Before you say there is nowhere to go but up, remember there actually are eight spots below where the Giants defense finished in 2018.

So, with the subtraction of Pro Bowlers Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins and starting cornerback B.W. Webb on top of the midseason departures of Damon Harrison and Eli Apple, outside expectations for the Giants defense are low. Ground-level low.

Inside the locker room is a very different story.

“We will be better,” linebacker Alec Ogletree said Wednesday as the Giants reported for training camp. “There is no reason for us not to be a top-10 defense. (Or) top-five. We are going to be a great defense. We’ve got the right pieces here. We’ve got to go put in the work and do things better than we did last year.”

The Giants finished No. 20 in rushing defense, No. 23 in passing defense, No. 23 in scoring defense and No. 24 in total defense last season. They will have at least five new starters — more if linebackers Kareem Martin and B.J. Goodson do not hold onto starting positions — in 2019.

“New guys have to step up,” Ogletree said. “We expect them to do that. We have to hold them to that standard. It’s all about ... being able to be accountable and being able to be at your best when your best is required. When it’s time to make that play, we expect you to make that play, be in the right position and do your job."

The Giants were given T-shirts on report day that said “All ball” on the back side — an early indication they will be blocking out noise like predictions.

“I love being counted out,” said Michael Thomas, a former undrafted safety entering his eighth season. "I know everyone in this building is ready to work and put it on tape. I love having something to prove.

The average age of the Giants’ 11 projected defensive starters is 25.6

“It keeps guys like me fresh and on our toes,” Ogletree said. “We have to be able to teach those guys the right way to do things and make sure we’re on top of our game.

"Everybody has talent in this league. Granted some have more experience than us, but I don’t think that’s an excuse as to why you can’t be a great defense.”

The three starting defensive linemen (Dexter Lawrence, B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson) all are younger than that medium. The secondary features six first- or second-year players on the first- and second-team units, including five at cornerback.

“You can tell very quickly if guys can play in this league,” Thomas said. “We’re going to get an opportunity in training camp to go against each other.”

For a franchise built on a defense-first reputation over decades, the Giants only have fielded a top-10 defense by yardage allowed twice since 2011. It has been a revolving door of faces since Super Bowl champions Antrel Rolle, Justin Tuck and others began clearing out.

“Everybody has their own opinion of what are defense is going to be, but we have our own goals and our expectations,” Ogletree said. “This organization has a great tradition of great defenses, and we want to be part of that as well."

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The Giants were 4-8 last season in games decided by seven points or less, but the more telling number is there were four losses during a 1-7 start where the defense played winning football for three-plus quarters but the offense couldn’t score often enough.

“If we make a mistake, it’s six points on the board,” Thomas said. “I know we for a fact we love the group that we have. It’s going to take us communicating on a high level to be better than we were last year. We have the playmakers in our room to go out there and finish.”

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.