Return to old stance fires up Jason Pierre-Paul
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) lines up at the line of scrimmage against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Jason Pierre-Paul was expected to be limited in Wednesday’s practice because of soreness in his injured right hand. It turned out he was a full participant.
“I was giving everybody problems out there,” he said. “I’m proud of my practice today.”
What’s more, he actually used that right hand in a way he believes will help him record his elusive first sack of the season against the Jets on Sunday.
After three games in which he played right defensive end with his left hand on the ground, Pierre-Paul said he worked on Wednesday with his right hand down. It still was wrapped in a club and appeared to be bulkier than it was during the last few weeks. But Pierre-Paul said returning to the proper technique just for one day led to a marked improvement in his ability to get off the line of scrimmage.
“It made a big difference,” he said. “I’m super excited to see what I’m going to do Sunday against the New York Jets. It’s not a big change, I can put my left hand down, but I’m going back to my old ways and try to get to the quarterback faster.”
Pierre-Paul explained that coming from the right side, having the outside hand on the ground allows for better hand placement and footwork.
“It’s all about the steps,” he said. He noted that when he came into the league as an unpolished rookie he always had his left hand down in a three-point stance, but defensive line coach Robert Nunn fixed that. Now it’s the way he is used to, and he’s happy to be going back to it.
“It’s coming along,” he said. “I’m excited to see what I’m going to do Sunday, and I’m pretty sure my teammates are excited, too.”
The Giants have only 12 sacks, their fewest through 11 games since the stat began to be recorded in 1982. They likely will finish with the fewest sacks in a 16-game season in franchise history; the 1992 team had 25. This week they will be up against the Jets, who have allowed a league-low 14 sacks.
“Look, I’m still trying to get a sack myself,” Pierre-Paul said. “I’m not even worried about that. I feel I’m going to go out there and give my best game. That’s how I’m going to play the game, giving my best game, and I know about the d-linemen behind me, so I’m going to play at a high level and they’re going to play at a high level.”
Pierre-Paul certainly has raised the play, if not the sack total, of the line. That, he said, is one of the reasons he wanted to return to the Giants this season after a fireworks accident tore his hand apart in July and why he said Wednesday that he wants to finish his career with the Giants (he’s a free agent after this season). He could have sat out this season and waited for free agency, he said, admitting that was an option he contemplated.
“I knew my team needed me, especially on the defensive line,” he said. “I make a big difference.”
On Sunday, that difference could go to another level thanks to his new stance.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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