Saying it does not make it so, but it does offer some perspective.
“It’s all going to come together,’’ defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said. “It’s early. It’s not like a catastrophe out here.’’
No, the Giants’ defense is not a catastrophe. Not even close. The unit is ninth in the NFL in points allowed (18.3 per game) and coming off a 12-7 victory over the Titans.
“I mean, we did play a game where a team we just faced only scored seven points,’’ Wilson said. “We had six three-and-outs on the first possessions. They had 54 total yards in the first half, all right? It’s there.’’
It was there against the Titans, one of the worst offensive outfits in the league. Will it be there Sunday against the Cardinals, who are 1-2 but are averaging 21 points a game?
One player who will not be there is outside linebacker Brian Burns, who had 16.5 sacks last season and tore his ACL last week, taking the most productive defensive player off the field for the rest of the season.
Even with Burns, the Giants generated only one sack in three games — from Abdul Carter in Week 2 on Matthew Stafford. That puts the Giants ahead of only the Dolphins (zero) in the sack department.
“As coaches, we’re looking at it, we have to put them in better positions for them to go ahead and take off a little bit,’’ Wilson said. “A lot of it is moving pieces around, trying to get different players in different spots so they can have more success, being able to dent the pocket in the A and B gaps.’’
Wilson also put the onus on the players to improve their “initial get-off’’ on their pass rushes.
Kayvon Thibodeaux will move into the starting lineup to replace Burns. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been sacked five times in three games.
“You never want to see a guy go down, but there’s a bunch of top, high picks in that room, guys who can rush the passer and guys who are just waiting for the opportunity so it should be a fun time,’’ nose tackle DJ Reader said. “We got more than enough guys around here who can get after the passer.”
Wilson should have his full assortment of defensive backs to choose from, with cornerback Deonte Banks and safety Tyler Nubin both returning from calf injuries.
There were plenty of empty seats last week at MetLife Stadium for the first game played after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, a game played in rain and wind.
Running back Cam Skattebo wants more from the paying customers.
“A lot of people come to the games to see certain players,’’ Skattebo said. “And if that’s why they didn’t come to that game and that’s why they weren’t rowdy, then I understand. But there’s still — we have 14 more games to play at minimum. We have to continue to bring our fan base in, have people coming in and giving their efforts and spirit to us. You know, that’s — teams are built off of what’s surrounding them.’’
The Giants will honor their 1986 championship team with a halftime ceremony commemorating the 40th anniversary season of the franchise’s first Super Bowl triumph.
This is a legacy game, and the Giants will wear their 1986 Legacy Blue uniforms. The first 25,000 fans will receive a Mark Bavaro bobblehead.
Jake Haener was activated from the practice squad. He is expected to serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Jameis Winston, with J.J. McCarthy likely to be the emergency third quarterback.
