Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Markus Golden is Thriving Once Again in James Bettcher's Defense
New York Giants edge rusher Markus Golden had the most productive season of his five-year NFL career in 2016 when, as a member of the Arizona Cardinals defense, he delivered 53 pressures, including a career-high 12.5 sacks for his then defensive coordinator James Bettcher.
Golden, who was short-changed of the opportunity to build on that breakout season the following year due to a season-ending ACL tear, has had a long road back to being the player he was before suffering that bump in the road.
But now, as a member of the Giants defense, which Bettcher coordinates these days, Golden is off to an excellent start in his quest to accomplish the goal of being a consistent pass rush threat he always wanted to be.
Bettcher, who has been busy trying to get Golden and the rest of the Giants defense ready to face the Cardinals Sunday at MetLife Stadium, recalled one play that told him that Golden was going to be something special.
“I remember his first game as a rookie, we were playing the Saints at our place,” Bettcher said.
“They are on the 15-yard line, and they run a screen into the boundary. He’s aligned to the field, and they run a screen into the back in the boundary. He’s to the field, and again they are on the 15, and he makes a tackle at the seven.
“I see that play, and you see him work in practice, and that’s just his identity. That’s who he is.”
Since the opening days of his rookie campaign, Bettcher has had nothing but good things to say about Golden, who currently is the Giants team leader in total quarterback pressures (18) and sacks (5.5)
“He loves the game,” Bettcher said. “He works tirelessly. A lot of the plays that he makes are just second-effort plays, are just beyond skills, talent. It’s just mindset and purpose.”
In addition to his double-digit sack season of 2016, the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Golden recorded 51 tackles, including 41 solo, with 16 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits.
In his five-year career, Golden has played in 52 games, recording 144 tackles (106 solo) with 29 tackles for loss and 53 quarterback hits and 24 sacks.
When Golden became a free agent this off-season, the chance to reunite with Bettcher was a strong drawing point.
“Just knowing Bettch, talking with (outside linebacker and former Cardinals teammate) Kareem (Martin) a lot, and him telling me there were great people up here and everything--that played a big part of it,” Golden said.
“I know the defense. Of course, I had to learn more when I got here. Then when I came here, I was glad that I made the decision. I’m excited because there are a lot of good people here that are here to help you.”
Bettcher was equally glad to be reunited with another of his former players, and upon the Giants’ signing of Golden to a one-year contract worth $3.75 million, which included a reported $2.225 million guaranteed, Bettcher had one goal in mind for Golden.
“The goal wasn’t to get back to that guy,” Bettcher said. “It was to be better than that guy.”
For Golden, who is aiming for his sixth straight game with at least a half-sack and who is also a full sack away from reaching 25 in his NFL career, the road to improvement is, and always will be, a work in progress.
Golden, being the competitor he is, said he’s not pleased with what he’s put on film.
“I always knew what it was going to take to get me here to put me in this position that I’m in today,” Golden said.
“It’s going to take me playing hard and working hard every day. I’ve played all types of positions and different sports my whole life, and I always played like that. I worry about working hard and putting the results out there.”
Only when the season ends will Golden be able to look back and decide if he accomplished what he set out to do.
“It’s hard for me to be like, ‘This is where I’m at, where I’m going to be,’ Golden said.
In the meantime, if people want to draw conclusions about the year he’s having so far, then so be it.
“I’ll let you do that and judge that. I’m just here to work every day, and at the end of the season, I can go over everything and then be able to scout myself and judge myself like I do at the end of every year.”
