One year ago, as the Giants engaged in ring-fittings and White House fetes, the plan at middle linebacker was to bring back Chase Blackburn after his significant contributions to a Super Bowl title, with the belief Blackburn’s hold on the position would face a stiff challenge from Mark Herzlich.
What was anticipated to be a bona fide battle never materialized, as Herzlich, entering his second NFL season, never took a quantum leap forward and Blackburn retained the starting role without getting pushed much at all. Herzlich started one game, did not distinguish himself and did not advance his cause as a future fixture in the middle of the defense.
A year later, Herzlich is back at it again, this time with the Giants coming off a non-playoff season and a woeful defensive performance. Blackburn is gone, having signed with the Panthers, and six-year veteran Dan Connor was signed in free agency, presumably to take Blackburn’s spot. Aaron Curry, a former first-round pick of the Seahawks, also was brought in to see if he can dust off his potential. Yet, as the organized team activity practices and the three-day minicamp came and went, it was Herzlich operating with the first-team defense and it will be Herzlich who enters training camp penciled into the starting job.
“Very commanding,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said when asked about Herzlich. “He’s taken a leadership role out there and I think he has some good respect from his teammates in some of the things he’s done in the OTAs. Obviously, we want to find out what happens when the pads come on.”
Entering his third year with the Giants, Herzlich continues the road back from the health scare that forced him to miss the 2009 season at Boston College after he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Once considered a first-round talent, he had to stick on the Giants roster as an undrafted free agent and plays with a titanium rod inserted into his left femur.
Herzlich continues to serve as a spokesman for various health-related endeavors. He is the official co-host of the first NBC 4 and New York Giants Health & Fitness Expo this weekend at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants are not viewing middle linebacker as an every-down role, with stopping the run the priority before the nickel package adds an extra defensive back and subtracts a linebacker. Athletically, Herzlich, at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, looks the part. After two years filling various roles on special teams, he knows it is time to push for playing time on defense.
“I think [a starting job is] mine to secure,” Herzlich said. “I don’t think anyone is handing anybody anything, but I feel like if I work hard and play well, then I have a good shot at hopefully making a difference for the team.”
Operating with the starters helped Herzlich pick up his entire game.
“It not only built my confidence in my communication skills getting together with the ones,” he said, “but built confidence among the other guys playing with the ones that I can lead the defense and be vocal and get everybody lined up and play fast.”
Blackburn was tough and strong but not the most physically gifted linebacker. His best asset was his mind. Fewell often said Blackburn knew the defense as well as or better than he did. Herzlich has a way to go before he can match that brain power.
“I don’t know if that’s a fair question for him right now, because Chase was really a seasoned veteran,” Fewell said. “Mark is a veteran, not as seasoned, but I do think that Chase did a nice job in training him and he did a nice job in their communication with calls and the nuances of the defense.”