Pro Football Focus heaped praise on the Giants defense this season. Not so much for the offensive side of the ball. Where they don’t even have Odell Beckham ranked in the top 50. They do however have several Giant defenders ranked in the top 50 with Landon Collins taking the top spot at 8th overall. Below are the rankings of the Giants players revealed on the “Pro Football Focus Top 101 Players Of 2016”.
From Pro Football Focus
“8.Landon Collins, S, New York Giants (unranked)
There is no greater advertisement for the difference finding the right role can make than Landon Collins’ 2016 season. A year ago, he was a rookie disappointment that had floundered as the deep-lying free safety in the Giants’ defensive scheme. In 2016, though, he was moved closer to the action as their strong safety and became reborn as a true impact playmaker. Collins was everywhere for the Giants this year, impacting the run, covering receivers close to the line and even causing havoc as a pass-rusher on the blitz. He had a very real Defensive Player of the Year case and won PFF’s Breakout Player award.
Best performance: Week 16 vs. Eagles, 87.2 grade
Key stat: Collins recorded 46 defensive stops over the regular season, eight more than any other safety.
30. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, New York Giants (unranked)
The Giants brought in two new corners this past offseason: first-round rookie Eli Apple and free-agent acquisition Janoris Jenkins (formerly with the Rams). That left the team in a situation of three players for two starting spots, and caused them to ask Rodgers-Cromartie to play snaps in the slot; he responded with excellent play. Rodgers-Cromartie ended the year on fire, making several crucial plays in the final games of the season. He ended the year with six interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
Best performance: Week 17 vs. Redskins, 92.0 grade
Key stat: When targeted, Rodgers-Cromartie gave up a passer rating of just 56.6 to opposing quarterbacks.
40. Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants (unranked)
Janoris Jenkins was a player who didn’t draw rave reviews from Pro Football Focus a season ago when the Giants paid him big money in free agency. Simply put, he had never put it all together with the Rams, and was still far more potential than actual production. In the 2016 season, though, Jenkins’ performance was dramatically better. His play was highlighted by his coverage of Cowboys WR Dez Bryant late in the season, holding Bryant to just one catch for 10 yards, and forcing a fumble on the tackle the one time the receiver did catch the ball.
Best performance: Week 14 vs. Cowboys, 97.0 grade
Key stat: Jenkins allowed just 50 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught, 11.7 percent lower than his previous career best.
44. Damon Harrison, DI, New York Giants (77)
Damon Harrison is the best run defender in the league, and if this was a different era, we would be talking about him as one of the most dominant forces in the entire game. His work against the run is on another level, and he once again led the league in run-stop percentage and run stops among interior defenders. He made 52 defensive stops this season, which led all interior defenders, but 49 run stops, which led all interior defenders by 10. Only eight players were able to amass more than half of Harrison’s total, and he retained PFF’s Best Run Defender Award.
Best performance: Week 12 vs. Browns, 86.4 grade
Key stat: Harrison made a run stop on 15.8 percent of run plays, 3.9 percent better than any other NFL defensive tackle.”
The Rest Of The Top 101 Players Of 2016 PFF
