Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants have talent in the defensive backfield. Last year, however, it was on the bench due to injuries.
Cornerback is one of the most important defensive positions, ranking equal to pass rushers. Their job is to defend the pass by guarding the receivers. At corner the Giants will start Prince Amukamara and Corey Webster.
Jayron Hosley , Terrell Thomas and Aaron Ross will round out the cornerbacks on the 53-man roster. David Caldwell, Tyler Sash, Laron Scott and Junior Mertile, who all are currently on the roster, will not make it to Week 1. If the Giants are lucky, Sash might find a roll on the practice squad.
However, Amukamara and Hosley need to step it up this year for the Giants. Webster, after a lackluster year in 2012, restructured his contract and took a pay cut to come back with the team this season. Thomas is recovering from his fourth ACL injury. That leaves Hosley and Amukamara to have a better season for the Giants.
Heading into his third year with the team, Amukamara has not lived up to his potential after having been drafted in the first round (19th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. Like Hosley, who was a rookie last year, Amukamara has been dealing with the injury bug.
They both have the ability to cover some of the best receivers in the NFL, but if they can’t get on the field due to hamstring or foot injuries that have afflicted both cornerbacks early in their careers, then the Giants will have a long season. Hopefully, this year they will be more durable.
Joseph Alario is a New York Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on google+
