Andre Patterson respects Carl Banks’ opinion.
He just vehemently disagrees with it.
The Giants’ defensive line coach jumped to Dexter Lawrence’s defense Friday, as the saga started by Banks’ pointed criticism that “nobody respects” Lawrence anymore was reignited.
Lawrence, who had nine sacks in 12 games and made a third straight Pro Bowl last season, has a half-sack in eight games this season.
“I get people look at the numbers and say he is not playing to the numbers he had last year. That part of it is true,” Patterson said. “That does not mean he is not playing well. I don’t know if people understand it. I watch the film over and over and over again. If he wasn’t playing well, I would stand right here in front of you and tell you, ‘He’s not playing well and I have to get him to play better.’ But that’s not the truth.”
Banks, who is the color commentator on team radio broadcasts, is in the Giants’ Ring of Honor where Lawrence might end up one day. So, his criticism of Lawrence on the “Bleav in Giants podcast” hit hard — as did Lawrence’s fiery reply that Banks is “delusional.”
It all stems from how much attention offensive lines are paying to Lawrence.
Banks sees a decrease from years past when watching film, but the analytics say Lawrence is the most-double-teamed player in the NFL (59.6 percent) for the second straight season, including on 29 of 40 snaps lined up last week against Eagles’ backup center Brett Toth.
“He is his own worst enemy,” Patterson said. “What he did last year was unreal. Is he still striving to go out there and try to achieve those goals? Yes, but it’s hard to do from where he plays. He’s not a three-technique who gets 1 on 1s. He is trapped right in the middle. And he made a name for himself. That’s what he has to deal with.”
Patterson moved a middling Lawrence to nose tackle when he was hired in 2022. That’s when Lawrence’s career took off as easily the best pass-rushing nose tackle in the NFL.
But the Giants have ranked as a bottom-six rushing defense during each of the four seasons of head coach Brian Daboll’s tenure, with Patterson overseeing the defensive line. The results didn’t change after the switch from coordinator Wink Martindale to Shane Bowen.
“The film doesn’t lie,” Patterson said. “One thing I think is important is, if you ask any of my players, I don’t baby my players. I deal in truths. If you are not playing well, I get after you no matter who you are.”
The Eagles ran for 276 yards.
“It’s OK for [Banks] to have the opinion that he has and that’s how he sees it,” Patterson said. “It’s one person’s opinion. I have a great deal of respect for what he’s done in his career as a New York Giant. But when it comes to D-line, I’m one of 32 [NFL coaches] that does this in the whole world. My word, Shane’s word and our head coach’s word is the most important word. No, it doesn’t carry any other merit.”
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