Could a mere quarter of a second really provide the boost the Giants need for their pass rush?
After contending with Dak Prescott of the Cowboys and Matthew Stafford of the Rams—two seasoned Pro Bowl quarterbacks known for their quick releases, averaging 2.75 and 2.63 seconds to throw, respectively—the Giants are now gearing up to face Titans’ Cam Ward. His average release time sits at 2.97 seconds, as per NextGenStats.
“Cam holds the ball a bit longer, so that might give us some more chances,” edge rusher Abdul Carter shared. “The key is to stay relentless.”
Carter previously stated that the team’s success hinges on their performance as pass rushers. With only seven pressures—tying for the least in the league—and just one sack (ranked 31st, above only the Dolphins) after two games, it seems they might have been fortunate to not have a worse record than 1-1.
“We can’t let ourselves get discouraged,” Carter mentioned. “Every opponent is going to plan to get rid of the ball quickly, using chips and double-teams against us.”
Brian Burns, who had an impressive season last year with 16.5 sacks, is dealing with a sprained ankle, adding another layer of complication to this week’s game.
Additionally, they’ll be facing Titans’ offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. He previously held the same position with the Giants and understands the strengths of Burns, Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux well.
“We rely heavily on our pass pressure,” head coach John Harbaugh stated. “It’s crucial to our identity. With the talent we have, reaching the quarterback can change a game. So, we’re very focused on making that happen.”
If Burns can’t play, it will elevate Thibodeaux to a starting role, increase the importance of Chauncey Golston’s versatility, and likely bring rookie linebacker Arvell Reese into play during blitz scenarios.
So far, the Giants have blitzed on only 18.8% of plays, ranking 26th in the league.
“Whenever you ask [Reese] to engage, he lights up,” inside linebackers coach Frank Bush noted. “When we blitz, he feels he can make a significant impact. No overthinking—just a straight line with the idea of overpowering the opponent.”
The slow performance by the edge rushers, despite being among the highest paid in the league, might be attributed to adapting to the absence of Dexter Lawrence, who was known for drawing a significant number of double teams.
“We’ll face double-teams on the outside, and the center can easily shift inside, which can lead to additional double-teams,” outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen explained. “Everyone talks about winning one-on-ones, but top pass rushers have to also handle two-on-ones. We can still be effective in those situations, using various strategies.”
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson acknowledged the Rams’ effective protection and Stafford’s quick release. However, he pointed out that the Giants aren’t alone in facing these tactics.
In Week 1, the Giants attempted to counter this by utilizing four speedy rushers, leading to six pressures and a hurried-throw interception, though this strategy faltered against the Rams’ strong run game in Week 2.
“Everyone desires more sacks—myself included,” Bullen remarked. “We had Dallas in tough spots, but against L.A., we were unable to disrupt their game plan. That’s credit to them.”
Wilson is maintaining a “sacks come in bunches” approach, suggesting the next sack could finally unlock their performance. Carter is on board with this philosophy, noting that he managed 3.5 sacks in the final five games last season after a lengthy drought.
“I’m not going to force plays or stray from our plan,” Carter said. “Getting my first sack in Week 2 instead of Week 13 last year was really uplifting. As a pass rusher, not having a sack weighs on your mind constantly.”
Ward’s been sacked an NFL-leading 60 times over the past two seasons.
“We can create pressure, but we need those sacks,” Harbaugh emphasized. “They are transformative plays, akin to turnovers. It’s about relentless effort, but sometimes it just comes down to making the tackle when you have the chance. There are various factors to consider.”
Whatever it takes, the Giants are ready to adapt.
