The Giants’ pass rush is off to a slow start this season, entering Sunday’s game in Dallas, where things won’t get any easier.
The Giants currently are 23rd in Pro Football Focus’ pass rush ratings. In last week’s win at the Saints, they had a 58.2 pass rush grade — their lowest of the season. The had a 60.0 in the Week 2 loss at Washington.
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The Cowboys, meanwhile, are 11th in PFF’s pass blocking ratings. And that’s with right tackle La’el Collins having played just one game this season. He is currently suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
In New Orleans, the Giants got 10 quarterback pressures — but no sacks or hits, just hurries. That game underscored just how little the Giants are getting from most of their pass rushers. No Giants player had more than two pressures against the Saints.
Defensive end Leonard Williams excelled last season, and then the Giants gave him a new contract that includes $45 million fully guaranteed. But his pass rush numbers are down through four games. He has a team-high 12 pressures and a 61.2 pass rush grade — compared to a 69.9 grade last season, when he had 62 pressures in 16 games.
The Giants’ most efficient pass rushers have been defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and rookie outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari. Lawrence has a 71.5 pass rush grade and 11 pressures, Ojulari a 74.6 grade and 10 pressures.
Once again, the Giants are getting too little from Lorenzo Carter (58.3 grade, seven pressures) and Oshane Ximines (57.4 grade, three pressures). The inconsistent play of Carter (third-round pick in 2018) and Ximines (third-rounder in 2019) is a big reason why the Giants drafted Ojulari in Round 2 this year. And it’s so far, so good for him.
But it’s not enough. The Giants need more from Williams, Carter, and Ximines if they’re going to improve their pass rush in the final 13 games.
Breaking through won’t be easy against this well-established Cowboys offensive line. Left tackle Tyron Smith is dominant — 82.5 pass blocking grade (fourth among all linemen) and just four pressures allowed. Left guard Connor Williams is rather impenetrable, too. He has allowed three pressures and has a 68.6 pass blocking grade (27th among all linemen).
The Cowboys allowed six pressures last week against the Panthers, compared to five, nine, and 15 in the previous three games. So the Dallas line has actually allowed fewer pressures without Collins, who was hurt all of last year, but had a 75.2 pass blocking grade in 2019.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is back from that horrific ankle injury — suffered last year against the Giants — and looking as good as ever. He has 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 116.9 rating that would be the best of his career if it holds up.
If the Giants’ pass rush is ineffective again — and Prescott can sit in a clean pocket — the good feelings of last week’s comeback win in New Orleans will fizzle into a 1-4 start.
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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.
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