The New York Giants’ protection can have a brand new look and new angle underneath not too long ago employed coordinator Shane Bowen.
Bowen, who held the identical place the previous few seasons with the Tennessee Titans, can have a stable base to work with, most notably defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.
Okereke, who led the Giants in tackles this season in his first yr with Massive Blue underneath coordinator Wink Martindale, was making the rounds on Radio Row on the Tremendous Bowl in Las Vegas this week. He instructed the New York Publish that he and Bowen are already in contact.
“Had an important dialog with him,” Okereke stated on Friday. “I’m very excited.
“I’m excited, actually, how briskly we jelled primarily based on the dialog we had. We sat there and talked ball for about 10 minutes, speaking to him about my experiences, taking part in with Matt Eberflus within the Cowl-2 system, taking part in with Gus Bradley within the Cowl 3-system, and clearly taking part in with Wink within the blitz-man system. … Excited to immerse myself in what they do, what we do now. Simply excited to begin taking part in soccer once more.”
Okereke and Lawrence gained’t be the one items Bowen is inheriting. Cornerback Deonte Banks, exterior linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and fellow inside linebacker Micah McFadden are additionally in that group.
Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden have been the one two LB’s to have over 100 tackles, at the least 10 TFL and be on the identical group. Probably the greatest LB duos within the NFL this yr. pic.twitter.com/SCGFI1bPnx
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) February 8, 2024
Okereke had the most effective season of his five-year NFL profession with a team-high 149 tackles and likewise set profession highs in passes defensed (10), pressured fumbles (4), sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (six) whereas taking part in each single defensive snap (1,128) for the Giants this yr.
Okereke will possible be requested to put on the headset once more subsequent season to name the defensive indicators. He acknowledges that Bowen’s system is way totally different than that of Martindale’s blitzing routine that he flourished in final yr. There shall be modifications.
“We’re gonna simplify it. Everyone’s gonna know precisely what we’re gonna do. There’s not gonna be too many wrinkles. We’re gonna play very essentially sound soccer,” Okereke stated. “We’ll most likely run a very good little bit of 3-4, a very good little bit of 4-3, good little bit of quarters, a very good little bit of Cowl-2, Cowl-5, so we’re all excited.”
Okereke was requested if the modifications can be for the higher.
“I feel will probably be an excellent factor,” Okereke stated. “That was my expertise my first couple of video games adjusting to the Wink system. I acquired to deliver lots of the instruments I realized in earlier methods and included it into Wink’s system. I feel all people’s gonna undergo that very same adjustment and it’s gonna be significantly better type.
“Lots of the instruments, lots of the basic teachings we had from Wink, that’s ingrained in us, that’s a part of our toolbelt and now we will go incorporate it in a unique protection with a unique play model. It’s solely gonna assist.”
As for the rift between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll, Okereke had this to say.
“Clearly knew there was some pressure there,” Okereke stated. “You bought two alpha coaches, everybody’s not at all times going to get alongside.
“Positively wouldn’t have forecast it that Wink wouldn’t be our coach on the finish of the yr however very glad for him to get the Michigan job, and speaking to Shane, I’m very enthusiastic about it, so I feel all of it works out.”