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Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

In the two OTAs to which the media has had access, the Giants defense has run several types of blitzes that have come from all areas of the field.

Before going any further, let’s gauge the frequency of the Giants’ use of the blitz under former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. According to an April 2014 article by Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, the Giants blitzed on 31.62 percent of their pass-rushing plays, putting them 14th in the NFL in the 2013 season.

However, the Giants finished 26th in the league in final pass-rushing productivity (sacks, hits and hurries), which meant that the blitzes just weren’t hitting home.

Although the numbers aren’t available for the 2014 season, former safety Antrel Rolle made some telling comments during his weekly radio spot on WFAN.

Rolle’s comments, per Charles Curtis for NJ Advance Media, seemed to suggest that Fewell did call blitzes, but that if something went wrong or the blitz didn’t work, the defensive coordinator chose to retreat rather than to attack the problem at a different angle.

Well, in Perry Fewell’s defense, when certain things go wrong throughout the course of a game, as a defensive coordinator and as a play-caller, it then makes you hesitant to call certain things. He had a couple of blitzes called during the earlier part of the game, and those blitzes were bust. I think we played a good defense for the most part, but there were a lot of times the defense has some mental relapses. As a coordinator it just kind of puts you on your heels a little bit, because you’re kinda damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

No, the blitz isn’t going to work every single time it's called. But to his credit, Spagnuolo doesn’t seem as a willing to abandon the concept; in fact, some of the blitzes shown during the OTAs have come from the cornerbacks, the slot cornerback, the safeties and the linebackers.

What’s more, Spagnuolo has been working with his defense—we’re talking hands-on coaching—demonstrating various techniques to help the players master how to disguise the blitz.

What does all this mean for the defense moving forward? Expect to see more blitz packages for starters.

Also, when assembling your final guess at the Giants' 53-man roster, in addition to looking at who’s healthy, it might be a good idea to pay attention to who has that first quick step off the snap, especially among the linebackers and defensive backs.