Perry Fewell has an idea of how to fix the Giants’ anemic pass rush. It doesn’t include exotic blitzes or personnel changes.
“Sometimes you just gotta whip somebody’s ass, and you got to get to the quarterback,” the Giants defensive coordinator said after practice on Friday, drawing laughs. “We can try to become more creative and some things of that nature. But it just comes down to, you have to win an individual battle. Sometimes you got to beat two people. If the ball is coming out quick, hey, sometimes you just got to will yourself to get there.”
Fewell said he expected the Giants to win more one-on-one battles than they have, though he declined to offer his opinion on why. The Giants have managed just five sacks, a game’s worth in past years, good for dead last in the NFL.
“From a football standpoint, there are things that are happening, and we are going to fix that situation,” Fewell said. “There’s no magic formula or anything like that. It’s like turnovers — they come in bunches. Sacks, they haven’t come in bunches for us right now. We’re working hard to rectify that situation. It’s going to happen for us. We’re talented enough.”
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A day after declining interview requests because he was feeling sick, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul missed practice on Friday. But coach Tom Coughlin expects the third-year defensive lineman, who has struggled mightily this year with just one sack after dealing with offseason back surgery, to be OK by Monday.
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Vikings superstar running back Adrian Peterson (hamstring) didn’t practice on Friday after he was limited on Thursday, but coach Leslie Frazier expects him to practice on Saturday.
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Despite not practicing on Friday, Giants cornerback Corey Webster is optimistic he will return Monday night after missing the past four games with a strained groin.
“I had a good couple of days of practice,” Webster said. “If everything’s still on course I’ll be out there on Monday.”
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Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said newly signed running back Peyton Hillis will get action behind Brandon Jacobs, he’s just not sure how much, depending on the health of Jacobs (slight hamstring strain), who was limited in practice. While Hillis only has been with the Giants since Wednesday, his former team, Tampa Bay, runs a similar system under offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan, the former Giants wide receivers coach.
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The Giants have committed an astounding 23 turnovers in six games, but just as troublesome, they have struggled in takeaways also, with just seven, equating to a plus/minus of minus-16.
“That’s something we need to improve on, obviously, and [it] definitely [was] a focal point this week and [will be in] the weeks to come,” safety Antrel Rolle said. “We have to find a way to get the ball, go attack the ball, make the plays necessary.”
The defense has only four interceptions, which is tied for 22nd in the NFL, but the unit sees an opportunity on Monday against quarterback Josh Freeman, who will be making his first start for the Vikings and hasn’t played a game since Sept. 22. After he was released by the Buccaneers, Freeman signed with Minnesota on Oct. 8.
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The following Giants were limited in practice: center David Baas (neck), cornerback Jayron Hosley (hamstring), tight end Adrien Robinson (foot), safety Cooper Taylor (shoulder) and cornerback Terrell Thomas (knee).
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Running back David Wilson continues to play the waiting game, dealing with a herniated disk in his neck. He is unsure if it will need surgery.
“I’ll know more in a month, that’s all I got to say,” Wilson said.