‘D’, JPP look in midseason form
The regular season is still two weeks away. There are plenty of practices remaining and one preseason game left to be played.
But if the Giants’ defense had to face the Cowboys tomorrow, it looks more than ready.
In their final dress rehearsal before the games count for real, Big Blue’s starters tormented Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg, and toyed with their rival’s offensive line, keying a 32-31 victory in the Met Life Bowl that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score might indicate.
“We were ready since Week 1 [of the preseason],” safety Landon Collins said. “We’ve been ready.”
Jason Pierre-Paul and Collins, two of the big stars on this treacherous unit, appear to be in midseason form. Pierre-Paul registered a safety, knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage, had two tackles for losses, and had a sack. Collins expertly read Hackenberg’s mind on a play-action pass, stepped in front of tight end Eric Tomlinson, and scored on a 23-yard pick-six.
The Giants’ first-team defense, which has yet to allow a touchdown this preseason, was responsible for 16 first-half points, the other score coming on a Donte Deayon pick-six of 36 yards, after Janoris Jenkins separated Jets receiver Robby Anderson from the ball. Casillas and Darian Thompson had sacks of Hackenberg, and the Giants’ first-team defense allowed just 127 total yards.
“We scored points on de- fense, and to be the defense we want to be, I think that’s where we need to go,” linebacker Jonathan Casillas said, referring to a unit that was 10th in the league in yards allowed and second in points given up per game (17.8). “Creating turnovers, wreaking havoc in the backfield, a lot of pressure on the quarterback [are our goals], and I think we did that today.”
Pierre-Paul was the most impressive player on the field. On the safety, when he tackled Matt Forte in the end zone, he went by Jets right tackle Brandon Shell like he wasn’t there. Later in the first half, on a speed rush, he clubbed Shell to the ground, a la Reggie White.
It was reminiscent of the old JPP, the pre-accident player. Pierre-Paul has come a long way from the fireworks mishap on July 4, 2015, that cost him his index finger and most of his middle digit. A year ago, in just 12 games due to a core muscle injury, he notched seven sacks and 53 tackles, showing signs of returning to form.
“I don’t know what he looked liked before [the accident], because I wasn’t with him, but he’s the best I’ve ever seen him. By far, not even close,” Casillas said. “He’s one of the dominant players in the league and I think he’s fully back from where he was at before the accident.”
Pierre’s Paul’s careerhigh for sacks is 16.5, way back in 2011. He was asked if he could set a new mark this year, and smiled.
“I think I can,” Pierre-Paul said. “I’m just getting warmed up, though.”