It seems like the only thing New York Giants fans are talking about is how the Giants desperately need safety help. Well, that’s not necessarily the case.

Despite losing defensive co-captain Antrel Rolle to the Chicago Bears, the Giants should have a much better defense in 2015, with or without a Pro Bowl caliber safety. So exactly why are the Giants probably fine without a top-tier safety? Because the entire defense has improved from last year, and with Steve Spagnuolo calling the shots, the unit should be vastly improved.

I’ll start with the safety position, as it’s the hot-button issue as of late.

When Spagnuolo was with the Giants from 2007-2008, the safety position never featured a single Pro Bowler. The three safeties who saw the most starts were Gibril Wilson, James Butler and Michael Johnson. Wilson was the most talented of the group, but the team decided not to renew his contract following 2007. Butler’s and Johnson’s careers somewhat fizzled out after their stints with the Giants. Basically, the safeties in the Spagnuolo-led defenses were never the focal point.

Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor should be ready to step up and contribute. Taylor just needs to stay healthy, as he missed all of last year with an injury. Berhe is a very talented player, and the man nicknamed “The Missile” has all of the physicality required to succeed in Spagnuolo’s defense. I think he’ll have an emergence similar to the one Larry Donnell had last year.

While we’re on the topic, remember last offseason when everyone was seemingly adamant on the Giants adding a big-name tight end like Jermichael Finley? Well, that situation is sort of similar to the current safety situation. A star tight end wasn’t regarded as a big priority for Ben McAdoo’s offense, and the team opted to go with the home grown talent they had. Berhe will get his chance, and I think he will shine.

It’s also very possible the Giants bring back Stevie Brown. Although Brown struggled last year after returning from a torn ACL, it sometimes takes more than one year for a player to fully recover from an injury like that.

Of course, the biggest asset of Spags’s defense was the pass rush, and the Giants have done a great job — so far — of improving the unit.

According to numerous outlets’ reports, the team recently brought in two defensive linemen. Kenrick Ellis, ex-Jet, and George Selvie, ex-Cowboy, have been added to a defensive line that is now somewhat crowded. Neither Ellis nor Selvie are players who will command double-teams from offensive linemen, but they add a lot of depth to a defense that was devoid of run stoppers in 2014.

The 6-foot-4, 346 pound Ellis will add another big body in the middle. Ellis was originally a third-round pick for the Jets back in 2011. Selvie, the former Cowboy, is reunited with his college teammate Jason Pierre-Paul, as well as Spagnuolo, who was Selvie’s head coach when he entered the league in 2010.

JPP recently spoke about the addition of “First Let Me Take A” Selvie.

“I think it’s a great pickup,” Pierre-Paul said, via Giants.com. “He’s a good player. George can play the run and rush the passer. From the film I’ve watched, he’s gotten better as a player.”

Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars linebackerIII (52) against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Although rather under-the-radar signings, the additions of Selvie and Ellis will help the Giants defense a whole lot. At the very least, Spagnuolo now has two more defensive linemen to utilize as part of rotation. New York has the aforementioned JPP, as well as a returning Robert Ayers, the underrated Johnathan Hankins and the athletic Damontre Moore.

With Spagnuolo calling his famous blitzes, the defensive line looks ready to make some noise in 2015.

The linebacking corps has also received some non-glamorous improvements. Jonathan Casillas and J.T. Thomas were both added in the early stages of free agency, and they both bring something different to the table.

Casillas is probably better suited to see most of his action of special teams, and maybe a little bit at strong safety. I expect Thomas, on the other hand, to play the same type of role that Kawika Mitchell played in 2007. Like Mitchell, Thomas is an athletic linebacker who can pretty much do anything Spagnuolo asks him to do. Thomas started 10 games in 2014 and 84 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Thomas also recovered a fumble for a touchdown when the Jaguars played the Giants in week 13.

New York also has great depth at the linebacker position with Mark Herzlich and Jameel McClain still under contract.

The Giants also get inside linebacker and defensive captain Jon Beason back. Beason re-aggravated a toe injury early last year and was unable to recover. Beason’s return is incredibly crucial to New York’s success on defense, and with Rolle no longer on the team, the Giants need his presence more than ever.

Beason recently restructured his contract, according to various outlet’s reports, and he has expressed an interest in emulating Antonio Pierce in Spagnuolo’s defense.

“Just the way they talked about [Pierce], the way he orchestrated the defense where you didn’t handicap yourself,” Beason said, via Newsday. “He was allowed to check out of things and I think they were one on accord. A lot of coordinators are not like that. They spend so much time talking about tendencies and scheming that you make a good call and it’s a good call versus what they do, that personnel group, or that down and distance. That’s what I’m most excited about. I’m hoping I don’t feel as handcuffed as it typically is in the NFL.”

Pierce was arguably the most valuable player on the 2007 Giants defense, and he almost single-handedly saved the season in the NFC Championship game. I’m very high on Beason as both a player and a person, and he’s certainly smart and athletic enough to emulate Pierce as the captain of the defense. He just needs to stay healthy. For what it’s worth, I think Beason is on par with Pierce as a leader and play caller, but I think Beason is a better athlete and more physical.

Although you probably won’t hear about how much the Giants defense has improved, the minor, under-the-hood improvements will be instrumental for the defense next year. Provided, of course, the key players stay healthy.