Abdul Carter, the third overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has shown promise in his rookie season with the New York Giants. He’s been credited with just a half sack through their first seven games. Yet his contribution to the game stretches far beyond his box score stats. Coaches and teammates alike acknowledge Carter’s incredible influence on the program. Even when his contributions don’t show up in the box score, they realize he’s moving the needle.
What has made Carter’s performance so remarkable is its consistency. He’s been disruptive, earning a good 14.8% pass rush win rate while applying pressure to opposing QBs. This absurd statistic places him among the best of the best in the league. He now sits tied for 27th overall among all defensive players in pressures with 16 total pressures, five more than any other rookie in the league. Even without game-changing plays, Carter’s influence in ruining opposing offensive game plans has made him an indispensable asset.
He’s going to do what we tell him to do … ,” said veteran defensive end Brian Burns, emphasizing Carter’s ability to execute the team’s game plan. Burns added that Carter’s body of work has had a profound influence on his life. It has allowed comrades in arms, like Kayvon Thibodeaux, setting up three sacks via tackle-end stunts or twists.
Carter’s desire to win and be a champion comes through on the film with his work ethic as well. After practice on Wednesday, he was one of the last players to leave the field. For that, he took aim at doing additional drills under defensive line coach Charlie Bullen. They paid particular close attention to working on his hand use techniques as a rusher, something Bullen feels will help Carter’s effectiveness in the years to come.
I believe Abdul’s doing a terrific job,” Bullen said. He emphasized that while the statistics may not fully reflect Carter’s impact, his ability to disrupt and affect the quarterback is crucial for the team’s defensive strategy.
For his part, Carter himself is still more concerned with winning than with personal awards. “All I can focus on is wins. During the game I’m intensely focused on winning and losing. As long as I’m doing everything I can to help the team win, I’m happy,” he stated. This mentality would fit perfectly into what we know about the Giants’ organizational belief that the team’s success comes before individual accolades.
Though he has just half a sack to show for it, Carter is already making his impact felt. Combine that with the fact that he’s always in the backfield and you have an explosive game-changer that opposing offenses need to constantly worry about. His coaches are sure that with further development, the splash plays will come.
Abdul is a great talent. Clearly, the math has not yet added up but those zeros will change. I’ve been telling him to keep his head down and keep doing what he’s been doing. ‘You’re getting pressure, you’re winning. It’s not like you’re losing. The sacks will come,’ Burns added.
Carter’s rookie season is an example that finding success in football can mean different things. It’s more than old school numbers such as sacks. His ability to generate pressure and support his teammates showcases his potential as a key player for the Giants in the future.
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