Bromley, Tomlinson eye job on Giants' defense
Bromley, Tomlinson look to replace Hankins as the starting defensive right tackle for N.Y.
The battle for the defensive right tackle spot for the Giants is between Jay Bromley and Dalvin Tomlinson.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » The battle to replace Johnathan Hankins at defensive right tackle for the New York Giants has come down to Jay Bromley and Dalvin Tomlinson.
Both have split the work with the first team in recent weeks in training camp and they both looked good in the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.
Having Tomlinson compete for the job is not a surprise. The former Alabama product was the Giants’ second-round draft pick and it was expected he would get a shot to play next to left tackle Damon Harrison after Hankins signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent.
Bromley has been a surprise at camp. A third-round pick out of Syracuse in 2014, he has not showed much in his first three seasons. Some wondered whether he would make the team with Robert Thomas and veteran Corbin Bryant and rookie free agent Josh Banks in the mix.
Instead, he has made plays since camp started and he opened more eyes Friday by combining with safety Landon Collins to stop Fitzgerald Toussaint for a 1-yard loss on a third-and-1 run from Steelers 28 on Pittsburgh’s second possession.
“I just want to go out there and make the plays that I know I can make,” Bromley said after the game. “I know I can make those plays and I want to consistently make those plays. That’s the only goal that I have, to make the plays that I know I can make.”
Bromley said he hasn’t come to camp with a new approach. He feels that everything that he has learned in his first three
seasons is finally starting to sink in. He is not worried about mistakes and the result is that he is playing faster.
That style has afforded him the chance to win the starting job.
“I believe I have what it takes to be the starting defensive tackle and that’s my goal,” said Bromley, who finished with three tackles in the game, one less than Tomlinson, who probably had more playing time. Tomlinson said it was exciting to play in his first NFL game, noting the game was a little faster than college.