As the New York Giants begin to transition to a linebacker heavy approach, third-year man, B.J. Goodson, will be expected to take a major leap forward on the defense. His ability as an inside linebacker is apparent, but injuries have plagued his career.
In week one of the 2017 season, Goodson finished the game against the Dallas Cowboys with 18 total tackles. After suffering an injury, he was forced out until week four and again from week seven to 12. Consistently staying on the field has been a struggle for the young defender, but he will look to change that narrative in the season ahead.
Why has Goodson suffered injuries so frequently for the Giants?
Former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo relied on the defensive line to do most of the heavy lifting in season past, while leaving the linebacker corps stripped of talent and depth. Bringing on Goodson was supposed to benefit the run defense, but injuries limited his prowess on the field.
Pro Football focus ranked him third in combined tackling efficiency among NFL inside linebackers. He ranked fifth in running game and fourth against the pass. Goodson only landed behind Jacksonville’s Paul Posluszny and Seattle’s Bobby Wagner.
Goodson will be Robin and Batman will be…
The Giant traded for Alec Ogletree this offseason, marking the full transition to the 3-4. He will play an important role as the captain and leader of the defense alongside his counter-part, Goodson. Both will be expected to fill the gaps in the defensive line as they play a three-man front consisting of Damon Harrison, Dalvin Tomlinson, and rookie B.J. Hill.
“Yeah, I’ll have the mic,†said Ogletree. “But B.J. does an excellent job of relaying the message as well, so we definitely bounce off each other in relaying the message to the defense, and it definitely helps me out a lot. And I think it helps him out, too.â€
Ultimately, Goodson’s No. 1 priority will be staying healthy. He cannot make a true difference on the defense if he’s not on the field. Playing conservatively and choosing his battles will be a challenge for the Clemson product, but one that’s not too far fetched.