Giants coach Tom Coughlin knows what is at stake so yesterday he broke down into his best pass-blocking technique to get his point across to his defensive line.
As each member of the line made his way down the field to go to the unit drills at the Timex Performance Center, Coughlin stood on about the 20-yard line to greet them. And as each of the locomotive-size men passed, there was the 65-year-old coach; churning his feet, dropping into pass-blocking mode, signaling with his arms for his linemen to get around him in a classic contain the quarterback attack.
Football is as much psychological as much as it is physical and as each defensive lineman passed, Coughlin offered a hearty pat on the back.
Coughlin isn’t giving up. He can’t afford to and he knows that without a monster pass rush tomorrow at MetLife Stadium, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers will destroy the Giants, essentially ending their season and most likely Coughlin’s Big Blue coaching career.
Of Coughlin’s coaching energy, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said: “He’s always going.’’
If the Giants don’t make the playoffs, Coughlin is going out the door.
When asked what he expects to see from his defensive line in this game, Coughlin bluntly said: “We’ve got to get to the quarterback. We’ve had a run here of a few games without a lot of pressure and that’s where it all starts for us — up front. Regardless how they come in and protect, etc., we’ve got to do something to get the quarterback.’’
Or as one Giants official whispered after Coughlin made those remarks: “We’ve got to get his [butt].’’
Yes, they do. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell would definitely agree. At least the Giants are talking a good game after the pathetic performance in New Orleans Monday night.
The Giants have pulled out all the tricks this week to wake up the defensive line. Michael Strahan visited and offered some stirring words. Fewell lit into his players. Coughlin was there yesterday giving encouragement and a pat on the back, always an emotional must at the end of a short week.
The Giants’ biggest problem, if you don’t buy the injury excuse, is too often the players think they just have to show up. They showed up for a huge 24-20 win against the Patriots on the road in Week 9, then disappeared for three weeks, capped off by one of the most embarrassing losses in franchise history Monday night as Drew Brees picked them to pieces.
If Gertrude Stein were an NFL analyst she would say of the Giants’ once fearsome defensive line: “There is no pass rush there.’’
A pass rush is the essence of any defense. It’s what makes a football team. As I passed the monstrous glass enclosed weight room that is fit for the muscle gods on my way into the Giants locker room, I wondered: “Did the defensive linemen stop going in there?’’
Fewell accused some of his defensive players of pulling up short Monday night. That is beyond unacceptable. The very definition of being a defensive player is taking the clean shot when you have the shot. Who pulls up short in the NFL?
Safety Antrel Rolle said most of these Rodgers issues can be taken care of if “you kick their [butt]’’ at the line of scrimmage. And so, for the defensive line it is the end of the line. This is No Excuse Sunday. Yes, injuries are a reality, but the Giants are home facing the undefeated Packers and there is only one way out of this mess.
“This is frustrating,’’ said Pierre-Paul, who has 10 1/2 sacks, third-best in the NFL. “As a unit we just want to get off the field with a win. We’ve lost three in a row. We’re tired of it. We’re just ready to go out there and play some great football and show our fans what we can do.’’
The game plan is simple. Get past the feet-churning offensive linemen and meet at the quarterback, fellas.