Most Indispensable #2: Justin Tuck
What Brandon Jacobs does for the Giants’ offense, Justin Tuck does for the defense. The 6-5, 274 pound monster is as threatening a presence as there is in the NFL (save for maybe Ray Lewis). With 10 and 12 sacks in the last two years respectively, Tuck is primed for a true breakout year. Tuck was on pace for 17 sacks mid-way through the 2008 season, before fatigue and the flu caused his play to deteriorate.
When Tuck was not himself down the stretch last season, the pass rush struggled. Tuck was playing his first full season as a starter, and it finally got to him. Tuck was not himself in the playoff loss to the Eagles, and the Giants pass rush generated no pressure.
With the return of Osi Umenyiora and the addition of Chris Canty, Tuck will be able to see some much needed rest, allowing him to stay fresh down the stretch. But make no mistake about it; Tuck is still easily the most important and most well rounded member of this defense.
Like Michael Strahan before him, Tuck is a player that opposing offenses will gameplan for. He will see tons of double teams, which will allow the rest of the talented front seven to exploit one-on-one matchups. Take Tuck away and suddenly the pass rush is good, not great, and the rest of the defense suffers.
The success of the Giants defense revolves around one simple strategy: rushing the quarterback. A great defense starts up front, and an effective pass rush makes everything easier. The question marks in the linebacking core will be made less pressing by a great pass rush. The lack of a veteran presence in the defensive backfield will be nullified by a great pass rush. Pressuring the quarterback not only creates sacks, but it gets the entire offense out of rhythm.
Former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi used to say “you can never have too many pass rushers,” and current GM Jerry Reese has taken that advice to heart. The pass rush is the soul of the defense, and Justin Tuck is the heart that makes it beat.
