Brian Burns has had a good NFL career. In six seasons, the New York Giants edge defender has been named to two Pro Bowls. He has 54.5 career sacks, including a 12.5-sack season. He cashed in by getting a five-year, $141 million contract after last season’s trade to the Giants from the Carolina Panthers.
Yet, Burns is not satisfied. Pardon the pun, but he burns to be even better.
“I’m just trying to take my game to a level it’s never been,” Burns said following Wednesday’s joint practice vs. the New York Jets. “That requires me doing things I never did.
“I’ve been working with Dex quite a bit, talking to Dex (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence) a lot (about) just how to manipulate body positions and try to use my length and power more and not just my speed and finesse. That’s been good to me so far so I’m going to keep working on that.”
Burns is 6-foot-5, 250 pounds. Dating all the way back to pre-draft scouting reports about him in 2019, Burns’ ability to incorporate power into his game has always been questioned. Consider this from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:
Thin frame with spindly limbs. Frame might not be able to handle enough weight. Lacks functional play strength. Lacks necessary dog for consistent combat at point of attack. Gives away his position when setting edge. Allows length to go to waste, catching too many blocks with shoulders. Sticks to blocks once he loses his frame. Struggles to play through redirect blocks on inside moves. Will have issues converting speed to power at top of the rush. Needs more strength and force as hand fighter.
“Lacks necessary dog?” Burns has answered that criticism with how hard he practices and plays, and how he continues to play and produce despite being less than 100%. As poorly as last season turned out for the Giants, Burns continued to play — and play well — despite the fact that he was operating on one healthy leg.
Now, seven years into his career and having long ago established himself as a successful, respected player, Burns is continuing to work at getting better. Players should always want to learn and grow, but the reality is not all of them are truly willing to open themselves to new ideas and be uncomfortable.
Lawrence was open to new ideas when Andre Patterson became defensive line coach back in 2022, and the result was that he went from being a very good defensive tackle to perhaps the best in the game.
Now, Burns is trying to follow a similar path.
“It’s always been an uphill battle with me trying to add that [power] into my game but Dex is one of the best to do it and the way he does it – I mean, obviously he has brute strength but he’s so much smarter than that,” Burns said. “He’s such a master at manipulating body positions and of course it takes strength to do that but it also takes length and technique and that’s something that he works constantly but when I see him working and when he expressed that he wanted to help me in that area, shoot, why not? Everybody is trying to get better, so why not?”
Lawrence believes there is plenty of upside left in the 27-year-old Burns’ game.
“I think his game is unlimited, honestly,” Lawrence said. “He can speed rush you. He can power you. He can finesse you. He’s not a little guy either, so he’s got a lot to his game. He’s tapped into it more this training camp, and that’s good to see.”
Burns has had an excellent summer. As much attention as rookie No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter has gotten, Burns has also been a dominant presence since training camp began.
Burns says “God willing” this will be his best season.
“I don’t put any expectations or predictions or any of that stuff out in the open,” Burns said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the process. If I take care of everything that we’re doing right now, it’ll show.”
Head coach Brian Daboll said he shows “a couple of clips of Burns almost every day of what he’s doing at practice and the standard that he’s creating for not just his position room, for the entire team to see.”
“I think it’s important for everybody to see it,” Daboll said. “He’s had a very good camp. Not just some of the improvements that he’s made and the techniques and the things he works on diligently, but I would say how he’s approached every day.”
Daboll wasn’t done praising Burns.
“I’d say that Brian has really exemplified what we’re trying to do here starting back in April,” Daboll said. “The way he practices, the way he approaches things, I’ve been very pleased with Burns.
“He’s given us good reason to be very pleased with the way he does things day in and day out. Nothing more important than the practice field.”
Fellow edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux said Burns has “mastered his process” in an effort to be at his best.
“Outside of techniques, I would just say I play my best when I’m me,” Burns said. “When I get in my head and things – I mean that’s anybody but when I get in my head and things of that nature and I think too much, that’s not me being me so just allowing my instincts to kick in is where I’m thriving at right now.
“I feel like when I’m in my element, I’m having fun, dancing around, not too tense, that’s me at my best.”
Burns has certainly looked like he has been having fun this summer.
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