Giants Dexter Lawrence has shot to be NFL sack leader in unusual way
It most likely will not happen because it almost never does.But with Dexter Lawrence not getting any smaller or weaker or less willing to dominate, there is certainly a chance the best Giants player will accomplish what an interior defensive lineman is not supposed to claim on his résumé.Big Dex could actually finish this season leading the NFL in sacks.“He’s on pace for it now, so … he’s doing a great job,’’ inside linebacker Bobby Okereke said Wednesday.It is one of the many wasteful aspects to this season for the Giants.
They are 2-5 and seemingly headed nowhere, other than to Pittsburgh soon enough for a Monday night meeting with the Steelers.Tucked inside another losing campaign is one of the best stretches for a defensive player in the history of a franchise that is commemorating its 100th year of existence.Lawrence is leading the NFL in sacks with nine in seven games.
That puts him ahead of Will McDonald of the Jets (eight sacks), Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions (7.5 sacks but out for the remainder of the season), Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals (7) and Kyle Van Noy of the Ravens (7).All of these players make a living as edge rushers, which is where sack leaders almost always reside.
Lawrence, as a 340-pound nose tackle, is required to control the running game and push the pocket with an interior rush.Sacks are almost never the bountiful payoff.Of the 33 players who have led the league in sacks since it became an official statistic in 1982, only three have lined up on the interior: Hall of Famer John Randle (15.5 sacks in 1997), La’Roi Glover (17 sacks in 2000) and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald.
His 20.5 sacks in 2018 not only led the NFL but also set the standard among interior defensive linemen.And now comes Dexter Lawrence to make a run at it.“No, I don’t think anybody ever would suspect a nose tackle to be leading the league in sacks,’’ guard Jon Runyan Jr.said.With six sacks in the past three games, Lawrence is flirting wit...