New York Giants fans were sorely wrong when they thought all of the controversy surrounding the team would leave the building with Brian Daboll. In his first game as interim coach, Mike Kafka benched first-round rookie Abdul Carter for the opening series of Week 11 as discipline for sleeping in the facility during Friday's walk-through practice.
Carter was quick to set the record straight regarding the incident, and the No. 3 overall pick immediately held himself accountable for the mishap. But as fans start to question the maturity of the 21-year-old, Giants' veteran Andrew Thomas made it clear he still believes in the young pass-rusher.
Thomas himself was benched for a quarter in his rookie season for missing a meeting, but admitted experiences like that are beneficial for young players. He called the instance "just a rookie mistake," which is an incredibly encouraging update from one of Big Blue's most trusted locker room voices.
Andrew Thomas calls Abdul Carter's Week 11 benching a rookie mistake
The 27-year-old has long been one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, so his defense of Carter holds weight. According to Pro Football Focus, his 86.0 PFF grade and 84.6 pass blocking grade rank fifth among all tackles, while his 79.9 run blocking grade ranks 11th at the position.
He didn't make his season debut until Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and his impact was instantly felt. While he was injured last season, the Giants' offensive line suffered without their blindside protector, and the stability he provides has done wonders for helping Jaxson Dart make an instant impact.
As for Carter, the ex-Penn State standout has shown flashes of immense potential throughout the season, but it has yet to translate to the stat sheet. Through 11 games, he's amassed just half a sack, 23 combined tackles, nine quarterback hits, and 35 total pressures.
In his final season in Happy Valley, which was also Carter's first season playing off the edge, he totaled 12.0 sacks and 68 combined tackles, so those numbers are bound to increase. His pressure numbers aren't too different from those of Brian Burns, but Burns is second in the NFL in sacks.
While playing on an elite defensive line, he's struggled to separate himself from the pack, but that is likely a fault of the underqualified Shane Bowen. Luckily, what happened last weekend looks to be a one-time occurance, as Thomas' support will help him return to form in Week 12 against the Lions.