Giants’ DT Ryder Anderson making most of big opportunity

During the first episode of ‘Hard Knocks’, New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said there might be a role as a penetrating defensive lineman for Ryder Anderson, who spent last season on the practice squad.

Anderson said he has not watched ‘Hard Knocks’, but friends have ensured he has seen the clip.

“I just think opportunity,” Anderson said after Monday’s first fully-padded practice. “It’s a chance for me to go out there and prove that I can be a part of the defense.”

Right now, the 25-year-old former undrafted free agent could be more than “part of the defense.” He could be a starting part of the team’s base defense.

That is what Anderson has been throughout the early part of training camp, working alongside Dexter Lawrence and Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Anderson made the Giants’ roster as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2022. He played in seven games, starting two, and had 2.0 sacks.

Anderson’s 2023 season was derailed by a triceps injury suffered early in camp. He missed most of training camp and landed on the team’s practice squad. He did not play a single snap in 2023.

“Of course it’s hard. But, the practice squad is the place I’ve been before. My rookie year. I know what it takes. I know what you have to do. (1:59) And what you have to do is just take it one day at a time and just focus on getting better. You can’t worry about if you’re going to be playing that week. You can’t worry if you’re ever going to get caught up that week. Because you don’t know. It’s out of your control. All you can do is just focus on just getting better every day. So that’s what I did.”

Bowen’s defense, more reliant on four-man pressure with games up front rather than exotic blitz packages designed to overload offensive lines, asks for a somewhat different skill set than what the blitz-happy Wink Martindale was looking for.

Anderson’s weight had fluctuated in his three seasons. As a rookie, he weighed roughly 280 pounds. Last year, he was 305. Now, he said he is at about 295 pounds.

What is his role?

“Pretty much just 3-tech, especially in the passing game, be a dominant rusher. A big end on our 3-down front, 3-D lineman fronts,” Anderson said. “So, that’s like 5, 6, 7, 4 [techniques],” he said.

“I’ve also been trying to carve out a role on special teams as well. So, that’s where a lot of that weight loss came to because I’ve got to be able to run.”

Lawrence is, of course, one of the best defensive tackles in football. With edge defenders Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, along with insider linebacker Bobby Okereke, the second level of the Giants’ front seven should be outstanding.

There are, though, questions about the players who will be lining up on either side of Lawrence with a hand in the ground.

Nunez-Roches and Jordan Phillips are established veterans. D.J. Davidson and Jordon Riley are young players trying to earn roles. Elijah Chatman and Casey Rogers are undrafted players trying to impress.

There is an opportunity for Anderson to go from afterthought to defensive stalwart.

“To me, it’s the biggest opportunity because it’s the next one,” Anderson said. “Each opportunity along the way has been significant to me. From getting a training camp tryout, or a rookie meeting camp tryout, that was a significant opportunity. Being on the practice squad and playing the preseason, significant. Move up to the roster, significant.

“So, this is just the next thing. And so, it’s the biggest thing at the moment.”

It will be big for the Giants, too, if Anderson succeeds in the role. It would help answer one of the many questions the Giants have on defense entering the season.