The New York Giants have a defensive back who is primed to thrive in his role at safety in 2024.
Per Dan Salomone of Giants.com, University of Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck recalled the moment when he knew he was going to switch Tyler Nubin from cornerback to safety for the Golden Gophers:
“I was like, ‘Dude, I’m just going to tell you, I’m moving you to safety.’ He goes, ‘I thought I was a corner.’ I was like, ‘You were, but then I watched you for three days and I’m going to move you to safety and you’re going to be an NFL draft pick.’ And he’s like, ‘OK.’ He was great with it, though. I think it took him a day or two to actually kind of get his brain around it, but when he could see what he could do at safety, I think that was a no-brainer for everybody,” Fleck recounted.
Giants have a talented defensive back waiting to emerge in 2024 Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nubin was the first of 21 safeties that were taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-2 defensive back consistently improved his interceptions and total tackles numbers throughout his tenure at Minnesota. He finished with 53 total tackles and five interceptions, along with a sack and four passes defended in 2023.
Perhaps the reason Nubin was suited for a shift to safety was because of his 4.56 second 40-yard dash per SNY, which contributed to the 58 athleticism score he received at the Combine, ranking No. 22 at his position. Contrarily, his production score of 74 (No. 3) and total score of 72 (No. 4) both ranked in the top five.
Giants: Tyler Nubin’s strengths at safety stem from experience playing cornerback Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota’s all-time leader in interceptions gives the Giants all they could ask for at safety, with room to tighten up his game from a physical standpoint. He does have a frame to play a more agile position like cornerback or even wide receiver, but as Fleck also attested to, Nubin found much success roaming in open spaces, looking to pick off quarterbacks as a senior.
The Giants will enter the 2024 campaign with a defense that lost former starting safety Xavier McKinney this offseason and has all eyes on its front seven. Nubin has the chance to put the secondary on the map and ensure that the Giants disrupt opposing passing attacks next year. At the least, him being flexible to play multiple positions could pay dividends for New York down the road.
This post was published on 2024-07-06 12:07
Source link : https://empiresportsmedia.com/new-york-giants/giants-rookie-safetys-college-hc-recalls-role-change-ahead-of-2023-season/amp/
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Publish date : 2024-07-06 12:07:25
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