Articles

Will the Giants and Spags bring back the NASCAR Package?

You may not watch NASCAR, but if you’re a Giants fan than you should remember the NASCAR package that was a huge part of the Giants Super Bowl 46 championship run. Perry Fewell’s package of having all 4 down linemen be pass rushing defensive ends. Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora would apply pressure unlike any other team in the NFL that year.

Now fast-forward to present day, the Defensive Coordinator isn’t Fewell, but Spagnuolo knows what he’s doing with his pass rushers. Spags used Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora to put Tom Brady on the ground enough to hand the Patriots their first loss of the season in Super Bowl 42.

Spagnuolo now has a different unit but the goal is the same, get after the quarterback. It may be months before training camp kicks off but the Giants pass rush already looks like it improved from 2015. Reese resigned JPP for another season as he looks to prove that he can still be a dominant defensive end in the NFL.  The big off-season signing of former Dolphins Defensive End Olivier Vernon will make a huge impact on the other side of JPP and complete the bookend.  However, two guys that want to prove themselves on the NFL level is Kerry Wynn, and Owa Odighizuwa.  With size, strength and speed available, Spag’s could rush, all four at one time.

The Giants have high hopes for Owa. Owa Odighizuwa was a third round pick coming out of UCLA last year and many members of Giants front office expect him to contribute with his skill set.  Unfortunately a season ending hamstring injury prevented him from showing his true potential.

While the new Giants lineup has a long way to go to be compared to the great pass rushes of recent Super Bowl teams, the new roster has potential.  JPP and Kerry Wynn have the ability to rush from the inside utilizing the NASCAR package, while Vernon and Owa can set the edge.   The Giants also now have three Defensive Tackles (Hankins, Bromley and Harrison) that move well for big men and could replace Wynn in the NASCAR package.

Also, it is not out of the question for the Giants to take a player like DeForest Buckner, Shaq Lawson or Emmanuel Ogbah in the draft to solidify the NASCAR front as a reality in 2016.

Tom Peticca (@peticca95)