Could a quarter-second really be the answer to jump-starting the Giants pass rush?
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second → start → rush
After facing the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and Rams’ Matthew Stafford — two veteran Pro Bowlers who got the ball out of their hands in 2.75 and 2.63 seconds, respectively, on average over the first two games — the Giants are about to see the Titans’ Cam Ward and the second-year quarterback’s 2.97-second release, according to NextGenStats.
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Giants → face → NextGenStats
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tRY IT NOW“Cam Ward actually holds the ball, so we might have a couple more opportunities,” edge Abdul Carter told The Post.
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Carter → try → Post
“The main thing is we have to stay relentless.”
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we → have → ?
It was Carter who said during the preseason that “this team goes as far as we go” as pass rushers.
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we → say → rushers
Well, the Giants have seven pressures (tied for the fewest in the NFL) and only one sack (No. 31, ahead of only the Dolphins) through two games, so maybe 1-1 is a fortunate record.
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1 → have → games
“We can’t get discouraged,” Carter said.
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Carter → get → ?
“Obviously, we know that every team we play against is going to scheme to get the ball out quick, chip us and double-team.”
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we → know → us
The possibility that Brian Burns, who is coming off a 16.5-sack season, is sidelined by a sprained ankle adds to this week’s challenge.
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who → come → challenge
So does facing Titans offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, who held the same title with the Giants in 2024-25 and knows the tricks Burns, Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux have in their bags.
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Burns → do → bags
“Our pass pressure is something that we lean on heavily,” head coach John Harbaugh said.
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Harbaugh → lean → that
“It’s a big, big part of who we are and who we need to be because of the talent that we have there.
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we → ’ → that
So, getting to the quarterback and getting guys down, that’s something that’s a game-changing opportunity for us.
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that → get → us
So, yeah, we’re very determined to get that done.”
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that → ’re → ?
Burns’ absence would elevate Thibodeaux to starting, place an added emphasis on Chauncey Golston’s inside/outside versatility and bring rookie linebacker Arvell Reese’s pass-rushing ability more into the equation on blitzes.
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absence → elevate → blitzes
The Giants have blitzed on only 18.8 percent of snaps (No. 26) through the first two games.
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Giants → blitz → games
“Any time you ask [Reese] to hit somebody, his eyes light up,” inside linebackers coach Frank Bush said.
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Bush → ask → somebody
“When we blitz, in his mind, he can affect the game that way.
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he → blitz → game
It’s not a lot of thinking.
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It → ’ → thinking
If I can whoop this guy’s ass, I’ve got a chance.
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I → whoop → chance
”
The slow start by the $62.6 million edges — only the Steelers spend more on the position, according to Spotrac.com — could also result from adjusting to life without Dexter Lawrence (traded to the Bengals) commanding a league-high double-team percentage on the inside.
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Lawrence → spend → inside
“Look, we are going to get double-chipped on the edge and they can turn the center to one inside piece, so they can really get three double-teams on any pass rush,” outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen said.
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Bullen → look → rush
“That’s always going to be there.
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That → go → ?
Everyone says you have to win your one-on-one (matchup).
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you → say → matchup
Well, great pass rushers have to win two-on-ones.
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rushers → have → ones
We can be productive in those moments dealing with two-on-ones.
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We → deal → ones
We can work games and schemes, so it all matters.”
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it → work → games
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson echoed Carter’s credit to the Rams for max protecting and to Stafford for his quick release.
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Wilson → echo → release
But the Giants aren’t the only defense facing those tactics.
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Giants → face → tactics
The Giants’ countermove in Week 1 was to use a package of four speed rushers that resulted in six pressures and a hurried-throw interception.
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that → use → pressures
It didn’t work in Week 2 against the run-focused Rams.
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It → work → Rams
“Everybody wants more sacks — no one more than me,” Bullen said.
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Bullen → want → me
“We had Dallas more off-schedule [down-and-distance-wise].
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We → have → schedule
You go to L.A., we never really had them off-schedule.
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we → go → schedule
That’s a credit to them.
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That → ’ → them
Wilson is preaching the “sacks come in bunches” mentality.
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sacks → preach → mentality
The next one could be the one to break down the door.
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one → break → door
Carter buys it because he tallied 3.5 in the final five games last season after an 11-game drought.
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he → buy → drought
“I’m not going to try to chase plays and do things outside the scheme,” Carter said.
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Carter → go → scheme
…and 11 more, not listed.
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