The New York Giants are set to headline the 104th NFL season's first Sunday primetime game against their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. After a hard-fought trip to the divisional round ended with an utter dismantling of the Giants' defense by the Philadelphia Eagles, all eyes are on defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to see how he will change things up.

It is no secret that the Giants' defense, which ranked bottom-10 in points allowed in the NFL, was struggling to keep up with its high-powered offensive counterpart. Perhaps inspired by one of star running back Saquon Barkley's best qualities, who re-signed with New  York earlier this offseason, Martindale believes that the defense's newfound ‘speed' is the one difference that will cure the Giants' defensive woes.

“I think that the biggest thing you will see is the difference in our speed,” Martindale said when asked about his new and improved defense. “As soon as we catch the execution up with the speed, it's going to be fun.”

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Looking at the New York Giants' offseason moves, as well as their draft strategy, it appears that head coach Bill Daboll and GM Joe Schoen made it a point to recruit among the fastest talent available to them. Among a promising rookie class, Giants' first-round pick Deonte Banks turned heads as he posted a 4.35 40-yard dash time, which ranks third in his position. When questioned about Banks and fellow rookie cornerback Tre Hawkins III, Martindale states that “they are just two strong-willed individuals that [he] thinks are going to be just fine” additions to the Giants' defense.

Alongside quick and promising rookies, the Giants acquired former Indianapolis Colt Bobby Okereke, as well as former Arizona Cardinal Isaiah Simmons, who they believe will contribute to heightening the pace of the defense. The latter of two big offseason additions, the former 8th-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, is reportedly the cause of major excitement within the organization due to his size, speed and being a perfect fit for Martindale's infamous “position-less” defensive scheme.

If history is any indication, then one thing is for sure: whether you are high or low on the new-look Giants, the former Baltimore Ravens DC sure knows how to make a defense fun to watch.