ESPN praises Giants defense heading into Week 1
The Giants defense put up a strong performance in 2020, finishing 9th in points and 12th in yards allowed in the league. However, if you look closer the numbers get even more impressive. Patrick Graham's unit ranked 5th in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed, while the defense's red zone percentage of just 50.8 percent touchdowns allowed finished 2nd.
With most of last year's starting defense returning, along with several talented newcomers now in the fold, it should come as no surprise that the defense is earning praise heading into the start of the regular season.
ESPN's Mike Clay broke down each team's offense, defense and individual positional groups with Week 1 finally here, and the Big Blue defense ranked No. 10 in the league.
Clay complimented the signing of CB Adoree' Jackson, referring to it as a 'good, underrated signing,' while going on to call the Giants' secondary one of the best in the NFL. The team's cornerbacks came in at No. 6 in Clay's positional rankings, while the safeties ranked No. 11.
In addition to the defensive backfield, the Giants interior defensive line was also complimented by the ESPN writer. Clay ranked the team's IDL No. 4 in the league, led by Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence.
ESPN is not the only media outlet to praise the Giants defense. Earlier this summer, Pro Football Focus ranked the Giants the No. 7 secondary in the league.
"[James] Bradberry's 79.9 coverage grade last season ranked seventh among qualifying cornerbacks in his first year with the Giants," PFF's Ben Linsey wrote. "[Adoree'] Jackson's 82.5 mark in 2019 in his last full season of action ranked sixth. The potential is there for this to be one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL.
"Those two — along with a deep safety group that includes Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan and Xavier McKinney — give defensive coordinator Patrick Graham a lot to work with on the back end."
Additionally, the analytics site also put both Williams and Lawrence on its list of the NFL's top defensive tackles.
View photos of the New York Giants' active 53-man roster as it currently stands.
RB Saquon Barkley
RB Devontae Booker
CB James Bradberry
G Ben Bredeson
RB Gary Brightwell
LB Lorenzo Carter
WR Pharoh Cooper
DB Keon Crossen
LB Tae Crowder
OT Korey Cunningham
P Riley Dixon
TE Evan Engram
QB Jake Fromm
K Graham Gano
FB Cullen Gillaspia
QB Mike Glennon
WR Kenny Golladay
G Will Hernandez
DT Austin Johnson
WR Collin Johnson
DL Raymond Johnson III
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
DB Julian Love
G Wes Martin
LB Benardrick McKinney
S Xavier McKinney
TE Chris Myarick
LB Azeez Ojulari
DB Steven Parker
OT Matt Peart
FB Elijhaa Penny
C Billy Price
LB Reggie Ragland
DB J.R. Reed
LB Quincy Roche
TE Kyle Rudolph
DB Logan Ryan
DT Danny Shelton
WR Sterling Shepard
OL Matt Skura
WR Darius Slayton
LB Elerson G. Smith
OT Nate Solder
OT Andrew Thomas
DT Leonard Williams
Giants bring back Special Teams ace Nate Ebner
The New York Giants have reunited with special teams ace Nate Ebner.
Ebner, who was a team captain in his first season with the Giants in 2020, signed today as the Giants ramp up preparations for Sunday's season opener against the Denver Broncos. Ebner was a free agent after trying out for one of the 12 spots on the United States National Rugby Team that competed in the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Ebner participated in the Games in Rio in 2016.
When Ebner was an Olympian five years ago, he played for the New England Patriots. Giants head coach Joe Judge was the team's special teams coordinator at the time and supported Ebner's Olympic pursuit again this time around.
View photos of Giants defensive back and special teams ace Nate Ebner.
