The theory seemed to be sound. Inspired, perhaps.
Surround Brian Burns with better players than he was with during his five years as a sometimes solo artist for the Panthers, and his production should rise.
Get him involved in a more positive football environment, and all his athletic attributes would lead to increased success, for Burns and his new team.
That theory has yet to be realized, for Burns or the Giants.
Through four games, he is not dominating, and the Giants are not winning.
It is not as if Burns has failed to play at a high level.
He is too talented to merely blend in.
But he has not stood out, and that is not what the Giants want and need from a player they traded for then signed to a five-year deal worth up to $150 million.
Burns was brought in to be a difference-maker, but there is not much of a difference with what is going on with the Giants — who sit at 1-3 after a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys and now get 10 days between games before they travel to face Seattle.
This is nothing new for Burns.
He piled up 47 sacks for the Panthers and never came close to winning anything in Carolina — the Panthers were 24-59 in five seasons with Burns.
“I’ve been here before,’’ Burns said. “So, I’m really just taking it one day at a time, focusing on myself, focusing on looking in the mirror and trying to capitalize on the plays, the opportunities that I get. The times I do get one-on-ones, the times I do have time to get to the [quarterback], just trying to affect the game any way I can.’’
Burns in four games has only just sack.
He has 13 tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
He has been more effective than the raw numbers.
He is ranked as the 13th most effective edge defender in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Kayvon Thibodeaux is graded by PFF as the 81st-rated edge player.
Dexter Lawrence is the No. 2 interior defender.
That trio has put together maybe a handful of big moments but not enough of them.
Burns was on the field for 47 of the 56 snaps on defense, and he did not make his mark against the Cowboys.
He did not generate a single pressure on 25 pass rushes, according to Next Gen Stats.
It was the first time in Burns’ career that he did not have a single pressure in a game in which he had at least 10 rushes.
Burns rushed the passer 17 times against right tackle Terence Steele and did not rise up in a matchup the Giants needed him to dominate.
The Giants require more from him.
“Spider is an amazing athlete, great defensive end,’’ linebacker Micah McFadden said. “He’s been doing it at a high level for many years in this league. I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy on the field and off the field. Obviously he might not be playing to the standard that he holds to himself but we all believe in him, we know not just him, but the entire defense has more. We’re prepared to put that on film.’’
Putting more impactful snaps on film is the goal for all. Burns is a veteran, but a young one at 26 years old.
The Giants were attracted to him because of the quality of his play, his track record of durability and the staying power he should have as a fixture on defense for the duration of his contract.
For now, this is a respite for Burns, as coach Brian Daboll gave his players the weekend off.
Thursday night games often provide a mini-bye for teams.
The Giants can use a break, considering they have lost two games they believe they could have won.
Burns can use the time to assess the first segment of his Giants career.
“It’s gonna be a good reset,’’ Burns said after the loss to the Cowboys. “Dabes had something powerful to say afterwards. He’s disappointed, but not discouraged, because we never gave up. It was a close fight. Guys showed a lot of grit, offense showed a lot of grit coming down to the wire. They just made more plays than we did.’’