Why the Giants’ new edge defender had a quiet day
The New York Giants lethargically started their 2024 campaign with a 28-6 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They were outplayed and outcoached, leaving the fanbase with several concerning questions about the team’s state.
One question surrounds offseason acquisition Brian Burns. The star edge defender signed a five-year, $141-million contract with $87.5-million guaranteed ($28.2-million average annual value). He was quiet in the game, recording one pressure on 20 pass-rushing reps; he played 48 snaps.
The Giants were in a negative game script for much of the contest, and the defense did not have many opportunities to pin their ears back and rush the passer. Still, the sound of silence from the pass rushers not named Dexter Lawrence was deafening.
The 26-year-old edge defender was a popular man on Sunday, though. The Vikings paid much attention to Burns; they frequently used a running back or tight end to chip Burns or impede his process on passing downs.
It’s reasonable for fans to be disappointed in Burns’ performance, even with the game plan to remove Burns as a threat. He’s receiving the contract of a player who can overcome those realities. However, it’s fair to look elsewhere — at other pass-rushers on the defense — who failed to impact the game in their one-on-one matchups.
Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw are an exceptional pair of tackles, and the latter may be one of the best tackles in the sport. O’Neill and Darrisaw soundly defeated the pair of Giant edge defenders, but the six-man protection focal point was typically on Burns.
I’m hoping to see a bounce-back from the talented young rusher. Few players at his position have the combination of bend and burst, with his unique body control and swift footwork while rushing. It wasn’t a good start to his Giants’ career; I detail some of the reasons why in the video below:
