The New York Giants are going to the Super Bowl and a lot can be said that their defense has playing very well the last 6 weeks. The defense as a whole deserves a lot of credit and well deserving. But I believe that pass rushing group got healthy at the right time and are playing at their best at this stage of the season. This pass rushing group sets the tone for that defense. The pass rushing group consists of Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, and Dave Tollefson.

Sacks

Osi Umenyiora : 9.0

Jason Pierre-Paul : 16.5

Justin Tuck : 5.0

Dave Tollefson : 5.0

Mathias Kiwanuka : 3.5

This defense is very unique in that anytime they can have four of these defensive ends out there and bring tons of pressure with blitzing. These guys make life easier for the corners and safeties. Most corners worry about receivers beating them over the top. The Giants with the ability to get pressure without blitzing gives the ability for the corners to not worry about deep throws since opposing quarterbacks do not have the time to let the receiver’s progress down the field. Also this makes teams keep tight ends in to help with blocking or to chip before going out on routes. These all make life easier for the coverage guys. The Giants become a dominant team when their pass rushers bring the pressure on the quarterback. When they do not they become a very ordinary defense. This was the case at times this year. Umenyiora and Tuck missed many games this year and limited that pass rushing group. The other key that has helped this defense is that Eli Manning does not turn the ball over very much and has not put his defense in bad positions. The major difference between the Giants pass rushing ability and some of the other groups out there is they have so much depth and all of these guys have different moves to beat the offensive linemen.

This defense has stepped up these playoffs beating three very quality teams. Against all three teams they were able to get pressure without blitzing and it showed as they put their linebackers and corners all out in coverage. This gives them the ability to mix and match coverage and confuse opposing quarterbacks. At times of the game they would play four defensive ends and just blitz with them not worrying about the running game and just provides even more pressure.

Most teams in the league do not have the options the Giants have. Most teams need to blitz to bring pressure on quarterbacks or they play with top tier corners and try to cover the secondary as best as possible. Some teams may have one or two very good pass rushers and they provide all the sacks on the quarterback. The difference is the Giants depth and the ability to rotate these guys in and keeping a fresh body at all times. Teams that have to blitz leave their secondary in one on one coverage and if the line can protect the quarterback it is easy pickings for the quarterback. The Giants do not need to blitz and so they always have a couple of guys out there to cover.

This coming weekend is the Super Bowl against one of the best QB Tom Brady and the Patriots. They must continue their ability to get pressure with their front four because they need as many guys out there to cover the different offensive formations. The uniqueness of the defense makes it one of the hardest to play against and beat as well.