It’s difficult to find many bright spots on the Giants’ defense through two games.
But Dru Phillips has been hard to miss, regardless of how rotten the performances have been around him.
Besides star Dexter Lawrence, the rookie cornerback has likely been the most impressive player on the Giants’ defense through two games.
“Being out there as a rookie, guys rely on me to know what I’m doing and to go out there and make plays,” Phillips told The Post after Giants practice on Friday. “I try to go out there and do my stuff, because all camp, if I make a mistake, I know they’re all staring at me. So I’m just trying not to mess up and go do what I got to do.”
The Giants drafted Phillips out of Kentucky in the third round, and he had appeared to win the starting nickel cornerback spot coming out of training camp and the preseason.
But he surprisingly didn’t start Week 1 in a 28-6 loss to the Vikings and played just 29 percent of snaps on defense.
He made the most of his limited action, though, forcing a fumble with four total tackles and a tackle for loss.
By Week 2, Phillips was starting.
He played 92 percent of defensive snaps in the 21-18 loss to the Commanders, in turn seeing his special teams workload shrink from 46 percent to 29 percent of snaps.
Phillips was dominant, recording a sack, 12 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.
Phillips owns a 77.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus — eighth-highest among all cornerbacks in the NFL.
“Really was pleased with Dru,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Thursday. “I think his toughness showed up. He was productive. He was involved. The more he plays, I think the better he’s going to get.”
That toughness is what most stands out about Phillips’ game.
Though he has been strong in coverage — he has an 80.0 coverage grade from PFF — Phillips’ tackling ability, especially near the line of scrimmage, can be felt from the field.
And tackling has been an issue for the Giants through two weeks.
“He’s a dog,” second-year cornerback Deonte Banks — last year’s first-round pick — told The Post Friday. “Just his relentlessness — he’s everywhere. Tackles for loss, sacks, tackles, everywhere.
“He’s got a real good motor — like a real good motor.”
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The Giants’ secondary entered the season as one of the team’s biggest question marks and has done little to quell concerns.
The defensive backs around Phillips, who are more experienced, have struggled — Cor’Dale Flott owns a 55.4 overall PFF grade, while Banks is at 52.9.
At safety, rookie Tyler Nubin is at 62.3 and Jason Pinnock is at 44.3.
The youngster is leading the way.
“I still feel like a rookie in every aspect,” Phillips said. “My opportunity has come, just like everyone else’s will. I took advantage of it.”
