He has been a starter for the last eight years, a rock at outside linebacker, middle linebacker, defensive end or any other role a defensive coordinator could conjure up.
So the Giants will use a good pass rush up the middle with defensive tackle Keith Hamilton, who will get in McNabb's face, rattling him.
Last season, when the Jets beat the Patriots in the playoffs, they did it by clogging the middle with defensive backs — sometimes, an unheard-of seven of them on one play — confusing Brady and dragging the Patriots' offense to a halt.
On the Bills' next play from scrimmage, from their own 25, Bledsoe tried to throw a pass over the middle, but defensive lineman Anthony Pleasant tipped the ball, sending it spinning around like a boomerang.
The average number of passes opponents make in sequences in the middle and defensive third, for instance, is up from 11.2 last season to 12.8 this, while opposition moves progress on average 11.9m this season as opposed to 10.9 last.
There were no natural wide midfielders in the starting 11 and everything was geared up the middle with defensive-minded players.
Joining Melnick is fellow returning starter Ryan McAleenan, a junior, at the other outside spot, with junior Luke Anderson, who got playing time as a sophomore and will also be a short-yardage fullback, starting at middle linebacker in defensive coordinator Mark Gibbons' 4-3 defense.
Two he met with the middle of a defensive bat.
Gone are the days of anonymous hulks in the middle of the defensive line.
He is expected to provide depth and experience in the middle of the defensive line.
