Linebacker Ryan Connelly's instincts impress Giants coaches

Linebacker Ryan Connelly, out of Wisconsin, has impressed Giant coaches with his smart play. Photo Credit: Brad PennerRyan Connelly was looking at his teammates in the huddle and they were looking back at him and no one was saying anything and the whole thing was awkward. That’s when the rookie middle linebacker who was supposed to be communicating the play realized what was going on in the silence.

That voice of the defensive coordinator coming into his helmet from the sideline?

“I just assumed everyone else could hear him, too,” Connelly said.

They could not. Connelly’s job was to relay the call to everyone else.

“In college on defense we were all hand signals and single-word calls,” he said…