{"id":116311,"date":"2021-06-11T11:13:24","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T15:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=116311"},"modified":"2021-06-11T11:13:24","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T15:13:24","slug":"forecasting-the-new-york-giants-second-year-linebackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/06\/11\/forecasting-the-new-york-giants-second-year-linebackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Forecasting the New York Giants Second-Year Linebackers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>All hope seemed lost\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/giants\/\" target=\"_self\">New York Giants<\/a> last year after injuries struck its defense. But four unheralded rookies &#8212; Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown, Tae Crowder, and Niko Lalos &#8212; provided excellent depth. None of these Giants second-year linebackers were selected before the sixth round in the NFL Draft. Yet their impact on both defense and special teams quietly helped the Giants stay in playoff contention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent draftees and free agent additions to the New York linebacking corps might reduce some of these sophomores\u2019 roles. But limited playing time may not prevent them from contributing. After all, only Crowder was a consistent starter last year. Here\u2019s what to expect from each of the Giants second-year linebackers in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Projecting Roles for New York Giants Second-Year Linebackers\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Tae Crowder<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Giants selected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CrowTa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tae Crowder<\/a> with the final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making him that year\u2019s \u201cMr. Irrelevant.\u201d Despite the nickname, Crowder was a key piece of the Giants defense. In 11 games, he racked up 57 tackles and became a starter at inside linebacker next to Blake Martinez. He also returned a fumble for a game-winning touchdown against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/washington-football-team\/\" target=\"_self\">Washington Football Team<\/a> in Week 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">TAE CROWDER MAKING A HOUSE CALL \ud83d\udea8 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TaeCrowder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TaeCrowder<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Giants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Giants<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WASvsNYG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WASvsNYG<\/a> on FOX <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/l9SLvZwmZL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/l9SLvZwmZL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thecheckdown\/status\/1317916125439557632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Crowder started last year, he\u2019ll have to win the job in training camp. The Giants brought in Reggie Ragland in free agency, who will at least take on some of Crowder\u2019s snaps barring injury. And with Azeez Ojulari and Lorenzo Carter <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/05\/03\/edge-azeez-ojulari-elevates-new-york-giants-defense\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">primed for important roles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham might sit Crowder on third downs in favor of pass-rushing edge rushers. Nevertheless, Crowder shows a ton of potential and will provide great depth. In a league where injuries are commonplace, that\u2019s a necessity. Of all the Giants second-year linebackers, Crowder should earn the most snaps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Carter Coughlin<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CougCa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carter Coughlin<\/a>, a seventh-round draft pick out of Minnesota, didn\u2019t see much action until injuries depleted Big Blue\u2019s linebacking corps later in the season. The Giants spent a large part of the year converting him from an outside linebacker &#8212; his college position &#8212; to an inside linebacker. However, when Kyler Fackrell suffered a calf injury, Coughlin filled in well at both inside and outside linebacker during New York\u2019s four-game winning streak. He was also a mainstay on special teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughlin has been practicing with the inside linebackers in training camp thus far, so it looks like he will stick with that position. With Crowder, Martinez, and Ragland ahead of him on the depth chart, it\u2019s unlikely that Coughlin will get much playing time. But his versatility and solid pass-rushing skills make him valuable on blitz packages. That should earn Coughlin plenty of third-down snaps. And his familiarity with Patrick Graham\u2019s scheme gives him an edge over newcomers for any starting spots that open up due to injury.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cam Brown<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BrowCa01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cam Brown<\/a>, a sixth-round draft pick, mostly played on special teams in his rookie year. Using his 6\u20195\u201d, 234-pound frame, he thrived in that role. Brown\u2019s physicality on kickoffs and punt coverages won him praise from the coaching staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c[Brown] has a big upside,\u201d special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/giantswire.usatoday.com\/2020\/10\/16\/new-york-giants-thomas-mcgaughey-cam-brown-70-million-potential\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said in October<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He\u2019s a good kid and he works his tail off. I tell him all the time, I think he has $70 million walking around inside of him. It\u2019s up to him to tap it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That potential should guarantee Brown a spot on the 2021 roster. Like Coughlin, he likely won\u2019t see the field on defense too often &#8212; especially in the first few weeks of the season. But the outside linebacker will be a leader on Big Blue\u2019s special teams unit. If Brown can turn heads there, he could slide up the pass-rushing depth chart as the year goes along.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Niko Lalos<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LaloNi00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Niko Lalos<\/a> came out of nowhere to become a key piece on the Giants defense during their midseason winning streak. The undrafted free agent started 2020 on the practice squad, but the Giants called him up to the active roster before their Week 12 game against the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/bengals\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Lalos caught a game-changing interception that led to a 19-17 win and then recovered a Russell Wilson fumble in a 17-12 upset against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/seahawks\/\" target=\"_self\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> the next week.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is amazing \u2014 called on and making his NFL debut, former <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DartFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@DartFootball<\/a> defender Niko Lalos with an INT in his first ever game. <\/p>\n<p>Never give up. Never let em tell you that you can\u2019t make it.  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VuwjPPtz7s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/VuwjPPtz7s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CamMellor\/status\/1333143086747291648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 29, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Giants converted Lalos from a 4-3 defensive-end to an edge. As another outside linebacker in a crowded pass-rushing room, Lalos may not even make the 53-man roster. He should, however, find a spot on the practice squad. Lalos\u2019 ball awareness and knack for making big plays will make him the first in line to get called up if anyone on the Giants defense gets hurt. Those skills could also translate well to special teams. Assuming injuries don\u2019t decimate the New York linebackers, he could play a role similar to Cam Brown\u2019s last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: <a id=\"Xn8tluyzSQBXFBAh9_c7bw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1291060458\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Xn8tluyzSQBXFBAh9_c7bw',sig:'C_UAgRtPn8biL6bXYTfZR347ffU8dORlSx541JKOT3s=',w:'594px',h:'417px',items:'1291060458',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Four Giants second-year linebackers provided great depth in 2020. None were drafted before the sixth round. Will they continue to contribute?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3850,"featured_media":116338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,54],"tags":[6405,6581,7648,92,7195,7180],"class_list":["post-116311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-giants","category-editorials","tag-cam-brown","tag-carter-coughlin","tag-giants-featured","tag-new-york-giants","tag-niko-lalos","tag-tae-crowder"],"modified_by":"Mason Smoller, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3850"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}