FOXBORO — This week’s matchup between Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito and a Patriots beginning quarterback to be named Sunday definitely lacks the star energy of earlier Super Bowl video games between the 2 groups, but it surely may characteristic the most effective and most unheralded gamers within the NFL.
Giants defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence, who hasn’t practiced this week because of a hamstring damage, is the top-graded inside defender on PFF this season. The 6-foot-4, 342-pounder is the uncommon modern-day nostril sort out who not often comes off of the sphere, and there’s good cause for it.
“He’s a really good player,” head coach Bill Belichick mentioned Friday. “He’s a major force, hard guy to block, big, athletic, blocks kicks. It’s hard to move him off the line of scrimmage, and when he penetrates, he can penetrate as well as any player in the league. He’s big and powerful and long. It’s pretty unique. I mean, we’ve faced a lot of good inside players, going back even to preseason – [Quay] Walker in Green Bay, you can go right down the line. Guys that we’ve seen or worked against, or whatever. This guy’s a major force.”
Lawrence ranks first on PFF amongst inside defenders with a 92.5 pass-rush grade and second with an 87.5 run-defense grade. He leads inside defenders with 53 whole pressures, and he’s tied for fifth with 26 defensive stops. This is nothing new for Lawrence, who signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension this offseason after being simply as dominant final yr.
If he performs, Lawrence will present maybe the hardest check heart David Andrews and guards Cole Strange and Sidy Sow have needed to face all season. It will probably be a significant increase if he doesn’t play.
Source: www.bostonherald.com