Just three years ago, Markus Golden was considered one of the most elite pass rushers in the league, having recorded 12.5 sacks as a part of James Bettcher’s exciting defense in Arizona.
Golden’s time at the top was short-lived however, as the talented edge rusher went down with a torn ACL in 2017 and has amassed just 2.5 sacks over 11 games since.
Now completely healthy and back with Bettcher, Golden feels as if he’s ready to turn the dial back up and return to where he was pre-injury, but that doesn’t mean he feels as if he has anything to prove.
“To say, ‘prove-it,’ I would look at it as a person who hasn’t done anything yet in the league, who hasn’t made plays, who hasn’t showed themselves that they can do it. But I’ve done that,” Golden told reporters on Saturday. “I’ve had double-digit sacks, I’ve had big games, big moments, and I’ve done that, and it just so happens to come with the game — which is the injury. [There are] no excuses, I had an injury. At the same time, I wouldn’t say [that I am] ‘proving it to myself,’ I would just say [I’m] getting out there, getting back started up, and getting back to where I was.”
Asked how many sacks he’s chasing in 2019, Golden refused to put a number on it, saying he’s just looking forward to putting pressure on the quarterback on making an impact defensively. In the end, the numbers don’t really matter.
“I wouldn’t do that. That has never been me to come out and put numbers on stuff, because it’s bigger than that. Pass rush work, up front and back — you need your teammates to do all of that,” Golden said. “Of course, you want to come out and do better every year. I know what I can do, and I know what I did before. You always want to get better and work harder every year. I wouldn’t dare put a number on that. I just want to come out, hit the quarterback, whether it’s a hit or whether I’m sacking them, I’m just looking forward to finally being able to hit a quarterback.”
The Giants defense finished at the bottom of the league in sacks (30) a season ago, and have struggled to generate consistent pressure in recent years. With a young secondary, that will have to change in 2019 or the team risks another losing record.
Golden is a key component for the Giants and whether he amasses 12.5 sacks or not, they’ll need him to remain a healthy and consistent presence in the backfield of their opponents.
