Big Blue View mailbag: Defensive alignments, expectations as season begins

Richard Vitto asks: I was hoping you could clarify how the defensive line actually gets set up. Most of the time it seems to me that they play only 2 down linemen with 4 linebackers. Maybe to start a game or a possession they use a true front seven but without really tracking I really don't think I see it that often. Can you give us a general sense of how often they are in a package with just 2 down linemen and extra dbacks? And when they are on that configuration who are the "starters" most often on the field?

Ed says: Richard, I could find and quote you numbers from last season. That, though, is pointless because the Giants have a new defensive coordinator and much different defensive personnel.