Ryan Mundy learned from the best, even if the Giants safety wasn’t quite ready at the time to put those lessons into action.
In 2008, when Mundy was a rookie with the Steelers, he watched the way teammate and star safety Troy Polamalu played.
“I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty cool.’ He’s doing some great stuff,” Mundy recalled yesterday. “He says, ‘Don’t do what I do.’”
Polamalu understood he was a veteran who knew the defense, and Mundy wasn’t. Now, however, Mundy finds himself in a situation in which he has to try to emulate another teammate: Stevie Brown.
That’s because on Saturday night against the Jets, Brown suffered a season-ending torn ACL and Mundy is slotted in as his replacement, starting alongside veteran Antrel Rolle.
Replacing Brown involves filling big shoes. Brown racked up a team-high eight interceptions last year and was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Brown, who was not even a starter at the beginning of the 2012 season, ended up playing in every game — starting 11 of them after Kenny Phillips injured his right knee — and delivering terrific play.
“You could look at last year, and what Steve did was nothing short of outstanding,” Mundy said. “Kenny went down and he came in, stepped in and played a major role on the defense. I’m just looking to keep it going.”
Mundy said this situation is not foreign territory for him. He started five games for the Steelers last year and also played in every game each of the last four seasons. Still, what’s different is Mundy is now being counted as more than a spot-starter.
The 28-year-old Mundy played at both Michigan and West Virginia, was a sixth-round pick and has 79 tackles and an interception in 64 NFL games. He signed with the Giants in March, said he considers himself “an above-the-neck-type [cerebral] player” and has experience playing both free and strong safety.
“I just want to go out there and make plays,” Mundy said.
Rolle and Brown are close, and Rolle almost sounded dejected yesterday, taking it hard Brown is lost for the season.
Rolle said “For me personally, it goes deeper than football. … It’s definitely taken its toll on me.”
While Rolle called Brown’s absence “a huge blow,” he insisted it won’t cripple the Giants. Rolle said he was unsure if Brown’s injury will force him to change his responsibilities on the field.
“Whatever they have assigned for us to do, we’ll get it done,” Rolle said. “There’s no doubt about it that we will get it done, and we’re gonna do what we have to do in order for this team to win and be successful.”
Rolle, who returned to practice yesterday two weeks after spraining his ankle, said he is demanding more of himself as well.
“It’s time for me to step up even more than I ever have before and be a leader, be a consistent playmaker and make sure we do whatever we can to make sure this defense is effective,” he said.
Rolle has spoken to Phillips, who has health issues and was released by the Eagles on Sunday. Rolle would “absolutely” welcome his old teammate’s return, though it appears Phillips’ return is unlikely.
“Someone’s gonna have to pick up the pieces,” Rolle said. “No matter who it is. The pieces, they have to be picked up.”