New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter says the team’s defense is starting to find its rhythm — but insists the group can’t get complacent.
Coming off the team’s first win of the season, Carter credited the strength of the Giants’ defensive front, highlighting how All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence makes his job easier.
“Every time you look at him, he’s probably getting double-teamed,” Carter said. “That leaves a one-on-one for us. I try to take advantage of that. Hopefully, I can draw some double teams for me so I’m leaving him one-on-one so he can rush.”
Carter also praised veteran pass rusher Brian Burns.
“He means a lot,” Carter said. “Ever since I got here, like in training camp, you see the way he practices, the way he goes about his business. It all shows up in the game, so we look up to him a lot.”
While the victory offered a much-needed morale boost, Carter made it clear that one win won’t define their season.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said when asked if the win felt different. “But we’ve got to move on from Sunday. We’ve got to focus on this week, focus on practice today, practice tomorrow, getting ready for New Orleans.”
Carter said he takes pride in “getting better week in and week out” and is focused on correcting “the little things.”
When asked about the potential of the Giants’ defensive quartet — Lawrence, Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and himself — Carter said the group knows exactly what it’s capable of.
“We already know what we’re capable of, so us going out there and doing that, that’s what we’re supposed to do,” Carter said. “That’s our standard. As long as we stop the run and be able to rush the passer, we know what we can do.”
The rookie also kept things lighthearted, sporting Oregon gear as part of a friendly locker-room rivalry after the Ducks’ win over Penn State. The nod came courtesy of Thibodeaux, a former Oregon standout.
“That’s all good,” Carter said with a smile. “We’re going to get it back at some point. You never know — we’ll see them in a playoff.”
The Giants will look to build on their defensive momentum as they prepare for a critical matchup against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday.
