Giants' Abdul Carter displaying better work habits after bye week
The Giants' Abdul Carter warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 2. Credit: Getty Images/Al Bello
For Abdul Carter, being benched for a second time in three weeks was a wakeup call. He needed to make some changes, and with the Giants back from their bye week, those changes have taken shape.
It began with Carter showing up earlier for film sessions, interim coach Mike Kafka said. Carter has been arriving at the Giants’ facility at 7:30 a.m. to put in extra work, and it has carried over to the field, where the rookie linebacker is approaching practice differently.
“I think he’s just trying to turn that corner and continue to grow and develop as a young player and do a good job,” Kafka said.
With Kayvon Thibodeaux missing his second straight practice Thursday, Carter is in line to start Sunday against the Commanders. It’s another opportunity for him to show what he’s learned by changing his routine.
Carter sat out the entire first quarter of the Week 13 loss to the Patriots, and it overshadowed him getting his first career solo sack.
Defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen thinks Carter is getting the message. He noted that he is a “young player learning the process of the NFL” but added that he’s making adjustments, such as spending more time in the film room and at the facility after practice.
“His response, quite honestly, has been incredible after both of those moments,” Bullen said. “I mean, he’s taken ownership publicly [and] in the building with his teammates and coaches. Just in terms of pattern behavior, he’s doing more. He’s watching more film. He’s coming in earlier and staying later. So the response is what I focus on.”
Much was expected from Carter as the No. 3 overall pick. His season flew under the radar once fellow rookie Jaxson Dart was promoted to starting quarterback, but now he’s gotten more attention for what he hasn’t done — be on time — than what he’s done on the field.
For Bullen, helping Carter grow means showing him examples of how better technique and preparation apply in games. They used the example of Brian Burns making plays based on what Burns saw in extra film study.
Those are details that Bullen, who was Carter’s outside linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator last month, has stressed — not just Carter being on time but seeing the value of putting in extra work.
Carter said before the bye week that he took in the criticism from teammates and wanted to look in the mirror and regain their respect.
“There’s always stuff to learn. There’s always stuff to add,” Bullen said. “And you really can’t take it all in in one moment, especially early on. And so, again, I look at how he’s moved forward after each of those examples, and it’s been really impressive to me.”
Protecting Dart
Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly praised Dart on Thursday for his decision-making and protecting the football. But that praise didn’t apply to the huge hit that Dart took from Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss, who shouldered him at the sideline and sent him flying out of bounds.
Kelly noted that if Dart had stepped out of bounds sooner, he wouldn’t have been hit and it wouldn’t have led to tight end Theo Johnson racing in to defend the quarterback and drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
“If we can do a better job of being able to go ahead and get out of bounds there, we’re not exposing ourselves to that penalty because we’re not going to get that reaction from the defense,” Kelly said.
Dart was defiant after the game about not changing the way he plays, but Kelly was adamant that things need to change. It’s something all young quarterbacks who play that way have to figure out.
It’s part of the ongoing conversations the two have had, along with Kafka. The challenge is making sure Dart adjusts sooner than later before absorbing another unnecessary hit.
“We still want him to protect himself, obviously, but we never want him to lose an aggressive nature,” Kelly said. “And again, it’s a fine line. So with the conversations I’ve had with him, I do think that the message is becoming clearer for him.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
