Giants' Arvell Reese making his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year . . . and maybe more
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Joe Milton is brought down by Giants linebacker Arvell Reese during the first half of an NFL game in Philadelphia on Sunday. Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
PHILADELPHIA — After Arvell Reese wrapped up his best day as an NFL player, Giants cornerback Greg Newsome II could only shake his head in awe.
He didn’t think about Reese as merely the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He saw even more for the linebacker after his three-sack day against the Eagles.
“Doing stuff like this, now you thinking of Defensive Player of the Year,” Newsome said after Sunday’s 19-11 win. “Like that’s the type of impact that he makes. I don't know if I've really ever seen a rookie make this big of an impact.”
Consider what Reese did at Lincoln Financial Field. He was the first rookie since at least 2000 with at least three sacks and at least 10 tackles in a game. The Ohio State product's 12 tackles tied his career high and his 10 solo tackles were a single-game best. According to ESPN, Reese is the youngest player (21 years, 70 days) to record three sacks in a game.
All three sacks in his first multi-sack game came on third down to either force a turnover or a punt.
The first validated why defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson called Reese a “violent scud missile” last month. Reese flew in untouched toward Eagles quarterback Joe Milton for a crushing sack that forced a fumble. The power and flash caught even Reese off guard for how things ended.
“I’m thinking the running back’s going to block me,” he said. “Soon as I see him leave, I’m like, 'Oh.' I just went and did it. I’m like, man, it’s free. It’s a layup. Can’t miss it.”
Wilson was so pumped up about the play that he ran down the sideline in celebration.
Each play made the Giants more grateful that Reese fell into their lap with the No. 5 pick. With linebackers Brian Burns and Tremaine Edmunds out for the season, they have needed defensive playmakers to step up, and it’s impressive that a player answering the call is the team’s youngest defensive starter.
“Shout-out to the four teams that passed on him in the draft,” linebacker Abdul Carter said. “He’s special. I’m glad we drafted him for sure.”
John Harbaugh agrees.
" I mean, that’s what we hoped for, and he fell to us," he said. "Joe [Schoen, the general manager] and I were giddy. I think we were kind of beside ourselves . . . And we were because he’s really a good player and he’s all the other things, too. He’s a great young man, he’s humble, he’s very tough, he works really hard, he’s very coachable. He wants to do things the right way. He’s a great leader in his own quiet way."
He's exactly what the Giants need.
The Eagles constantly bullied them in Philadelphia for 13 seasons. For the Giants to assert themselves as the new NFC East beasts this year, they needed to push back. Reese did that.
His 4.5 sacks lead the Giants and are second-most among rookies behind the Jets’ David Bailey (7.5). He also has 67 tackles, including 47 solo.
Every week, it feels as if something new happens to make people say "wow!'' Two weeks ago against the Texans, Reese missed a sack but raced downfield to make a tackle almost 15 yards away.
He downplayed that he is being special, just following orders and executing.
“It’s really the play calls,” Reese said. “Coach [Wilson] puts me in those situations, allows me to go make a play. That’s where it starts.”
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.
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