Giants leader shares big claim about post-Wink Martindale defense

Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has played only for the New York Giants since he entered the NFL via the 2019 draft and had Don "Wink" Martindale as his defensive coordinator from 2022 through this past January.

The Giants ultimately hired former Tennessee Titans coordinator Shane Bowen as Martindale's replacement, and Lawrence noted during a Tuesday afternoon appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN that the club's defense is "the closest we’ve been since I’ve been here" with Bowen leading the charge.

"We all got together and discussed what we want and understand how to go get it," Lawrence revealed, as shared by Lou DiPietro of Audacy. "I’m not a rah-rah guy, I’m an example guy. I know how to connect with people, and I think that's one of my skills. I know how to get them to do what I need them to do as a player and on the field."

Outsiders may never know all that went down between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll as the 2023 Giants fell to 2-8 before they ended the season at 6-11. However, it's clear that ownership and general manager Joe Schoen sided with Daboll before Martindale and the Giants "mutually agreed to part ways" shortly after the conclusion of Week 18.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post mentioned in June how second-year cornerback Deonte Banks acknowledged the defense will probably be "not as aggressive" under Bowen as it was with Martindale. Schoen seemingly hopes the offseason addition of pass-rusher Brian Burns will help teammates such as Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux get to quarterbacks early and often this fall .

"'Wink' and Shane have their similarities, but it’s aggressive by player, not by call, so it’s about accountability from room to room," Lawrence explained. "We all know how to play football, we all know where we're supposed to be and how we're supposed to fit things, and you got to take that seriously from the walkthroughs. You start getting more run looks in camp, so you take every moment and fit it on the field and in the film room."

Questions regarding New York's secondary and its offense have many predicting the club will endure a second straight losing campaign coming off its road playoff victory in January 2023. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Giants at +115 betting odds to win over 6.5 games this season.

If Lawrence and others on the New York defensive front can meet or even exceed expectations, the Giants could emerge as one of the league's more positive surprises by Halloween.