Giants weigh playing-time balance for Burns, Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen says tempo, situational matchups and an injury at linebacker will shape how often the pass-rushing trio plays together
The New York Giants acknowledged Monday that using edge rushers Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter together is a situational decision after the three were on the field together for only eight of a possible 70 defensive snaps in Week 1.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the limited usage reflected game tempo and matchup concerns rather than a lack of confidence in the group, and that the staff will continue to search for ways to get their top pass-rushers on the field in key moments. The Giants face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
"Any time we can get those three on the field, I think it’s beneficial for us in certain situations, right?" Bowen said. "It could be not very beneficial in other situations, just depending on how teams are attacking us at the time." He added that the ability to play all three more frequently is easier when the Giants are leading and opponents are forced to drop back, or when offenses huddle and third-down substitutions are easier to make.
Thibodeaux played on 74 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 1, Burns on 67 percent and Carter on 54 percent, according to the team. Bowen said the staff is balancing keeping players fresh with making sure its best pass-rushers are available in critical moments.
Carter, the Giants’ first-round pick, drew praise from Bowen for a play late in the first half against the Washington Commanders that forced quarterback Jayden Daniels to throw a pass away. The throw drew an intentional-grounding penalty and cost the Commanders a chance at a short field-goal attempt.
Bowen also identified a personnel option under consideration to get more of the group on the field: deploying Carter at inside linebacker in some packages. Carter played off the ball for two seasons at Penn State before moving to an edge role in the NFL, and starter Micah McFadden is sidelined with an injury, creating a potential opening.
"Abdul’s got the history of playing off the ball, so that’s something we’ve got to consider," Bowen said. "Another way to potentially get all three of those guys on the field. I think all those guys have versatility to do some different things for us."
Carter also played on special teams in Week 1 and blocked a punt on five snaps. Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said Carter’s workload on those units will not limit his defensive availability and highlighted Carter’s playmaking ability.
"I think his superpower, obviously, is his ability to go and get the ball," Ghobrial said. "Whether that be a quarterback or whether that be the punter punting. His versatility, to me, is very valuable on that unit because he has to be able to do everything that we’re asking the other guys to do."
Bowen acknowledged that game tempo can "handcuff" how much control the coaching staff has over substitutions, citing the Commanders’ no-huddle approach as an example. He said the staff will continue to evaluate situational packages and snap counts each week and that usage patterns could change from game to game.
"In critical situations, we want our best players on the field," Bowen said. "Each week it’s something we’re going to look at — just ways situationally that fit [how] we’re able to hopefully utilize those three guys — whether it’s together, separately. Continue to evolve as we go. It might be totally different this week just in terms of [snap] count and where it stands."
The decision over how often to play all three edge rushers together will be watched closely by fans and analysts as the Giants attempt to maximize pressure while managing fatigue and matchups throughout the season.