Linebacker Isaiah Simmons is the newest defensive acquisition for the New York Giants, acquired via trade with the Arizona Cardinals for a seventh-round pick in next year's draft.
Simmons is an intriguing addition because his immense athleticism and captivating physique inspire confidence that he can play anywhere on the field. However, the reality may be that those physical attributes have probably been the gift and the curse for Simmons over his short NFL career.
In his three seasons with Arizona, Simmons has lined up all over the field and has been asked to do several different things on the defense, and at one point, he seemed to have his own uniquely made position. But the truth is that in the NFL, being a "jack of all trades and a master of none" is a recipe for inconsistent play, which is what happened in Arizona.
Now that Simmons is with the Giants, don't expect defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to deploy him like he was in Arizona. The best option for the Giants would be to remove a lot of the thinking Simmons previously had to do and allow him to be himself.
So what does Simmons do best, and how does that help the Giants defense? Let's look at the good, the great, and the ugly for the newest Giants linebacker.
The Good: Athleticism In Space
Simmons is ridiculously athletic, so anytime he is allowed to operate in space, he will make a splash play. His acceleration allows him to chase down running backs, receivers, and scrambling quarterbacks who escape the pocket and enter the open field.
He would be a perfect spy to deploy against quarterbacks who regularly break the pocket. And this is where most of his interceptions come from. Most times, it is not due to sticky coverage, but instead, when a ball is deflected, he can accelerate and get to footballs that defensive backs don't get to in time.
The series of plays below show him making interceptions by reacting quickly to the ball being in the air and making a play on it. This does not mean this is his best use, but it is a positive quality for him.
The Great: Downhill Pressure
The best return on investment the Giants could get on this trade would be to turn Simmons loose on the quarterback and make him into a heat-seeking missile with a singular objective: hunt the quarterback!
His speed off the edge can not be matched by any offensive lineman in the game, and he is good with his hands. He is also good at timing his blitzes and not taking on a full man on the rush. He has fluid hips, which allows him to sink underneath blockers or bend around them. And the best thing about turning him into a primary rusher is that there is not much to learn.
This also fills a major need that the Giants have not really addressed this offseason, which is depth at the outside linebacker spot. They need a guy who can get to the quarterback, and Simmons, with limited opportunities to do it, has done just that.
The series of plays below illustrates how explosive he is when he is coming downhill and hunting the passer.
The Ugly: Box Play
While many believe that Simmons could be the answer next to Bobby Okereke at inside linebacker, he would essentially be the same type of player as some of the other inside linebackers we have seen over the previous few seasons for the Giants.
Simmons is extremely athletic, and he would make some plays. However, his lack of understanding of navigating the back, maintaining lane integrity, and fighting off blocks would lead to assignment busts that would prove too costly throughout a game or season.
In the series of plays below, Simmons gets caught in traffic, winds up out of position, and gets blocked. He also takes questionable read steps that put him in bad positions.
Final Thoughts
Simmons could be a positive addition to this Giants team, depending on how defensive coordinator Wink Martindale decides to deploy him.
Fans looking for instant answers will need to have some patience with him. Although this is the final year of Simmons' rookie contract, this coming year is probably not a one-season, plug-and-play tryout but rather a multiple-season project for an immense talent who is only 25 years old.
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