Giants Talk: Web of Terror

Webster proving to be a shut down corner


He used to be the butt of many jokes when his presence made its way to the football field.

There were times when he looked completely lost and it appeared the game was being played 12 on 10 at times in favor of the offensive team.

Today, he is a different player. One who plays with belief, confidence and talent that former General Manager Ernie Accorsi thought had before drafting him in the 2005 season. Now, as he mans one of the main corner positions on the Super Bowl champion Giants, his play this season has been nothing less than spectacular.

You want to throw to his side of the field? Do so at your own risk.

Through the first four games, Webster has been locking down the opposing teams top wide receivers and rendering them irrelevant during these games. From Santana Moss to Torry Holt, and from Chad Ocho Cinco to Deion Branch, he has bullied and punished them and in essence, eliminated one side of the field and has allowed the defense to put hellacious pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

In order to chart Webster’s rise as a player, it is wise to look back at his past. When he was drafted out of LSU in 2005, he was known as lockdown corner that excelled in man-to-man coverage. Measuring out a six feet and slightly over 200 pounds, he fit the mold of the “big, physical corner” most teams covet. At the time, then Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis had a defense that called for more off the ball coverage and more “soft zone” play that worked against Webster’s strength.

As a result, Webster often found himself on the wrong end of deep passes and intermediate routes as he was forced to chase and react to receivers as opposed to establishing position at the point of the play. Lewis and Coughlin felt that he was a liability and saw his playing time decrease to the point where he would be inactive for weeks at a time. After two years of nothing, Webster appeared to be placed with the label no drafted player wants to hear:

“Bust.”

Before the 2007 season, Coughlin brought in Steve Spagnuolo, who was a linebackers coach with the Philadelphia Eagles to run the defense. His style was taken from the mold of his predecessor, Eagles defensive guru Jim Johnson. The method is to be physical and attack at all times. Never to back up and react to what the offense is doing, but to make them adjust and alter what they do. Press coverage on receivers was vital and needed in it cornerbacks in order to provide maximum pressure on the quarterback from the other defensive players. All of this was playing right into Webster’s strength as a player.

The Giants already had veteran Sam Madison one side of the field, and so when they drafted Aaron Ross with their first round pick in 2007, it appeared as if Webster’s days were going to be numbered. After he started the first two games in Spagnuolo’s new system, Webster, like most of the defense, look confused and disoriented as they started to learn its nuances. Spagnuolo felt it was time to insert Ross into the lineup, which put Webster on the bench. He would remain there for most of the season, playing sparingly and finding himself on the inactive list for the week numerous times.

But during the whole process, Webster never broke down emotionally when others may have cracked. He kept his head afloat even when others looked at him as an afterthought. In the Giants clinching playoff game against Buffalo, he returned an interception for a touchdown. You saw numerous members of the defense rally around him giving him hugs and pats on the head for a job well done. Perhaps it was the confidence boost that he needed.

When Sam Madison was injured in the Giants final regular season against New England, it forced Webster’s return to the starting lineup for the Giants Wild Card playoff game against Tampa Bay. Kevin Dockery would have played, but he was injured several weeks prior. This opportunity had been presented to him. A chance to make amends for two previous seasons. Not only would he start, but also he was going to be lined up against star receiver Joey Galloway.

Webster played a starring role in the Giants 24-14 triumph. He recovered a fumble on a kickoff, intercepted a pass in the end zone, and battered Galloway all day long, limiting him to only one catch in the game with numerous pass defenses. It was a complete performance.

Against Terrell Owens in Dallas the next week, Webster was again called upon to shadow #81. He limited him to only four catches and zero after halftime in an upset victory.

Was this all a fluke? Were we seeing a reemergence of the player the Giants thought they were drafting three years prior?

