Coughlin’s move inside is big boost for LB corps

Carter Coughlin’s encouraging play at inside linebacker was one of the silver linings to the Giants’ 12-7 preseason opening loss to the Jets.

Coughlin, a 2020 seventh-round pick out of Minnesota, was an edge rusher as a rookie who dabbled at inside backer in practice late in the season. Now he’s made the move to the inside, and it looks like a good fit.

He made five tackles on Saturday, recorded a sack and forced fumble, made a tackle for a loss, and had two pressures and a 91.8 Pro Football Focus grade on 24 snaps.

It’s also obvious Coughlin likes playing his new position.

“I really, really like being off the ball,” Coughlin, 24, said postgame. “It’s been really, really fun to work on. It was fun to do that on the scout team last year and get kind of a feel for it and then really dig into it during camp and get those off-the-ball reps.”

It would be no small development if Coughlin could give the Giants 10 or more serviceable snaps on the inside per game, which is obviously related to the coaches’ decision to move him there.

The Giants lack depth behind Blake Martinez and took another hit when second-year backer TJ Brunson tore his ACL against the Jets.

The team signed veteran Todd Davis early in camp as a projected veteran contributor, but Davis retired only two days after signing.

There will be plenty of snaps when coordinator Pat Graham only uses one linebacker, Martinez, and has strong safety Jabrill Peppers down near the line almost as a second backer in a three-safety look.

If Coughlin can bring the pass rush and instincts he showed Saturday, then Graham may be able to patchwork a serviceable pairing for Martinez in key spots between the athletic Tae Davis, Coughlin and run-stopper Reggie Ragland.

Devante Downs would be here for special teams if he made the roster.

Coughlin, a regular special teamer as a rookie, didn’t play his first defensive snap until Week 6 of last season against Washington.

He had an early hamstring injury, was a healthy scratch in Week 4 at the Rams, and logged only 14 defensive snaps before the Week 11 bye.

But he averaged 29 defensive snaps over the Giants’ final six games, and now he seems to be taking to a new position that he’s still growing into.

“When you’re playing outside linebacker, your key is right in front of you,” Coughlin said. “When you take a step back [on the inside], you’ve got a couple of different keys and you’re able to see the big picture and get the safety calls.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I’ve got to get better at,” Coughlin added. “There’s a couple of plays that stick out in my mind that I should have made. So this week I’m gonna dig into the film and take the constructive criticism and be better next week.”