How Shane Bowen’s Giants defense differs from Wink Martindale’s

[MightyGiants]

Not a bad article on a topic of interest

https://nypost.com/2024/09/04/sports/what-giants-new-look-defense-under-shane-bowen-will-look-like/?sr_share=twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost_sports&utm_medium=social

[Ed Vette]

The article doesn't say much and it leads the reader to believe that there will be no Man Coverage. I doubt that but if that were to be the case, then Offenses will target the vulnerabilities based on the Depth of the Coverage. If he's simply running a Cover one, it exposes the sidelines. Cover Two, the middle of the field, Cover four, the Flats. What is going to be important is the communication that takes place before the snap. How are they deploying the SS in Cover One, Robber, Man or a 5th Rusher? Do they disguise and creep up in Cover 2? When do the LBs have coverage responsibilities based on pre-snap movement? Does the MLB Thief or the FS Lurk, adjusting on the fly?

Zone is a misnomer because often Zone Defenders wind up in Man. My guess is that this Defense will be Multiple  and there will be times when the Corners are Man Up or they drop back in Quarters Coverage. 3-4 and 5 on the LOS. There will be situations where the Defense will be in Cover 3 and I'm curious what he does as the field gets shorter and at what point are they in Cover 0.

Regardless, I'm hoping they take better angles and understand what the players around them are doing, and most of all Tackle better. I would also expect to see Man Coverage against Pure Pocket Passers and Zone more facing mobile QBs. A lot of this is dictated by Down and Distance. Some Zone alignments are not best stopping the Run with 5 in the Box. How they disguise and how the DBs are shaded to work with the Deep Coverage remains to be seen. QBs and Receivers will be looking to exploit what they are doing. Utilizing the RB's and TE's in the passing game will require quick decisions by the defense, especially since so many Offenses use Mesh concepts 3-5 yards out and are covered by the LBs and the Box Safety.

There is no one fits all rule in the NFL.