The New York Giants are entering the toughest stretch of the NFL’s toughest schedule this week as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on just three days rest following their loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The Giants are depending on star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to be the rock in the middle of their defense against the Eagles’ running game.
Recovery after the trip to New Orleans will be particularly important. It was noted during the game that Lawrence came off the field in situations in which he was normally a feature of the defense. In particular, the Giants relied on rookie Darius Alexander to be their interior pass rusher, while letting Lawrence handle the running downs. That likely had something to do with the fact that Lawrence, who did not practice last week due to illness, wasn’t at 100% for the game.
“A couple of times [I] got a little lightheaded. But the sickness, it was kicking my butt all week, so that was expected,” he said. “Nothing too crazy, I think I had a good game plan going in, and I executed it well.”
Lawrence still isn’t completely recovered from the illness that knocked him out of practice before Week 5. But he said Tuesday that it didn’t matter. He noted that short weeks always compress players’ schedules.
“You’ve got to speed your recovery routine up,” Lawrence said, “like shove it into about three days instead of six. But at the end of the day, when you step on the field, it’s time to go, it’s time for war, and that’s the mindset, and that’s what it’s got to be to go out there and win.
“Just you’ve got to strap up a little earlier in the week, and that’s the only thing that’s different,” he added. “You’re still going to sleep the night before, you’re still going to wake up and put on your pads the day of the game. Just getting ready earlier through the week, and I think just taking care of your body on these days are important.”
‘Go out there and win’, that’s what Giants’ fans want — need — to see from there team. The Giants’ offense is very short-handed with Malik Nabers out for the season and Darius Slayton dealing with an injured hamstring. That means the defense will need to carry the day. The good news is that the Eagles’ vaunted running game has been anemic through the first five weeks of the season.
“We’ve got to stop the run. We understand that,” Lawrence said.
The goal for Lawrence is to ensure that his former teammate, Saquon Barkley, doesn’t get right this week.
“He’s Saquon Barkley, great running back. Just got to do well to attack his O-line, not let him get on our DBs and stay disciplined in your run lanes and I think we’ll have a good day.”
“It happens,” Lawrence said about Barkley’s production being depressed. “But you don’t want to be the team to let him get hot. So, you’ve got to stay disciplined Thursday and go win.”
The goal for the Giants’ defense is to take the ball out of Barkley’s hand and force Jalen Hurts to throw it. As Lawrence noted, the Eagles’ quarterback is among the league leaders in time to throw, thanks to his propensity to extend the play and try to find receivers downfield.
“That makes you have to be even more disciplined with your rush lane, because he’s looking for ways to escape, or he’s looking for a shot down the field,” Lawrence said. “Don’t just stand, have a motor, keep that motor going all play.”
And that’s been the big man’s advice for rookie Abdul Carter: Be disciplined, but keep your motor hot. Carter has been incredibly disruptive through five weeks, but doesn’t have the sack numbers to show for it.
“These guys, they’re a little selfish,” Lawrence said of NFL quarterbacks. “They’re going to throw that ball last minute or something, but it’s the way of the game, man. You’ve just got to keep going, and you can win fast, and he’s going to throw the ball. It doesn’t matter, so you’ve just got to stay honed in on your technique and keep grinding.
“The more you’re around a quarterback, that’s positive, and he’s around the quarterback a lot. You’re not going to always get the sacks that you want, but the more you can affect him and allow him to feel you, that’s positive, and that’s what you want. So, he’s just got to keep going and don’t grow weary, and I think that’s what he’s going to do. He understands game day is war day, so he’s got a good mindset.”
Ultimately, whether it’s defending the run or running down Jalen Hurts, Lawrence’s message was the same: Stay disciplined, stay active, go out there and win.
