Dexter Lawrence: NY Giants star taking over ‘best in NFL’ conversation – NorthJersey.com
LAS VEGAS – Dexter Lawrence has forced his way into the conversation.
Opponents can’t block him. His presence for the New York Giants, and impact on their defense, is undeniable.
So there’s just one lingering question involving Lawrence and his game right now:
Is it time to call him the best defensive lineman in the NFL?
“I want to dominate, and that’s what I’m going to do each week,” said Lawrence, who turns 26 later this month. “And that’s my goal: dominate. I enjoy pressure and I like pressure. Whatever this brings, it brings, and I am just going to keep being me.”
The Giants are not having the season Lawrence envisioned when he signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension this spring. They are 2-6 and have endured two of the most devastating losses a team struggling to find its way can have, most recently the inexplicable gift they handed to the Jets last Sunday.
The player Lawrence has become is a matter of sustained success heading into Sunday’s game against the Raiders. With so many issues revolving around this team, Lawrence is a constant. He is undoubtedly the one who commands the most attention on the Giants, and is a game-wrecker, to be sure.
Against the Jets, the 6-foot-4, 342-pounder tied for the most pressures registered for an interior defensive lineman in a single game (15) since 2006, according to Pro Football Focus.
That’s the first time any interior defensive lineman has recorded at least 15 pressures in a game since J.J. Watt in 2014. He has 44 total pressures this season, tied for the most in the league with 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa.
Aaron Donald of the Rams has carried the mantle for years now. Chris Jones of the Chiefs deserves his props. Quinnen Williams of the Jets is outstanding, too.
But for Lawrence to do what he is doing while lining up at nose tackle, most of the time straight up against the opposing center, it’s akin in some ways to a fullback leading the league in rushing.
Lawrence knows the perception of him as a football player has changed.
His production last season qualified as a career breakout, but there were so many layers to what Lawrence accomplished. He slid over to nose tackle at the urging of a new coaching staff and thrived, causing headaches for any offensive lineman who had the unfortunate assignment of trying to block him.
Lawrence has developed into the center piece of Wink Martindale’s defense, wrecking offensive game plans.
Asked if he could put into perspective Lawrence’s current level of performance, Martindale did not hold back.
“Because I’m here now and he’s here now, he’s the best I’ve ever seen,” Martindale said with a smile. “I think that when I retire and we’re drinking a glass of wine down in Florida, you can ask me that question. But I tell you, the guy really is, he’s unbelievable. A man that big shouldn’t be that athletic. We can all say that when you watch him. He’s playing at a high level, he’s very confident in what he can do. … But Dex, he’s a freak. He’s a freak of nature.”
The Giants traded Leonard Williams to the Seahawks for second-round and fifth-round picks, so Lawrence will not have his gridiron wing man for the first time this season against the Raiders.
Last season, Lawrence set career-highs with 7.5 sacks and 28 quarterback hits, shattering his previous bests of 4.0 and 11, respectively. He also set new high marks in total tackles (68), tackles for loss (seven), pass breakups (three) and forced fumbles (two) on his way to being selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Lawrence has reached a different level within the NFL in terms of popularity. He was included in the league’s season-welcoming series of commercials alongside Patrick Mahomes, Jamarr Chase, D.K. Metcalf and others. And his part was totally Lawrence, personality and all, when he suggested “The Griddy” should be replaced by the “Sexy Dexy” dance, which he breaks out after a sack and big play.
“You’ve gotta have a drive in this league to continue to improve and get better,” Giants defensive line coach Andre Patterson said. “That’s who Dexter Lawrence is always going to be.”
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s emergence is also key to the Giants’ defensive success, giving the opposition two players to worry about up front. They can attempt to neutralize Thibodeaux and his 8.5 sacks with double teams on the edge, but figuring out a way to slow down Lawrence on the interior is a helpless challenge.
More attention to Lawrence creates lanes to the quarterback, and when that happens, everybody hunts. Martindale sends linemen on stunts and linebackers and defensive backs on blitzes, creating near-impossible scenarios for quarterbacks. Just ask Josh Allen, Sam Howell and Zach Wilson the past three weeks.
Next up: the Raiders will turn to rookie fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell, who will start Sunday.
“I hate losing,” Lawrence said. “I don’t know how many times I’ll have to tell you all that. It doesn’t feel good to lose. It doesn’t build a lot of morale when you lose. And it’s harder for a leader to get the team going after a loss. But as leaders, that’s what we have to do. We lost it at the end [against the Jets]. Those always hurt a little more.”
The one thing the Giants can count on from Lawrence as they try to bounce back: he’s going to bring the pain.
