Brian Burns: ‘Nothing to talk about’ until Giants play in games that count

Burns was a full go after a scary collision on Friday, and he’s feeling good about the defense

The New York Giants are expecting big things from their defense in 2025.

They have a tremendous amount invested in every level of their defense. Their secondary has both high-priced free agents as well as highly drafted players on their rookie contracts. Their linebacking corps has free agent Bobby Okereke and breakout former fifth-round draftee Micah McFadden.

Most exciting, however, is their their defensive line which boasts four first round picks: Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns.

Burns has become a leader on the Giants’ defense since the team traded for him last offseason, so it was worth paying attention when he spoke to the media after the first padded practice on Monday.

Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo is quickly becoming a fan favorite, and Burns had the pleasure of playing against the rookie when he got reps with the starters.

For his part, Skattebo told Ed Valentine that contact is probably his favorite thing on the field.

Burns was asked about Skattebo from his perspective, and he definitely seemed to like what he saw from the rookie.

“He showed he got a little dog,” Burns said. “I don’t know about initiation, but he showed he got dog. He runs tough, he runs behind his pads. I got to get back and watch the film. I didn’t really get a head-to-head with him yet, but from what I hear, alright, we’ll see.

“But I like his dog. I like that he got that edge to him and I feel like he’s (going to) be about what he says, so I like that about him.”

Moving on to the defense itself, Burns spoke about building camaraderie with the the rest of the defense. He noted that this is his second year with Thibodeaux and Lawrence, and first with Carter, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Darius Alexander. According to Burns, getting the reps to build that comradery is important, but so to is communicating with the whole defense.

“I’m having a lot more communication with them just because I want the whole picture of the defense,” Burns said.

It’s easy to think of the defensive front as just going forward, but defenses often ask edge defenders to drop in coverage as well as need secondary players to come up to fill gaps in run defense. Understanding everyone’s role is important to raising the level of the whole defense, as well as the play of individual players.

“I’m trying to take my game to another level and that is understanding other positions and understanding why we are doing certain things,” Burns said. “Me and (safety Jevón) Holland talk a bit, me and (inside linebacker) Bobby (Okereke) talk a bit, and then sometimes I’m in certain fits with them that they got to be able to depend on me and know I know I’m going to do my job. We do have those conversations and it is really just helping me understand the defense better.”

Veteran cornerback Paulson Adebo echoed the importance of communication in his own remarks.

“I think communication is everything. If one guy is on the wrong page, then you’re giving up a touchdown, regardless of if everybody else was doing the right thing,” Adebo said. “So definitely making sure that everybody’s on the same page, communicating loud, early and often, is very important.”

He mentioned communicating with the offense as well as the defense, saying, “I mean, I’m always going to them, ‘Hey, what’d you see here,’ and then vice versa. At the end of the day, we’re on the same team, right? We’re not holding any secrets here. If I see something, they see something, ‘Hey, I think you can work on this,’ then we’re all trying to work towards the same goal.”

Everyone is excited about the Giants’ defense, but the defensive front is expected to be one of the very best in the NFL — perhaps even the best.

“Man, everybody feels encouraged and excited and hyped up at the beginning of the season. You understand?” Burns said. “At the same time, we look great on paper but we (didn’t) do (anything) yet. It’s all on us. We can take this as far as we want to go. Everything looks good with the names that we have and the potential and this and that, but until we put that (stuff) to stamp, (there isn’t) really nothing to talk about.”

Burns is right to say that the Giants haven’t actually done anything yet. But the players are very impressive on paper. He made a point of calling out fellow starter Kayvon Thibodeaux, saying he “flipped a switch” last year.

“KT flipped the switch last year. I don’t know if y’all peeped it, but he flipped the switch last year, playing a lot harder, playing a lot more physical,” Burns said. “He’s getting his edge. He had his edge today. KT has impressed me about how he handles himself in the building. He gets in early, he does his thing. All in all, he flipped that switch last year, so I expect big things from KT this year.

“I can’t really put a finger on when it happened. I know he made a decision to make that switch. I know (outside linebackers) Coach Bullen had – I call him Charlie, only I can call him that. Charlie had a big influence on that switch with KT and I’m proud of what he’s been doing so far.”

Of course, the talk of the defense has been rookie edge defender Abdul Carter. Carter’s explosiveness, agility, and bend around the edge have been a highlight of camp. So too has been the way in which he’s gotten after blockers.

“Jit (is) a dog,” Burns said. “He does what he got to do, he’s about his business. All it comes down to is really just making sure that he’s clean with the calls and the adjustments because it is moving a little bit faster. It is a little more detailed than college, but as far as raw athleticism, traits, he got it. I really don’t got to talk too much on him. Y’all have seen it”

Note: “Jit” is slang for a young guy. I too didn’t know that.

While Burns didn’t really want to belabor the conversation about Carter’s traits, he did want to call out how he approaches his craft. One of the hallmarks of great players, at any position, is how they approach their opponents over the course of the game, not just on an individual play. Michael Strahan, Odell Beckham Jr., and Darrelle Revis all knew how to play the chess game with their opponents over the course of the game, setting them up before sticking the dagger at an opportune moment.

It seems the rookie has that same understanding.

“It was a battle between – It wasn’t just that [spin] move that like – I get it, check me out, I get it. The move was nice, great move, but what I’m more impressed with is the battle between him and (offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor) Lu. It wasn’t just all out one move. He set that up. I like the fact that he was patient enough to set up that move and be able to execute it. It was a battle between them two. It wasn’t just one move, it was a battle, but I like that he was patient enough to set it up.”

Thoughts about the defense and communication aside it was a good to see Burns on the field Monday. We had a scary moment on Friday’s practice when Burns and receiver Wan’Dale Robinson collided after a play. For a moment it looked as though calamity struck and the Giants might have lost two important players to injury.

Both players are fine after the scare, though Burns is in no hurry for a repeat performance.

“It hurt,” Burns with a laugh. “No, man. I was just trying to set the standard, trying to run to the ball, whip myself in the shape for the season. I was rolling too. Yeah, I don’t think y’all seen the whole clip. I’m just glad that it wasn’t (anything) too serious (for) me or (wide receiver) Wan’Dale (Robinson). We’re both good.”

“It was a bit of a shock, bit of a scare. When you hit somebody that fast and you don’t see it coming, like you said, it’s like you just want to make sure everything’s working. That’s why you lay on the ground for a minute, take a breath, try to see what’s really hurting. Other than that, once we got up and walked in, I was in a lot of pain, but after we got the scans and everything, it was all good. Everything was all good.”