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
United States's Nate Ebner, during the men's rugby sevens match against Brazil at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
David Mayo (55), Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
United States' Nate Ebner during the men's rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) runs off the field before an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a week 1 regular season Monday Night football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on September 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) lines up for the kick off during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a week 14 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on December 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp scrimmage at Met Life Stadium on Friday August 28, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
United States's Nate Ebner, front left, is tackled by Brazil's Stefano Giantorno, left back, during the men's rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a week 14 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on December 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) makes a move on the field in kick coverage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Nate Ebner (43), Logan Ryan (23)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) runs down field during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) in action during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner looks on against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Larry Maurer)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner jogs on the field against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Larry Maurer)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) runs down the field after kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Michael Owens via AP)
Brazil's Daniel Sancery, front, is tackled by United States's Nate Ebner, during the men's rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) drops back in pass coverage during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 17-12. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner in action against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Larry Maurer)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Giants won 19-17. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
United States's Nate Ebner, scores a try during the men's rugby sevens match against Brazil at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) sets up for the kick off during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, NJ. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) in between plays during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, Md. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) defends a kick off during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, Md. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) sets up for the kick off during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, NJ. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) awaits a Pittsburgh Steelers kickoff during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sep. 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Alika Jenner via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) runs during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Chicago. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) warms up during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Nate Ebner (43) gets set for the kick off against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Michael Owens via AP)
United States's Nate Ebner, scores a try during the men's rugby sevens match against Brazil at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nate Ebner (43)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice on Thursday September 3, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday September 1, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner participates during a scrimmage at the NFL football team's training camp, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp scrimmage at Met Life Stadium on Friday August 28, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Nate Ebner (43) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Giants release unofficial depth chart for Week 1 opener vs. Broncos
It’s beginning to look a lot like football everywhere you go.
The Giants broke training camp, released their 53-man roster, and voted on their team captains. Now, they have announced their Week 1 depth chart for Sunday's home opener against the Denver Broncos.
As always, it is subject to change. It simply serves as a guide, more so for the media than the coaches.
"I tell our guys all the time, when they come in, the depth chart is really blank," coach Joe Judge said this summer. "And as we start practicing and they start putting together things on tape, you start filling in names based off of what they're doing. That can change every day. It's really just cumulative. It's what you do consistently day in and day out. Some guys may flash one day, some guys may flash another day, but ultimately you want to go ahead and measure who's consistently dependable, who's productive for you on the field. … They're not written in permanent marker, so at any point, based on who is playing, the best get in that spot."
View photos of the Giants' first unofficial depth chart of the 2021 season.
WR: Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, C.J. Board
TE: Evan Engram, Kaden Smith
RT: Nate Solder, Matt Peart
RG: Will Hernandez, Ben Bredeson
C: Nick Gates, Billy Price
LG: Shane Lemieux, Ben Bredeson
LT: Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart
RB: Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Gary Brightwell
FB: Eli Penny, Cullen Gillaspia
WR: Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney, Collin Johnson
TE: Kyle Rudolph, Kaden Smith
QB: Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon
SLB: Lorenzo Carter, Quincy Roche, Cam Brown
DE: Dexter Lawrence
MLB: Blake Martinez, Reggie Ragland, Justin Hilliard
NT: Austin Johnson, Danny Shelton
WIL: Tae Crowder, Carter Coughlin
DT: Leonard Williams, Raymond Johnson III
OLB: Oshane Ximines, Azeez Ojulari
LCB: James Bradberry, Rodarius Williams, Josh Jackson, Sam Beal
SS: Jabrill Peppers, Julian Love
FS: Logan Ryan, Xavier McKinney
RCB: Adoree' Jackson, Darnay Holmes, Keion Crossen
LS: Casey Kreiter
H: Riley Dixon
P: Riley Dixon
PR: Jabrill Peppers, Adoree' Jackson, Kadarius Toney
KOR: C.J. Board, Jabrill Peppers, Kadarius Toney
K: Graham Gano
Giants Life: The Next Step | Episode 8 - 'Year 2 of Joe Judge Era'
Joe Judge built a strong foundation despite the unprecedented circumstances for a first-year head coach. Now it's time to take the next step. Episode 8, presented by Oakley, goes behind the scenes with the team heading into Year 2.
Limited Tickets Available for Giants vs. Broncos
Limited tickets are available for the Giants' home opener vs. the Broncos on Sunday
