BALTIMORE — Different is not always better. It wasn’t close to better last night for Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
Searching for a new look after last week’s 34-0 pummeling by the Falcons, Fewell unveiled against the Ravens a four-linebacker setup, with Chase Blackburn, Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger all on the field together.
At times, Keith Rivers also was on the field as one of the four linebackers. Michael Boley was often the odd man out.
Clearly, Fewell wanted to get more speed and athletic ability onto the field, but the move didn’t work, as the Giants did nothing well in a 33-14 loss. They didn’t get much heat on Joe Flacco, they didn’t stop Ray Rice or Bernard Pierce in the running game and they certainly didn’t cover the Ravens’ receivers.
“It was a little surprising, but you’ve got to adjust,’’ Blackburn said of the new scheme. “That was to stop the run, but it wasn’t effective like we wanted it to be.”
* RB Ahmad Bradshaw played despite a sprained knee that kept him out of last week’s loss in Atlanta. He wasn’t very effective (9-39) and struggled keeping tabs on the Ravens’ blitzers.
“It took a lot,’’ Bradshaw said. “I can deal with pain, I seemed to deal with it OK today. I’ll do anything to help my brothers.’’
* RG Chris Snee started despite an injured hip. He was called for two penalties — a false start and a hold — and it looked as if he gave up a sack when DT Haloti Ngata blew past him to drop Eli Manning for a 15-yard loss.
* Coach Tom Coughlin after a second consecutive one-sided loss said, “I take full responsibility for this team … I am the head coach.’’
DE Jason Pierre-Paul said in the locker room Coughlin “took it all on him. But really it’s not him that’s playing the game. He can’t suit up and put pads on. That’s us. It’s really not him to blame.’’
* Sunday’s game against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium will kick off at 1 p.m. There had been some speculation the game would be played at 4:25 or in prime time.
* Remember when the Giants were Road Warriors? Well, they lost their fourth straight on the road and they haven’t been close to competitive in the last two.
* Rookie RB David Wilson scored on a 14-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
* DT Chris Canty was having a strong game before he was forced out in the second quarter with an issue with a left knee injury.
* DE Justin Tuck (shoulder) missed his first game of the season. With Tuck out, DT Marvin Austin was activated as an extra defensive lineman but Austin was forced out in the first quarter with a knee injury.