The New York Giants made a lot of noise on the first day of free agency as they signed Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon and had retained Jason Pierre-Paul the day before. The second day of free agency saw them bring in Keenan Robinson to bolster their linebacker corps. Of all their moves, it might be Harrison who has the biggest impact.
To say the Giants’ run defense was awful last year would be putting it nicely. Not a single defensive lineman had a positive grade against the run last season according to Pro Football Focus, and that includes Johnathan Hankins, who would be lost for the season in Week 9. The Giants finished 24th in the NFL against the run, allowing 1,942 yards on 444 carries for a generous 4.4 yards per carry average. They also allowed 15 rushing touchdowns.
Those numbers don’t even tell the whole story. The Giants allowed opposing teams to convert 90 percent of third-or-fourth-and-short situations. And out of 22 of those situations, opponents converted 20 of them. The Giants also allowed a healthy 3.8 yards per carry on A-gap rushes.
This is where Harrison immediately boosts the Giants’ defense. Over the last four years, Harrison has the fourth-most stops against the run with 117 according to Pro Football Focus. He was a major reason why the New York Jets stuffed 50 percent of opponents’ short yardage plays and allowed only 3.1 yards per carry through the A-gap.
Harrison will also make Hankins more effective against the run and pass. His ability to stuff the middle and use his size and strength should enable Hankins to penetrate like he did in 2014 when playing with a more complete defense. Last season, the Giants failed to exert any pressure against the run or pass, a result of injury and ineffectiveness. Adding Harrison changes the dynamic of the Giants’ defense and should make the rest of the defensive line better.
