Giants’ Abdul Carter is passing his science test with flying colors

Carter off to dominant start in early part of training camp

New York Giants rookie edge defender Abdul Carter appreciates the Micah Parson comparisons, but he isn’t trying to be Parsons.

“I’m my own player, I’m going to be Abdul Carter,” he said on Sunday.

So far, that’s been pretty darn good.

A few days ago, Carter dominated rookie right tackle Marcus Mbow on three straight reps. Sunday, he gave veteran starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor — a good NFL player — fit.

Veteran defensive line coach Andre Patterson told media last month that Carter has a unique ability he has only seen in one other player at the beginning of his career.

“A lot of guys blow the rush when they get to the top of the rush,” Patterson said. “A lot of guys are quick. A lot of guys are explosive. A lot of guys can go edge to edge. But when they get to the top of the rush, they become mechanical. And as a coach, it takes guys two, three, four years to figure that out.

“Well, he was born with that. That’s the thing that he was born with, that just naturally when he gets to the top of the rush, he has a feel of where to go. And I think that’s the thing that makes him unique.”

In four days of training camp, Carter has shown speed to bend the edge, power to punish blockers (just ask John Michael Schmitz) and a sweet spin move.

“I feel like pass rush is a science,” Carter said. “It’s like you’re playing basketball, dribbling the ball, just setting your moves up, setting up your counter. I just try to think about it like that. It’s really just a science for me.

“I have a lot of moves.”

The comparisons to Parsons, the star edge for the Dallas Cowboys, are natural. Both came from Penn State and were drafted in Round 1 for their ability to terrorize quarterbacks. Parsons is a two-time first-team All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons.

The Giants have aligned Carter in a number of ways. He has been used as a standup edge defender, a defensive end in a three-point stance, a defensive tackle and standing over center as a pass rush threat.

Carter said he “definitely” prefers pass rushing from a three-point stance, but can handle whatever role he is placed in.

“Anything my coaches need me to do, I’m going to go out there and do it to the best of my ability, so whatever they ask me, I’m going to get in there, I’m going to do it,” Carter said. “I’ve been doing this since my freshman year of college, so I’m pretty much used to it.”

The Giants knew the versatility Carter showed at Penn State, and hoped it would translate to the NFL. So far it has, even though padded practices do not begin until Monday.

“You were able to go back the year before too and see him play another position off the ball and see the impact he had there, running through gaps and chasing people down. And that’s part of it when you’re evaluating a player is the vision you have for the player when they’re coming into your team,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “But until they get here, kind of see them move around and ultimately see how they handle it mentally. Can they pick it up? Do they have the instincts to do it? Which he certainly has, I’d say. very, very good instincts as a football player.

“Some players do exactly what’s on the paper, the line, and I run 12 yards, I stop, I turn. And then you have other players that are very instinctive players. If I run to 12 yards and turn here, I’m going to be covered, or if I do this, it’s not. He’s a little bit of a see ball, get ball kind of guy. And again, he’s done a nice job with what we’ve asked him to do and we’ll see how it grows.”

At each practice, Carter sticks close by veteran edge defenders Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. He said they have given him “a lot” of advice.

“Shoot, honestly, I’m just quiet,” Carter said. “I like to learn from them, watch them, just try to steal little things they do in terms of their routine, how they practice and just how they handle their business. Just try to pick up little pieces, one moment at a time.”

Carter is aware of the hype surrounding him, but is doing his best to tune it out.

“I try not to listen to it too much and I just want to keep working, keep getting better,” Carter said. “I feel like I’m still just getting started. It’s my second year of being on the edge. I feel like I just keep getting better, keep finding little ways to get better.”

From what we have seen thus far, that is a scary thought for opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks.