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The Giants are asking Arvell Reese to grow up fast. He was the first pick of the John Harbaugh era, and the team already has a plan to move him around the front seven.
The pressure is about more than the draft slot. Reese has to learn how to play next to Tremaine Edmunds, handle different alignments, and communicate in a defense that wants its linebackers moving before the snap.
Arvell Reese finished his final Ohio State season with 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Those numbers show why the Giants took him fifth overall. They do not make the NFL assignment simple.
The first camp question is not whether Reese can make a highlight play. It is whether the coaching staff can trust him to be in the right place often enough for the rest of the defense to play fast.
NY Giants need Reese in the box
The defense has veteran pieces around him, but Reese is the player who can give it a different gear. He has the range to chase backs, the size to handle bigger bodies, and enough pass-rush ability to make protection calls uncomfortable.
That does not mean he should be sent after the quarterback on every other snap. The Giants need the complete version of Reese, especially on early downs. If offenses can find him with motion and force him to think, the adjustment period will last longer.
The rookie cannot be protected forever
The Giants can simplify the first few weeks for Reese. They cannot hide him all season. A first-round linebacker has to become part of the answer, and this defense needs him to grow quickly if it wants to carry the team while the offense develops.
I like the talent. I also think the communication piece will decide how quickly it shows up. Reese has the tools to change the front seven, but he has to learn the job before he can start freelancing.
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