New York Giants' Dane Belton is being the 'pirate' that Shane Bowen is looking for
They've brought in Deonte Banks, Tyler Nubin, and Dru Phillips in the draft and this offseason, signed Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland.
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While the team is high on all of those players, it has been one on their roster for years that has been balling out at organized team activities (OTAs).
Safety Dane Belton, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa back in 2022, has been standing out in workouts this spring. He is entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract and appears intent on forcing the Giants to extend him.
"Dane has been really good for us here early. Like he's had a really good spring," defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said this week. "Finding ways to get him on the field, what he can do for us to help us."
Belton had another interception in practice on Thursday, his third this spring. That had to please Bowen, who earlier in the day outlined his defensive philosophy for the upcoming season.
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"The main thing is emphasizing takeaways. We got to get better at takeaways," Bowen said of his unit, which was 28th overall in the NFL in that category last season. "Somehow got the idea of piracy, violent, attacking to steal possessions or goods, right? You'll hear our guys say it. I say it ad nauseum: 'Be a damn pirate.' We've got to find ways to get the ball. And, again, you get what you emphasize. We're making it a priority this year to make sure we find ways to get the ball."
Belton is doing that. The only issue is that he won't be a starter no matter how many picks he has this summer. The second-year Nubin and Holland have sealed those jobs up. But that doesn't mean he will be relegated to the bench. There's always room for playmakers.
Last year, Belton felt he should have been given a shot at starting, but was aced out by Nubin and Jason Pinnock, who is no longer with the Giants, replaced by Holland.
Belton did get to start six games but only when there was injury to the starters. He made 15 total tackles in the Giants' Week 15 loss to Baltimore and had an interception against Indianapolis in Week 17.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Dane Belton is being the 'pirate' Shane Bowen is looking for
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