Can Olivier Vernon Help Fix the Pass Rush?

The Giants have been without their best pass-rusher, Olivier Vernon, for the first two weeks. In two years with the team, Vernon has 15 sacks. They knew in the preseason there would be a chance he could miss some time, needing other guys to step up in his absence.

That hasn’t been the case, though, as the Giants have just one sack in the first two weeks. Against the Cowboys in Week 2, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott wasn’t sacked once and was barely even pressured. If the game was played on real grass, he would’ve walked out of the stadium with a clean jersey.

The Giants’ pass rush has been nonexistent through two weeks, allowing Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and Prescott to have as much time as needed to make plays. When a quarterback gets comfortable, they are even more dangerous. Imagine if they were playing better QBs like the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees or New England Patriots’ Tom Brady.

Those guys would have a field day on this defense, especially with no pressure incoming. The Giants need someone to step up and start making it tougher on opposing quarterbacks.

Vernon could possibly return this week against the Texans. Will his presence and production be enough to drastically improve their pass rush? We’ll have to wait and see but it hasn’t been stellar without him.

At the least, there’s no way it can get any worse.