NFL

Perry Fewell all fired up about retooled Giants defense

Perry Fewell attached the usual caveats to all the things he thinks the Giants defense can accomplish this season.

They can be great, if they work hard enough. They can change games, if they grow comfortable with new schemes and new teammates.

The fifth-year defensive coordinator seemed particularly pleased prior to Thursday’s practice, discussing a group he thinks looks good on paper and has improved in several areas since last season.

And already, veteran Mathias Kiwanuka has seen how that confidence has changed his coordinator, which may change everything Fewell can do with his defense this season.

“I think he’s more comfortable now. He seems more relaxed and confident in making the calls that he wants to make instead of changing things up here and there for individuals,” Kiwanuka told The Post. “I think he’s got the confidence to make the calls and live with it and trust the players on the field.

“It doesn’t matter how much you love to blitz or love a scheme, if you can’t execute it effectively, you can’t put it out on the field because it’s not gonna work. I see the difference in the way he’s approaching it in terms of how he’s confident enough in the people that are out there to make almost all the calls that he has.”

In a vastly different looking defense, the biggest changes came up front, with the departures of Justin Tuck and Linval Joseph, and in the secondary, with the arrivals of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond (whom Fewell calls the “Quiet Assassin”), but much of Fewell’s increased confidence stems from the linebacking corps.

Perry FewellPaul J. Bereswill

With Fewell “optimistic” that Jon Beason (foot) could return by the first game of the regular season, the defensive coordinator feels he then will have three every-down linebackers, along with Jacquian Williams and Jameel McClain.

“That’s a luxury for us,” Fewell said. “I like the way this looks on paper because I think we’re stronger at linebacker than we’ve been in the past, especially if Jon Beason returns, but I still like the ‘backers that we have… we’ve strengthened ourselves there and that’s why I like them on paper.

“I think we’re starting to grow in some of the new schemes that we’re tying to run. I think we’re learning each other. I’m learning their talents…it’s looking like what we would like for it to look.”

Looking like the dominant unit of the past will require significant improvement in the pass rush.

On their way to crushing the undefeated Patriots’ offensive line to win Super Bowl XLII, the Giants led the league with 53 sacks. Four years later, the Giants finished third in the league, before beating New England for the title once more. In the past two seasons, the reputation withered, as the Giants registered 33 sacks in 2012 and followed by finishing tied for 25th in the league last season.

If things are going to change up front, it may be because of a significantly stronger secondary.

“There’s no one to look to but us,” said Kiwanuka, referring to the defensive line. “There’s no reason why we can’t be the leading team in terms of sacks and [tackles for losses] and that kind of stuff because everybody behind us is skilled and competent enough to cover any receiver, any tight end, any slot receiver in this league.

“You give us enough time on the D-line, we have to get there. … If the quarterback holds the ball for more than two seconds, or anything like that, it’s on us to get there. I feel like you’re gonna see a lot more of that and we’re gonna answer the call.”