The New York Giants splashed the cash on Wednesday, bringing on former Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree in a steal of a trade. The five-year player has extreme potential under the right scheme, and his tackling statistics prove that to be true.
Over the course of his five-seasons in the NFL, Ogletree racked up a total of 367 tackles, and only missed games in one season. His proven health record is a huge plus for a team that saw their entire defensive secondary and line-backing core succumb to injury in 2017. Ogeltree brings fresh blood to New York and a dynamic style of play.
While Ogletree isn’t the most sound coverage linebacker, his strength lies in stopping the run. Aiding a defensive line that consists of Jason Pierre-Paul, Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson is the key to stopping opposing offenses. Creating a strong linebacking corps to support in the run and spy on the quarterback is essential, especially in a James Bettcher defense.
What we have to look forward to in Ogletree:
New #Giants LB Alec Ogeltree once started a fight with the entire Giants roster after hitting star WR Odell Beckham late out of bounds while he was with the #Rams pic.twitter.com/6ye0dQ4Zy0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 7, 2018
Now, this isn’t exactly what you want to see from your player, but here’s my take on it. Ogletree may have started a fight with Odell Beckham Jr., but we can’t hold on to that forever. The guy brings ferocity and anger to his game. He loves the game of football, and is aggressive in everything he does (tackling, running, etc.). Having a guy with that mentality makes your team stronger and meaner on the field.
Remember the days of physical football on the Giants’ defense? The days that teams were scared to play us because our defense was about to maul them? That’s what Ogletree brings back to our team.
New #Giants LB Alec Ogeltree had 95 tackles, 2 sacks and this 41-yard pick-6 last year.pic.twitter.com/SQyxcPo24u
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 7, 2018
This should give you a solid idea of what Ogletree brings to the team. His ability to drop back into shallow coverage and spy on the quarterback is one of his premier strengths. He may not be the best at covering a tight end or receiver, but he under-cuts routes with extreme precision and placement. He’s one of those players that’s often in the right place at the right time.
Overall, he’s a great pickup for a Giants team that lacked linebackers significantly. The issue is his contract, which allocated around $10 million per-season. He’s the third-highest paid ILB in the league. We should expect to see several cuts made once free agency begins next Wednesday.
