The New York Giants’ protection could have a brand new look and new perspective beneath just lately employed coordinator Shane Bowen.
Bowen, who held the identical place the previous few seasons with the Tennessee Titans, could have a strong 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 beneath coordinator Wink Martindale, was making the rounds on Radio Row on the Tremendous Bowl in Las Vegas this week. He instructed the New York Put up that he and Bowen are already in contact.
“Had an incredible dialog with him,” Okereke mentioned on Friday. “I’m very excited.
“I’m excited, actually, how briskly we jelled based mostly 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 start out taking part in soccer once more.”
Okereke and Lawrence received’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 had been the one two LB’s to have over 100 tackles, not less than 10 TFL and be on the identical staff. Top-of-the-line 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 in addition set profession highs in passes defensed (10), compelled 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 doubtless be requested to put on the headset once more subsequent season to name the defensive indicators. He acknowledges that Bowen’s system is far totally different than that of Martindale’s blitzing routine that he flourished in final yr. There might be modifications.
“We’re gonna simplify it. All people’s gonna know precisely what we’re gonna do. There’s not gonna be too many wrinkles. We’re gonna play very basically sound soccer,” Okereke mentioned. “We’ll in all probability run little bit of 3-4, little bit of 4-3, good little bit of quarters, little bit of Cowl-2, Cowl-5, so we’re all excited.”
Okereke was requested if the modifications could be for the higher.
“I feel it will likely be an excellent factor,” Okereke mentioned. “That was my expertise my first couple of video games adjusting to the Wink system. I obtained to carry a variety 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 kind.
“A whole lot of the instruments, a variety of the elemental teachings we had from Wink, that’s ingrained in us, that’s a part of our toolbelt and now we are able to go incorporate it in a special protection with a special 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 rigidity there,” Okereke mentioned. “You bought two alpha coaches, everybody’s not all the time 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 pleased 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.”
