebacker that is just a sliver too light for the role.

“He’s a little bit smaller,” said general manager Dave Gettleman said after the draft. “He plays the stack Will linebacker. He’s fast, he’s really athletic, he’s got good instincts. He’s just a little bit on the small side but he plays at about 230. We feel like he will be a really good fit and also has a lot of special teams value.”

Typical Gettleman draft pick. If they aren’t starting material, they must possess that ability to play on special teams. That’s fine with new head coach Joe Judge, who made his bones as a special teams coordinator with New England.

Judge, however, sees Brunson as possibly much more than an end of the roster addition.

“He’s a guy you see making tackles sideline-to-sideline. He’s also a guy in South Carolina’s scheme and (Will) Mushchamp’s scheme down there isn’t the simplest,” said Judge. “Guys have been challenged mentally being down there. They’ve been coached hard. It’s very similar to the guys we talked about playing at Georgia and Alabama. Very similar schemes, very similar cultures. He’s a guy that was out there making a lot of calls so you can see the communication element with him on the field as well as the productivity on the field.”

Brunson was also a two-time captain for the Gamecocks, playing over 2,500 snaps over a three-year career.

“When it comes to durability, I feel like I’m a guy that’s going to just be out there every game, as long as I’m healthy,” Brunson told reporters last week.

“But I’m a guy that’s going to do what it takes to get on the field to help my team out. That just comes with preparation and just how I take care of my body.”

Brunson is also known for his tenacity, something he developed early on in life having two older brothers to keep up with. On the field, he brings that edges that chip on his shoulder that fuels his competitive nature.

“I think I was the guy that just went out there to bring energy and to play fast, but I’ve played Mike, Will and wherever else I needed to line up. There were a few times that I lined up as a single high safety and I was a middle field safety. So, wherever they need me to play, I feel like I’m comfortable and I’m able to do it,” he said.

And that is the story of the Joe Judge Giants — versatility, durability, intelligence with a team-first attitude. Brunson personifies all of that.

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See it: Giants’ 2020 draft class introduces themselves to fans

Watch the New York Giants’ 2020 NFL Draft class introduce themselves to Big Blue Nation.

The 2020 NFL Draft has officially come and gone, and the New York Giants left with 10 brand new players in two — from first-round offensive tackle Andrew Thomas to Mr. Irrelevant, linebacker Tae Crowder.

As each of those players were drafted and put on their brand new Giants cap, they also recorded a video introducing themselves to Big Blue fans across the country.

On Sunday, the Giants compiled those clips and released the video on their various social media outlets.

Check it out:

As a refresher, here’s how the Giants’ draft class breaks down:

  • Round 1, pick 4: Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia
  • Round 2, pick 36: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
  • Round 3, pick 99: Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut
  • Round 4, pick 110: Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA
  • Round 5, pick 150: Shane Lemieux, G, Oregon
  • Round 6, pick 183: Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State
  • Round 7, pick 218: Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
  • Round 7, pick 238: T.J. Brunson, ILB, South Carolina
  • Round 7, pick 247: Chris Williamson, CB, Minnesota
  • Round 7, pick 255: Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia

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2020 Giants draft class: Meet all 10 incoming rookies

Meet the New York Giants’ 2020 NFL Draft class and find out what GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge had to say about each.

The 2020 NFL Draft has now officially come and gone, and for the New York Giants, they have 10 new players in tow, having hung on to each and every one of their picks.

There was a clear theme in the Giants’ approach, who selected only players along the offensive line, in the secondary and at linebacker.

Here’s a quick look at the 10 newest Giants:

Getty Images/Getty Images

OT Andrew Thomas

Round 1, pick No. 4 overall

“Andrew certainly has a hell of a pedigree, a three-year starter in the Southeast Conference. He’s played against some real quality defensive ends during his college career. He has played big time ball in front of a lot of people,” general manager Dave Gettleman said of Thomas. “We spent a lot of time with him off the field as well, numerous conversations. We spoke to him in Indianapolis and we just feel he is ready to make this jump. He’s young, like all these guys are. We feel very strongly that he is ready and capable. He’s going to come in and compete, nothing is being handed to him.

