The New York Giants’ pass rush is currently ranked 26th in the NFL, averaging just 1.8 sacks per game. That is unacceptable to defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
The Giants are running on fumes thanks to the many injuries up and down the roster but the loss of top pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, who hasn’t played in a game since Week 2 due to a calf strain, has been one of the most glaring.
On Wednesday, Martindale was asked now much he missed Ojulari.
“A lot,” said Martindale, who then jokingly added, “It sounds like a Hallmark card, doesn’t it? I’ve missed you a lot.”
The Giants have missed Ojulari a lot. He led the team in sacks last season with 8.0 and had one in his two games played this year. There is a possibility Ojulari plays this Sunday against Washington.
“I think (head coach Brian Daboll) is going to answer that one, if we’ll have him back or not. I hope that we do,” Martindale said.
Martindale has stated he’s never been around a team that has had so much roster uncertainty as this year’s Giants. He’s learned to deal with it.
“I think it becomes the norm after a while,” he said. “It’s just like I asked you guys when we came in, ‘does this throw you off being here Wednesday instead of Thursday?’ because it does me. The way it’s been this season, it’s just sort of become the norm that ‘ok, here’s who we have, let’s plan it this way, let’s do it this way.’ It’s really become the norm, which that’s not a good thing to say, I understand that, but that’s where we’re at.”