WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin was a ballhawk while playing collegiately for Minnesota, with 13 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in 55 games.
That kind of production is why the Giants, who had seen safeties Julian Love and Xavier McKinney leave in free agency the previous couple of offseasons, selected Nubin 47th in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The production has not translated. In 26 games over two seasons, Nubin has just three passes defensed,
one fumble recovery, and no interceptions.
Nubin said Tuesday that he is hoping defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme, similar to what he was asked to do at Minnesota, will lead to better production.
“It’s (Wilson’s scheme) great, man. It gives you a lot of opportunity to make plays. You got your eyes on the quarterback, and I think that’s something that I do very well, so something I’m really comfortable with, something I did a lot in college, so it’s going to be good,” Nubin said on Tuesday.
“I think Dennard always has opportunistic defenses, looking back where he’s been, because they attack, and they make the offense think, gets them on their heels a little bit, whether that’s with the disguises or how we’re playing things, certain concepts. We can have our eyes on the quarterback and really go attack the football, so yeah, I think it’s definitely going to give me a really good opportunity for sure.”
Wilson’s coverage scheme is zone-based, using a lot of two-high safeties, quarters coverage, and cornerbacks aggressively pressing wide receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Nubin was asked to explain how zone-based coverage, often thought of as softer than man-to-man coverage, can be considered an attacking style.
“Because it’s aggressive, man, especially when you have corners who can cover, especially when you have linebackers like we have. (Inside linebacker) Tremaine (Edmunds) and (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese), who’s going to make that ball sail over the top.” Nubin said. “It allows you to be more aggressive on keying into the quarterback and where he’s going and jumping routes, whether that’s across the middle, whether that’s deep post routes, going to the post. So, it just allows you to go attack the football.”
Nubin, whose athleticism has been pointed to by some as a possible reason for some of his struggles with play-making and tackling, lost eight pounds this offseason. He is back to his rookie playing weight of 205 pounds.
“Just speed, man,” Nubin said when asked why he shed the weight. “I think my rookie year I played at like 205. Last year I was at like 213, 214. And right now, I’m like 205, 206, around there. So, I just wanted more for speed. I feel like I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, best shape I’ve ever been. So, I like this weight. I think I’m moving well.”
Nubin has yet to make any big plays on the ball during camp. He and the Giants, though, are hopeful those will come.
“I think he’s doing a good job. I do like the way he’s practicing. He’s a very determined, very serious-minded guy. He really wants to do well,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “He thinks about everything. He asks all the right questions. Sometimes you want to just say, “Hey, it’s not that complicated.” But you appreciate that about a player like that. So, I expect him to get back to where he was in college with the ball production. That would be great.
“I’d love to see him get his hands on a lot of footballs.”
