Giants' Abdul Carter displaying better work habits following bye week

For Abdul Carter, being benched for a second time in three weeks was a wakeup call. He needed to make some changes. Those changes have taken shape with the Giants back from their bye week.

It’s started with Carter showing up earlier for film sessions, interim coach Mike Kafka said. Carter’s been arriving at the Giants facility at 7:30 a.m. to put in extra work and it’s carried over to the field, where the rookie linebacker is approaching practice differently. 

“I think he's just trying to turn that corner and continue to grow and develop as a young player and do a good job,” Kafka said.

Kafka didn’t expect further discipline this week, so Carter is in line to start Sunday against the Commanders with Kayvon Thibodeaux missing his second straight practice Thursday.

It’s another opportunity for Carter to show what he’s learned by changing his routine. He sat for the entire first quarter of the Week 13 loss to the Patriots and it overshadowed him getting his first career sack.

Defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen thinks Carter is getting the message.  He noted that Carter is a “young player learning the process of the NFL” but he’s making adjustments, such as spending more time in the film room and at the facility after practice.

“His response, quite honestly, has been incredible after both of those moments,” Bullen said. “I mean, he's taken ownership publicly [and] in the building with his teammates and coaches. Just in terms ofpattern behavior, he's doing more. He's watching more film. He's coming in earlier and staying later. So the response is what I focus on.”

Much was expected from Carter as the No. 3 overall pick. His season flew under the radar once fellow rookie Jaxson Dart was promoted to starting quarterback. But now he’s had more attention for what he hasn’t done - be on time - than what he’s done on the field.

For Bullen, helping Carter grow means showing Carter examples of how better technique and preparation applies in games. They used examples from Brian Burns making plays based on what Burns saw in extra film study.

Those are details that Bullen, who was Carter’s outside linebackers coach prior to being promoted to defensive coordinator last month, has stressed -  not just Carter being on time, but seeing the value of putting in extra work. 

Carter said before the bye week that he took in the criticism from teammates and wanted to look in the mirror and  regain their respect.  

“There's always stuff to learn. There's always stuff to add,” said Bullen. “And you really can't take it all in in one moment, especially early on. And so, again, I look at how he's moved forward after each of those examples, and it's been really impressive to me.”

OC challenges Dart to get out of bounds

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly praised Dart on Thursday for his decision making and protecting the football. But that praise didn’t apply to the latest big hit that Dart took. 

Kelly noted that, had Dart stepped out of bounds sooner against the Patriots, it wouldn’t have led to tight end Theo Johnson racing in to defend the quarterback and drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

“If we can do a better job of being able to go ahead and get out of bounds there, we're not exposing ourselves to that penalty because we're not going to get that reaction from the defense,” Kelly said.

Dart was defiant postgame about not changing he way he plays. But Kelly was adamant that things need to change and it’s something all young quarterbacks who play that way have to figure out.

It’s part of ongoing conversations the two have had, along with Kafka. The challenge is making sure Dart adjusts sooner than later, before absorbing another unnecessary hit.

“We still want him to protect himself, obviously, but we never want him to lose an aggressive nature," Kelly said. "And again, it's a fine line. So, with the conversations I've had with him, I do think that that message is becoming clearer for him."

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.