As the New York Giants enter their post-Dexter Lawrence era, it's hard not to feel all over the map, especially when it comes to the defensive line.
Sexy Dexy held down the fort admirably for seven years, earning three Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro second-team nods. That's not production you replace overnight, no matter how many players general manager Joe Schoen brings in to change the narrative.
Funny enough, out of the new bodies Schoen added to the defensive line this offseason, the lone notable returner, Darius Alexander, has been tabbed as the one with the best shot at "replacing" Dex. Obviously, the second-year defensive lineman won't actually replace Lawrence's impact. However, after ending his rookie season on a high note -- logging 3.0 of his 3.5 sacks and three tackles for loss over the final six games -- presumed breakout expectations are high.
While the word on the street is that Alexander has been having a dominant training camp, 11-year veteran DJ Reader might’ve just reminded everyone that breakout seasons aren’t built in the first week of August.
DJ Reader won't let the Darius Alexander hype get out of hand
After the first day of padded practice wrapped up, Reader spoke with the media. The 32-year-old was asked about his first impressions of the former Toledo standout. He started with strong praise but immediately tempered it, pointing out how much more room the young lineman has to grow.
It sounded like an unintentional reminder that fans might want to tone down the immediate breakout hype:
"He's running around, he's making plays, and give himself a little bit of grace. Everything's not always going to be perfect, so you've got to be able to give yourself grace, especially in the position we play. Sometimes you might get got, but it's about getting them more times than you get got, and I think that's super important.
He's running around, he's making some plays. ... We've still got time. We've got a bunch of time until the season. It's working with intent, and I think Darius is going to be really good."
Reader’s whole point in giving the soon-to-be 26-year-old "grace" is simply a reminder of just how hard it is to go from a late-season rotational spark to a full-time defensive anchor.
By telling the sophomore to slow down and process the game with intent, Reader is trying to shield Alexander from the heavy pressure of a fan base that's desperate for a quick fix.
Additionally, Reader’s reminder that "we’ve still got a bunch of time until the season" emphasizes that long-term growth matters more than flash-in-the-pan training camp sessions.
The whole thing is classic vet talk to temper expectations and dodge the premature August hype, shielding Alexander from the inevitable flak if he isn't fully there by Week 1.
Ultimately, Alexander doesn't need to replace Big Dex's All-Pro production -- he couldn't even if he tried. But if he can marry his physical traits with Reader’s wisdom, the up-and-coming lineman could eventually carve out his own legacy as the next cornerstone of this Giants defense.
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