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Carter is still seeking the breakthrough that seemed inevitable when he was unstoppable during training camp and the preseason. But he only has a half sack 11 games into his NFL career. It’s foolish to call Carter a bust based on the box score. Anyone who has watched the games can see his impact, even if it hasn’t translated to as many sacks as expected.
But Carter hasn’t been as disruptive recently. He averaged four pressures in the first eight games of the season, but he has only has three pressures total in the past three games. And while Carter wasn’t drafted with the No. 3 pick for his run defense, he’s been exploited too often on the edge. He has too much talent to not eventually have a breakout game. But this isn’t the most welcoming opponent. Penei Sewell is arguably the best right tackle in the NFL and left tackle Taylor Decker is a steady veteran.
Bold prediction: Giants edge Abdul Carter will have a big enough game that he’ll vault himself into second place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds. (He’s currently sixth.) Perhaps last week’s opening series benching will be a wake-up call.
Phillips is tied for the fourth-most penalties (eight) against in the NFL, and his 122 penalty yards against rank second in the league behind only Denver’s Riley Moss (nine for 178). He has also been victimized during some of the Giants defense’s collapses, especially during the infamous loss at Denver, when his finish on a play or two was far less than acceptable.
Phillips said he knows he has to play better. ““It’s a rotation, I didn’t get benched,” he said. “I’ve got to be better in critical situations and reduce penalties. I’ve just got to show up, work and compete,” he said.
Across the past 11 months, Isaiah Hodgins has had passes thrown to him by Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
He also caught footballs fed into his own jugs machine at home in Arizona from his wife, Maya, and their...
