THE McKINNEY FILE
CFP National Champion, 2017
First-team All-SEC, 2019
By Lenn Robbins
This would have been unheard of just a decade ago. A player in the front seven – usually a middle linebacker - called the signals. He was closer to the line of scrimmage and in the center of the field.
But technological advancement means a defensive coordinator can relay signals to any player. Giants safety Xavier McKinney is about to be the beneficiary of that technology. The third-year safety from Alabama is going to call the defensive signals for Big Blue, which means he will have the green dot on helmet identifying him as the player radio receiver in his helmet.
"So, I had a discussion with [defensive coordinator Don] "Wink" [Martindale],” Giants coach Brian Daboll told reporters. “And I have a lot of confidence in Wink. He's done it that way for the past few years. So, that's who we chose to wear it right now."
It turns out that McKinney already has experience being the defensive signal caller. But now the pressure is greater than when McKinney did it in college.
"The last two years, it has been the [linebacker],” McKinney said.”I talked to Wink, and it's not something that's new to me. I've done it before -- I did it at [Alabama].
"It's different when you've got grown men in the huddle and you're trying to get the call to everybody. Obviously being on the back end of it, you might have to run 30 yards and run back to get the play to everybody."
Hey, the Giants were 23rd in team defense last season. Change is going to come.