The surest sign Dalvin Tomlinson has raised his play to another level comes from teammates looking for his secrets.
Sometimes a box score is misleading, especially for a defensive lineman. This is not one of those times.
“I was just telling him the other day: Whatever he’s been doing the last few weeks, continue to do it,” linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “He’s found what’s been able to help him play a lot faster and make a lot more plays.”
Tomlinson totaled 1.5 sacks and six tackles for loss in his first 38 career games, from his time as a rookie second-round pick in 2017 through Week 7 of this season. Since then, mostly overlapping with Leonard Williams’ addition, Tomlinson has added three sacks, five tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a career-best nine-tackle performance against the Jets.
“I feel like I’m playing pretty good, but if I can turn it up another notch or so I can help the team a little more,” a reluctant-to-accept-praise Tomlinson told The Post. “I don’t look at anything and just go play-by-play. I guess you could say it is hard work paying off.”
Well, the payoff hasn’t come yet. But it should come soon, if the Giants are looking for another smart business decision, like the one earlier this month to lock up steadily improving punter Riley Dixon on a three-year extension.
Tomlinson has one year and $1.08 million remaining on his rookie contract but is extension eligible for the first time this offseason. NFL players cannot negotiate a second contract until after playing three seasons.
“I want to be a Giant my whole life,” Tomlinson said. “I just control what I can control on the field and see what happens. I want to be part of the reason we turn it around.”
Tomlinson was a Georgia state championship wrestler in high school. He opted not to transfer from Alabama football despite waiting until his senior season to become a starter in a program that went 51-6 and won a national title during his four years. The Giants are 11-35 in his three-year career, so losing is an uncomfortable position.
Yet …
“Loyalty is everything to me,” Tomlinson said. “I want to be loyal to where I start.”
The Giants used five second- or third-round picks on defensive tackles (Jay Alford, Linval Joseph, Marvin Austin, Johnathan Hankins and Jay Bromley) from 2007-17.
The cautionary tale is Joseph, who developed into a Pro Bowler for the Vikings after the Giants let him walk. On the other hand, the Giants waited longer than expected to engage with Hankins, who was priced out of their market in 2017 free agency and has turned into a well-traveled bust since then.
Tomlinson’s sudden addition of quarterback hits is what could get him noticed as more than a versatile run-stuffer or blocks-eater. Another season like the past eight games will drive up the price in 2021 free agency.
“Getting sacks is always a good bonus as an interior guy. It’s tougher in there,” Tomlinson said. “The scheme is the same, but I’m converting a lot better than I was. With experience, I’m recognizing stuff a lot quicker and easier – as one big picture.”
General manager Dave Gettleman’s blueprint brought from the Panthers is to rotate four interior linemen in a 3-4 defense. He has it with B.J. Hill, rookie first-round pick Dexter Lawrence and pending free agent Williams, who could command big money after the Giants traded two draft picks for the chance to sign him early.
Playing 52 percent of the defensive snaps, Tomlinson draws the least publicity of the four.
“He’s just been steady all year long,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “He contacts the ball really well for a defensive lineman. I don’t know what anybody outside the building gives him grade-wise officially, but for a guy who’s kind of a big run-stopper type guy, I find him to be very disruptive.”
Especially lately.
“He is one of those guys who doesn’t get talked about a lot,” Ogletree said “But he’s continued to get better, and he’s finally starting to see whatever he has done is working for him.”
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