When new Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher sees Olivier Vernon, he envisions Chandler Jones.
It is a sight and a projection everyone involved with the Giants wants to embrace and make happen.
“Chandler Jones in New England was a 4-3 defensive end, came to this scheme,’’ Bettcher said Wednesday in his first public comments since he was hired by Pat Shurmur. “There’s gonna be some new things you have to learn, some nuances, but it’s still playing football, rushing off the edge.’’
Bettcher got his hands on Jones in 2016 in Arizona and helped turn him into a star, as Jones evolved from a very good player into a great one, leading the NFL in sacks in 2017 with 17. Jones was a defensive end for the Patriots who transitioned and thrived as an outside linebacker in Bettcher’s system. Vernon will be given the same assignment, and the Giants are hoping for similar results.
“Look at Chandler Jones and how good he is,’’ said Rob Leonard, the assistant linebacker coach, a holdover from the Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo staffs. “We’ve watched so much Cardinals film and how great he is at the techniques, that’s what you’re hoping to get at. O.V. has the talent to be just as good.’’
Bettcher is installing a 3-4 defensive front but cautioned he will not know for sure what he has on defense until he gets his players on the field in training camp. The key, he insisted, is “about playing relentless,’’ not applying miracle-worker status to himself or his system.
“Hanging your hat on scheme, you don’t win that way,’’ he said.
This will be an adjustment for Vernon, who will no longer go to work and head into the defensive-line meeting room.
“You’re excited to work with a guy like him,’’ said Bill McGovern, who returns as the linebackers coach. “We’re looking to get him on the field and kind of let his talents kind of take over.’’
Vernon will be asked to stand in a two-point stance on the edge of the line of scrimmage, which he did only on occasion in Miami with the Dolphins. At 6-foot-2 and 262 pounds, Vernon was never a physically imposing defensive end, relying on power and quickness rather than brute size and force. He had 8.5 sacks in 2016, his first year with the Giants after signing a five-year, $85 million deal, and only 6.5 sacks in 12 games last season, battling through injuries and missing four games on a 3-13 team.
At times, Vernon will move inside in his traditional three-point stance. The learning curve will be considerable. Vernon, 27, is slotted in to start at outside linebacker, along with Kareem Martin, signed as a free agent after four years with the Cardinals, giving him an edge as far as familiarity with Bettcher and his defense. The inside linebackers will be Alec Ogletree — acquired in a trade with the Rams — and, if healthy, B.J. Goodson.
“I’ve had Chandler Jones, Markus Golden, a John Abraham, a Dwight Freeney, if you want to classify them as 4-3 defensive ends playing in this same system, guys who have had a ton of success, guys who have been double-digit sack guys in this system,’’ Bettcher said. “[Vernon’s] versatility, his ability to rush from different angles, we’ve all seen him drop in space and flip his hips and do some of those things. If you went and looked at our tape in Arizona and you saw Chandler Jones, we didn’t make our money in Arizona on defense with Chandler Jones dropping and playing in space a bunch. It’s things that you do as great change-ups, things you do to allow you to attack offenses in different ways and I think that’s how he’ll fit in.’’
The trade of Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers puts the onus even more squarely on Vernon to be a difference-maker. His new role, McGovern said, “is going to play to his strengths.’’
The assignments will not be all new for Vernon, but the terminology and frequency he is asked to do certain things will be.
“As far as him spring-boarding to be the player to take it to the next level, he’s gonna be asked to do things that are right up his alley for his skill-sets,’’ Leonard said. “It sells itself, right? ‘What do I do best? I’m a knee-bender, I can rush with power, speed, I got that, I can stand up, like to see everything.’ He can do all those things. He’s gonna be great. As good as he wants to be.’’