“When I get the chance to talk to him later, I am going to say the same thing to him that I said to Saquon and that I said to Daniel, you have to come in and compete, nothing is getting handed to you. He’s big, he’s long, he’s strong, he can bend. He can anchor in pass (protection). He’s very athletic in the open field, we are just really excited to have him, and continue to build this team properly.”

“I’ll tell you what, his skillset favors his opportunity to come in and contribute. He’s long, he’s a good athlete, he has good short area redirect,” head coach Joe Judge said. “One thing that sticks out about him is when you watch the top pass rushers, with the exception of maybe a couple in this draft, they have to go against him. You watch his college tape and he is going against all the guys that you are going to see get drafted in the next couple of days. He does a heck of job on them, you see him compete, you see him play big in big games and that’s important. He was coached very hard at the University of Georgia and that’s a trait we look for. Guys who can play hard and play on big stages and compete.”

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2020 NFL Draft: Giants select LB T.J. Brunson in Round 7

With their eighth pick (No. 238 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select South Carolina LB TJ Brunson.

With their eighth pick (No. 238 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select South Carolina LB T.J. Brunson.

Bruson represents the third consecutive linebacker taken by the Giants in the draft, coming on the heels of sixth-round pick Cam Brown and seventh-round pick Carter Coughlin.

Here is what The Draft Network had to say about Brunson:

PROS: Decent athlete with solid range. Doesn’t back down from blockers despite lack of great size. Physical mentality that needs further cultivation. Could be a potential third down matchup piece depending how he tests. Tenacious blitzer.

CONS: Exceptionally slow processor who doesn’t trust his keys or play downhill. Not an explosive mover. Takes several steps to get to top speed. Can’t work off of blocks. N.C. State’s outside zone scheme had him lost. Consistently stuck at the second level and reached easily by blockers.

Blew two coverages (Missouri and N.C. State) due to falling dramatically for play fakes. Chases backfield motion and easily manipulated out of position. Needs to wrap up better. Overpursues in space and misses stops as a result. Smaller linebacker, not sure he has the frame to add a lot more weight.

At 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds, Brunson is on the smaller side and clearly needs a lot of development at the NFL level.

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2020 NFL draft: The best LB for the Ravens in each round

The Baltimore Ravens need serious help at inside linebacker but they have a ton of options available to them in the 2020 NFL Draft.

One of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest needs entering the 2020 NFL Draft is at inside linebacker. After decades of having great play at linebacker with guys like Ray Lewis and C.J. Mosley, Baltimore has been trying to find their next star at the position with no luck. After revamping their defensive line this offseason and having a stacked secondary, inside linebacker remains one of the only positions keeping the Ravens from having a truly legendary unit.

Though all the attention will go to prospects in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Baltimore could find key contributors throughout the entire draft. While typical three-down linebackers will go in the first round, the Ravens can find players for niche roles (playing the run or dropping into coverage) all the way to the seventh round if they wish.

With that in mind, I wanted to identify who would be the top target at linebacker in each round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Some of these players might fall into Baltimore’s lap when they pick and others will require the Ravens to trade up to go get them. But these are the best of the best of each round in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

1st round: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

You don’t get any better than Simmons in this draft, which is why he’s widely considered the top linebacker prospect and expected to go in the top 10. However, there is a little contention over where Simmons ends up playing in the NFL. As a more athletic player with insane speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine), Simmons might be better suited to playing safety than a traditional three-down linebacker role.

The Ravens love that type of versatility and would be able to do so many things with a player of Simmons’ caliber. Just imagining defensive coordinator Don Martindale moving Simmons all over the field likely has Baltimore drooling. With a ton of upside, Simmons could be a star in the right scheme and it’s easy to see how the Ravens would be the exact right fit for him.

The problem here is that Baltimore is going to have to absolutely love Simmons for him to be even considered an option. In order to have a shot at drafting Simmons, the Ravens will have to move up pretty far. Even if Simmons falls a little bit, the amount Baltimore would have to give up in a trade to go get him makes it extremely unlikely it happens. Still, for an article pointing to the best in each round, Simmons is that guy in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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