Big Blue Huddle

Who would be your starting four defensive backs if you had to put together the best secondary possible comprised of Giants who were on the team anytime from the 2000 season on?

There is no minimum amount of time that the player had to be on the team since 2000, but you can only base this on the players' single best season in a Giants' uniform. What they may have done on any other team is irrelevant, and there are no extra points for having had many good seasons on the Giants instead of just one or two. You're basing this solely on the player's best single season on the Giants in 2000 or later, even if they were only on the team for a year or two.

So, who are your two corners and two safeties?

Corners: Corey Webster, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Safeties: Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown

CBs  Jason Seahorn, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Safeties-  Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle

If we're going by single best season since 2000.

Corners: DRC and Corey Webster

Safties: Landon Collins and Antrel Rolle

Interesting that so far nobody has Bradberry in there. He was an all pro for us in 2022.

I think I'd have Bradberry and DRC at the corners, with Rolle and Collins at safety.

Even though Collins has fallen out of favor with Giants fans, there is no denying that he was absolutely sensational in 2016. First team all pro that year.

maybe the sad side of this thread is that over 25 years we're only mentioning a rather small group of players [4 positions, not one like TE or qb] to be part of this conversation.  Lack of depth, typically short tenures [injury or FA],  and reliance on guys like holmes reflect the weak pool of DB's we've had.

Quote from: President Rick on July 07, 2024, 10:28:35 AMmaybe the sad side of this thread is that over 25 years we're only mentioning a rather small group of players [4 positions, not one like TE or qb] to be part of this conversation.  Lack of depth, typically short tenures [injury or FA],  and reliance on guys like holmes reflect the weak pool of DB's we've had.

That is a fair and accurate observation, but not one without some context.

Over the past several decades, when our team has been good, it seems to have always prioritized D line/pass rush over elite secondary play. That is not to say we don't ever have good defensive backs, but it has been more about our D-line and edge guys. I can think of other organizations who have been successful who have had a similar philosophy when their teams have been strong, such as the Steelers. Dominating the D line and getting to the QB has been a hallmark of all of our Super Bowl championship teams.

I am aware however that modern analytics seems to prioritize d-backs over other positions on defense. The Pats for example have always (meaning always since the dawn of the Belichick era ie basically this millennium) been big believers in having top notch d-backs. Do we need to evolve in this respect? I honestly don't know. What I do know is I'm looking forward to hopefully watching Burns and Thibs wreak havoc behind the line of scrimmage all season.

We've had a lot of trouble finding corners the past decade. Not safeties just corners.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on July 07, 2024, 11:03:28 AMThat is a fair and accurate observation, but not one without some context.

Over the past several decades, when our team has been good, it seems to have always prioritized D line/pass rush over elite secondary play. That is not to say we don't ever have good defensive backs, but it has been more about our D-line and edge guys. I can think of other organizations who have been successful who have had a similar philosophy when their teams have been strong, such as the Steelers. Dominating the D line and getting to the QB has been a hallmark of all of our Super Bowl championship teams.

I am aware however that modern analytics seems to prioritize d-backs over other positions on defense. The Pats for example have always (meaning always since the dawn of the Belichick era ie basically this millennium) been big believers in having top notch d-backs. Do we need to evolve in this respect? I honestly don't know. What I do know is I'm looking forward to hopefully watching Burns and Thibs wreak havoc behind the line of scrimmage all season.

In the book about PFF, they talked about the defensive paradox.  According to analytics, the secondary has more impact on defensive success than the pass rush, but secondaries have more variation (in terms of success) from season to season than the pass rush does (sacks may vary, but the pressure is usually consistent).

Safety: Landon Collins and Antrel Rolle
CB: DRC and Webster.

Honorable mention: Aaron Ross. Every time he joined the team, the team went to the Super Bowl (when he was a rookie and when Jacksonville released him). 

With 3 WR sets the norm, I think a base secondary is 5 DBs so I'd go with this line up:

CB Adoree Jackson
NB Antrel Rolle
FS Kenny Phillips
SS Landon Collins
CB Dominque Rogers-Cromartie

I wasn't sure whether Giants all 21st century secondary was meant to mean the best 2 CBs/2 Safeties who played since 2000, whether or not at the same time, until a quick Roster review made clear that there were as many as 3, but not really 4 of those DBs who have been mentioned who actually played back there together. Once was in 2012 when Stevie Brown had his one good year with the Giants at SS alongside FS-Antrel Rolle, and LCB-Corey Webster. I suppose we could add Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley who did the work at RCB.

That might be the best combo they've had during those 24 seasons to date. Or perhaps, 2015 with Landon Collins, Rodgers-Cromartie, and the Prince. Then again, maybe fast forward to 2021 with James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson at the Corners, and Xavier McKinney at FS, and Logan Ryan/Julian Love at SS?

Cheers!