Lawrence Taylor marvels as Giants rookie flashes ‘dominant game changer’ potential

Arvell Reese stuffed the football into his black backpack late Sunday afternoon as he prepared to leave the Giants‘ locker room at MetLife Stadium.

It was a game ball that Reese — a promising rookie linebacker — received for dominating throughout the Giants’ 36-24 win over the Cardinals, as they improved into 3-1 and seized sole possession of first place in the NFC East for the first time since November of 2015.

But Reese also took something more valuable with him — a compliment from Lawrence Taylor, the greatest defensive player in football history.

“He’s playing great,” Taylor said at halftime. “I think he’s a good player.”

Taylor and the 1986 Giants were at MetLife on Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

No one will ever compare to Taylor. But Reese’s relentless playing style Sunday surely reminded old Giants fans of how tenaciously Taylor played linebacker.

“It was ‘see ball, get ball’ for me,” Taylor said. “So that’s all I did.”

The Giants drafted Reese fifth overall this year because they believe he can become a suffocating defensive player, just like Taylor was.

On Sunday, Reese had nine solo tackles (one for loss), an interception and three passes defended.

He showed sharp awareness by hauling in that pick after Shelby Harris tipped the ball at the line. Reese also flashed his absurd blitzing speed by pressuring Jacoby Brissett, who threw an interception to Greg Newsome.

Reese was a factor all over the field, as the Giants leaned on their defense — something they’ll need to do all year with quarterback Jaxson Dart sidelined.

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Now that star edge rusher Brian Burns also is out for the season with a knee injury, this defense desperately needs another big-time disruptor. Reese sure appears to be plenty capable of filling that role.

His absurd showing against the Cardinals came after he destroyed the Titans in last week’s 12-7 Giants win. Reese posted an 84.6 Pro Football Focus grade in that game. He was even better Sunday, when he graded 90.1.

And he did it with Taylor watching.

“With a guy like that in the building, with him setting the standard for how that position is supposed to be played, it means a lot to play a decent game while he’s there,” Reese said.

Just decent?

“To me, yeah,” he said. “There were a bunch of plays I left out there.”

Reese said the key to his superb performance was “being poised and having that ‘win the game on defense’ mentality.”

He has no doubt about what kind of player he can become.

“Man, a game changer, a dominant player,” he said. “I’m nowhere near my ceiling. A dominant game changer. That’s what I’m going to be. That’s what I’m chasing.”

Reese had the chance to briefly meet Taylor when he stopped by a Giants practice in the spring. Now, he wants to sit down with Taylor and pick his brain.

“Next time I see him, I’ve got to have a real conversation with him,” Reese said. “Because he’s a legend.”

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