In the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay, he gave up a 90-yard touchdown pass, but should not have been the victim as had a great jam on receiver Donald Driver at the snap of the ball and eventually slipped on the frozen turf. The rest of the game, Driver was a non-factor and in overtime, stepped in front of quarterback Brett Favre’s pass for an interception an eventual Super Bowl berth.

The Giants front seven received a lot of credit for its dominant performance in Super Bowl XLII against New England, but his coverage on Randy Moss was another big reason in them pulling off the biggest upset since Super Bowl III.

Four games, all in the high-pressure situations possible and Webster came out of it as one of its many stars. Yet, as the start of the 2008 season approaching, many wondered whether we would see ‘The Old Webster” or “The New and Improved Webster”.

As it has played out, the player that we saw in the playoffs has continued into the season. On the consummate “team”, he is just one of the many players making their contribution. In his case, it goes a little more noticed than others.

Teamed with the constant improvement of Ross, the Giants possess perhaps the best young tandem of corners in the NFL. Add rookie safety Kenny Phillips and second year player Michael Johnson, suddenly the secondary that once looked like a severe weakness has quickly become on the teams biggest strengths.

We will see as the schedule strength improves whether teams decide to test Webster. If the playoffs and early season are any signal, he will be more than up for the task.

Challenge him if you dare.

Random Giants Thoughts

The Giants have not started a season 4-0 since their Super Bowl season of 1990.

In that year, the Giants began the year 10-0 before finishing 13-3.

The offense may have racked up over 500 yards against the woeful Seahawks defense, but make no mistake that Plaxico Burress is needed in order for this team to repeat as world champions.

I do not know why people are stunned that Burress does not feel contrite about missing practice and not calling. Did they not read his book? In it, he explains a time in 2005 when he alerted the team he was not going to be at practice one morning because his fiancé was having an ultrasound. When he came back the next day, he found a notice that he was being fined for missing practice despite alerting the team. He asked the team why he should have alerted them if he was going to be reprimanded anyway.

Did he handle this situation two weeks ago in the best way? No. But this is not without precedent. He is back on the field and will be making plays on Monday night. We move on.

After two weeks last year, I was complaining about the play of Kawika Mitchell.

Here we are four games into this season and I have yet to mentioned Danny Clark’s name. This is a good thing. He is playing the linebacker spot originally held by Mitchell very well.

The Cowboys and Eagles may have big, meaty offensive lines, but neither team pound-for-pound are as good as the Giants.

Rarely is Eli Manning getting touched in these games. Outside of the hiccup the line had against Cincinnati, he has been able to live comfortably in the pocket and make whatever throw he wants.

When it comes to opening up holes for the running game, they are wide and plenty. Each back taking the ball and potentially finding daylight on nearly play.

By the way, where do we rank Manning among the quarterbacks in the division?

Is he better than Donovan McNabb? It’s very close.

Is he better than Tony Romo? Its even. But I would take Manning.

Is he better than Jason Campbell? Next question.

How are all these wide receivers going to find time on the field?

Sinorice Moss….HE’S ALIVE!

Kevin Dockery had one of the most entertaining interception returns I have seen in a long time. It would have been better had he taken it into the end zone.

I am still waiting for the defense to force more turnovers. That’s how you make these games non-competitive by the fourth quarter.

Message to the rest of the media: Shut up!

I find it funny now that after running out of teams to prop up, they have named the Giants the best team in the NFL in most power rankings.

What, they didn’t have fun slurping up to the Eagles anymore?

How the hell were they given the mantra of “best team” or “second best team” before the year started?

Now, here they are, finding themselves three games behind the Giants in the loss column and Brian Westbrook has fractured ribs. It wont be long before they are playing for draft positioning.

When they fell, up came the Redskins, the media’s new favorite team. Two wins at Dallas and Philly give you the crown I guess.

Here’s a suggestion: Keep doubting us!

I actually like it this way. No need to get big headed (that’s saved for the Cowboys) and cocky about it. Our team can simply go about its business under the radar and improve each week.

Until then, go find another team to like.