There is one way, and only one way, to play the game, and Mathias Kiwanuka believes — with strong endorsements from his teammates and coaches — he embodies that singular approach.
“From the time I walked out on a football field it’s been ingrained in me that when you step on the field, somebody knows that you’re there,’’ Kiwanuka said. “Because they got hit.’’
That temperament makes Kiwanuka a respected member of a defense that, until proven otherwise, is the weak link, a Giant-sized question mark. Antrel Rolle says Kiwanuka is “definitely a closet tough guy’’ because of his reserved outward demeanor.
“He’s such a nice guy and very mild mannered, very soft spoken,’’ Rolle said, “but when you need some disruption out there on the field you call nine-four.’’
Ask defensive line coach Robert Nunn about Kiwanuka and one word is immediately used.
“We need some toughness in there,’’ Nunn said of the defensive line room, where Kiwanuka now resides full time, as he’s no longer a linebacker. “And he’s a tough person naturally.’’
The question facing the Giants is this: Are there enough natural tough guys on the defense? It didn’t look that way last season as the unit tumbled to 31st in the NFL and showed an alarming weakness against the run — always the litmus test for toughness.
Kiwanuka isn’t sure. He identified to The Post who he feels are true “tough guys’’ on the Giants defense and his list was interesting for who made the cut and who did not.
“As a group you’re going to have your highs and lows, that’s just how it is but there has to be individuals you can always point to,’’ Kiwanuka said. “Hands down, Chris Canty was going to be out there fighting no matter what. When you had a Barry Cofield you knew he was going to be out there. You had Antonio Pierce, you know he was going to be out there fighting.
“Ok, so now those guys are gone. Who’s going to be the guys to step up? You can point to a Linval Joseph and say ‘OK, this kid is tough whether the game is out of hand or whether it’s on the line.’ You have Antrel Rolle in the back and you have Jacquian [Williams] out there and you know he’s going to hit, if somebody pushes him in the back he’s going to turn around and take care of the situation. Not saying he’s going to do anything dirty. I think at every level, defensive back, linebacker and D-line you need to have more than one guy who’s going to be out there and a tough guy no matter what.’’
Joseph, the fourth-year defensive tackle, said he was informed by Kiwanuka he listed him as one of the defense’s toughest players.
“It makes you smile, it makes you see that people are watching, they appreciate what you do,’’ Joseph said.
There is nothing, Rolle said, that makes him feel better than when a teammate calls him tough.
“This game is a very physical game and to hear that from one of your peers lets you know at least that’s something you are doing right out there,’’ Rolle said. “I like to consider myself an extremely tough guy, I don’t like to show any signs of weakness out there, even if I am weak at times, even if I am tired at times, even if I am beat up or hurt. My mind and my heart overpower everything else.’’
Rolle agrees with Kiwanuka’s assessment the defense needs to get meaner.
“I don’t think we had enough of that last year,’’ he said. “We definitely need more.’’
On a line that features Jason Pierre-Paul (currently on the physically unable to perform list following back surgery) and Justin Tuck, perhaps Kiwanuka can show the way.
“That’s one thing I always felt you had to have when you step out on the football field, an aggressive personality and I like to think it’s the complete opposite of how I am in my regular day-to-day personal life,’’ Kiwanuka said.
“I think a lot of players get in trouble because you have this football personality and it leaks into your personal life and you absolutely cannot do that. When you feel yourself going that way you have to catch yourself and meditate or do whatever it is to bring yourself back down. But once you cross those white lines, all bets are off, especially as a D-lineman.’’