The New York Giants are hopeful that two benchings in three weeks will help No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter begin to understand what it means to be a professional. So far, so good, according to defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen.
“Pro-like,” is how Bullen described Carter’s response to Mike Kafka’s decision to sit him out at the beginnings of games against the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Bullen said he believes the message to Carter is “getting there.”
“Moments like that that you wish didn’t happen, personally and again, I’m sure Abdul wishes they didn’t happen. But to me, they did happen. They’re in the past,” Bullen said on Thursday. “And I look at it like how is he going to respond moving forward and how has he responded? And his response, quite honestly, has been incredible after both of those moments.
”He’s taken ownership publicly, in the building with his teammates and coaches. And then, honestly, just in terms of pattern behavior, he’s doing more. He’s watching more film. He’s coming in earlier and staying later. So the response is what I focus on. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody needs to learn the NFL process, which he’s learning right now. But his response to those moments has been awesome. It’s been pro-like. And that’s all you’re asking a young player to do is just become a pro as they grow in their game. And he has.“
First game jitters are out of the way
The game against the Patriots was Bullen’s first as a play-caller at any level.
“Probably the coolest thing for me or biggest not unforeseen thing about it is there’s a rhythm and a flow that I felt myself get into in the game that felt pretty comfortable, and you can’t replicate that until you go through it. Not knowing what that would feel like or what that actually becomes in game, I just didn’t have that feel last week,” Bullen said. “I was chasing everything, looking at everything, the volume, scripting everything, and it was a lot. Now having been through that and knowing how the game goes and how the flow goes and getting a feel for the opposing play caller, that’s actually shaped how I’ve approached this game week process. So that was the biggest unforeseen part of it, but it was actually pretty cool, and I’m glad that I now have that experience.”
Firings don’t change the focus
The Giants have fired three coaches — head coach Brian Daboll, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox — this season.
“Change is always tough. It’s never easy. But, in moments like this, the people that you’re in the battle with and in the grind with, that’s where I draw my motivation and resolve and grit from is just focusing on the people that are here,” Bullen said. “Again, I have love and respect for all three of those people. Dabs and Shane gave me opportunities, which I’m forever grateful for, and I have a friendship with Brian. So, again, on a personal level, even on a coaching level, I miss all three of them and will.
“But, again, our job moving forward hasn’t changed, so we can’t dwell on that and/or dwell on who isn’t here. We’ve got to focus on the job we have to do. And the people that are here I have great relationships with, obviously, as well, the players and coaches. So that’s what I lean into. I just lean into my love for the players, the coaches, and what our job is and just try to give it everything we can every day to make it better.”
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