A GIANTS' DEFENSIVE line that was supposed to put the fear of God into every offensive line and quarterback it faced this season hasn't quite been the Sack Monster many expected it to be.
Through 12 games, the Giants have just 25 sacks, and 11 of those came in a pair of early October games against the Raiders and Chiefs. In seven games since then, the Giants have recorded just 11 sacks, including two in their 40-17 Week 8 loss to the Eagles.
After signing free-agent tackles Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard in the offseason, the Giants not only seemed to have the best defensive line in the league, but also the deepest. But injuries have cut into that depth. Canty missed seven games earlier this season. Bernard has been banged up most of the season. Another defensive tackle, Jay Alford, tore his ACL in the preseason. And still another, Fred Robbins, has struggled after having microfracture surgery on his knee.
Their three top pass-rushers - Osi Umenyiora, Jason Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka - have combined for just 12 1/2 sacks so far.
"It's been different," said Tuck, who had 12 sacks last year, but just 4 1/2 so far this season. "Obviously, we've got some new pieces to the puzzle, and sometimes it takes a little time for things to mesh. And when you've got injuries, that can slow down the process.
"But we're starting to come together a little bit. For us, it's all about consistency. One week we play great and we look like an All-American line. Then the next week we get gashed for big runs and don't get pressure on the quarterback."
Umenyiora, a two-time Pro-Bowler, was benched last week because of his poor play against the run. In last week's 31-24 win over the Cowboys, he was used strictly on passing downs. Robbins also was benched, replaced by Canty.
The Giants held the Cowboys to 45 rushing yards on 23 carries, but only sacked Tony Romo twice and gave him enough time to complete 41 of 55 passes.
"On paper, we've got one of the deepest lines in the league," Tuck said. "But sometimes that doesn't translate to success. For us, man, we have to be more consistent. There have been stretches of plays and games this season where we've been absolutely dominant. But there's been stretches where we've been absolutely atrocious too."
