Giants defense emerging as force early in season
HOUSTON - The Giants desperately needed an attitude adjustment after last year.
There is no need to recite the ugly numbers from a season ago because everyone can recite and recall them as if it were the alphabet.
Before the year, the defense insisted things would be different, determined to exterminate all of those bad memories and reestablish themselves as the strong unit that carried the team to a Super Bowl victory.
The results from the first three games were inconclusive. However, the last two games have presented sufficient evidence that this may defense may be a force.
“Talent is potential and potential means you haven't done anything,” said Justin Tuck. “We're learning that. In 2007, we were a dummy defense. We're getting away from that and trying to make our own identity now."
After sacking Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler 10 times in their 17-3 victory over the Bears, the Giants defense played its most complete game of the season, dismantling the Texans 34-10.
"When the offense is playing well, the defense is playing well and we just feed off of each other,” said Osi Umenyiora. “That's the whole team concept."
It was so complete it was stunning. No one could really know what to make of the result except to wonder aloud as to whether this group can play anywhere close to the level that they would display on Sunday.
The numbers did not lie. Averaging 31.5 points per game going into the contest and putting up big numbers in terms of passing and rushing yardage, the Texans were a big offensive team.
Said Head Coach Tom Coughlin, "The key thing is that we've talked about having to be a smarter football team and I think our defense did a good job of that.
As the Giants scored quickly to begin the game, taking a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, Houston had to change plans quickly in order to get back into the game. However, part of the reason they were down three touchdowns was because of the play of the defense.
The Texans first two drives of the game netted only one first down, coming on the opening play of the game, leading to two punts.
After Eli Manning connected with Hakeem Nicks for a touchdown, Corey Webster intercepted Matt Schaub’s pass by stepping in front of Andre Johnson to pick it off at the Texans 40 and four plays later, the Giants had a 14-0 lead.
Another three and out gave the Giants great field position and before the Texans knew it, they were down 21 points and unable to get gain yards on offense.
The first half domination was complete from start to finish. The defense held them to only 74 yards and four first downs as they saw themselves down 24-3 on the scoreboard.
Much like Cutler the week before, Schaub was under pressure from this suddenly resurgent defensive line. Sacking him several times, batting down passes at the line of scrimmage to negate the tendency of their offense to utilize many three step drops.
"The guys up front, when they couldn't get there, put their hands up to knock the ball down and that's great,” said Corey Webster. “We'd like to get our hands on some of those tipped balls but they did a great job of putting pressure on him and getting their hands up when they needed to."
Give Giants Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell credit for studying the tendencies of the Texans and relaying the message to his players.
Their main goal was to slow down Arian Foster, one the league’s leading running backs. To a man, they all felt that their offense started with him before they unleashed their passing game.
Foster only gained 25 yards on 11 carries as the Giants played in control, staying in their gaps and not allowing any cutback lanes, something the Colts and the Raiders could not do where Foster had his two best games of the season.
"We didn't over penetrate,” said Coughlin. “We didn't give them the big cutback lanes; we stayed at home. We seemed to always have an extra guy hanging over on the back side. The safeties did a good job coming down and attacking."
With nothing in the running game and trailing by hefty margin, the game was on Schaub to win it with his arm. This time, the defensive line was able to dial up pressure and with numerous bodies in the secondary to flood passing lanes, he had very few places to go with the ball and few of their passing attempts could be considered successful.
Schaub finished the game only 16-of-34 for 196 yards, a down performance for one of the NFL’s top statistical quarterbacks.
Said Umenyiora, "Our offense put them in a situation where they had to pass the ball.”
Umenyiora was part of the reason for the Texans lack of success passing, who despite battling knee problems during the week, continues to play exceptional on Sunday. He was able to follow up his three sack, two forced fumble effort against Chicago with a two-sack, two forced fumble game against the Texans, wreaking havoc on their game plan.
If the Giants are going to get this type of play from Umenyiora to go along with Justin Tuck and the continued inside production from Barry Cofield and Chris Canty, than this becomes a defense to contend with.
Jonathan Goff continues his development, showcased by an impressive play blowing up a gap and taking down Foster for a three-yard loss early on.
The back end of the secondary has been tremendous as Fewell has taken to using a three-safety alignment with Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant with the results so far being tremendous as the defense now ranks number one in the league in pass defense.
With great coverage play and the line creating penetration shutting down the run and forcing opponents to pass, perhaps the Giants can become that top defense again.
"Anytime you win a game it feels good,” said Tuck. “Hopefully we can make it three next week."
If they can, perhaps they can have lofty dreams this season.
HOUSTON - The Giants desperately needed an attitude adjustment after last year.
There is no need to recite the ugly numbers from a season ago because everyone can recite and recall them as if it were the alphabet.
Before the year, the defense insisted things would be different, determined to exterminate all of those bad memories and reestablish themselves as the strong unit that carried the team to a Super Bowl victory.
The results from the first three games were inconclusive. However, the last two games have presented sufficient evidence that this may defense may be a force.
“Talent is potential and potential means you haven't done anything,” said Justin Tuck. “We're learning that. In 2007, we were a dummy defense. We're getting away from that and trying to make our own identity now."
After sacking Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler 10 times in their 17-3 victory over the Bears, the Giants defense played its most complete game of the season, dismantling the Texans 34-10.
"When the offense is playing well, the defense is playing well and we just feed off of each other,” said Osi Umenyiora. “That's the whole team concept."
It was so complete it was stunning. No one could really know what to make of the result except to wonder aloud as to whether this group can play anywhere close to the level that they would display on Sunday.
The numbers did not lie. Averaging 31.5 points per game going into the contest and putting up big numbers in terms of passing and rushing yardage, the Texans were a big offensive team.
Said Head Coach Tom Coughlin, "The key thing is that we've talked about having to be a smarter football team and I think our defense did a good job of that.
As the Giants scored quickly to begin the game, taking a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, Houston had to change plans quickly in order to get back into the game. However, part of the reason they were down three touchdowns was because of the play of the defense.
The Texans first two drives of the game netted only one first down, coming on the opening play of the game, leading to two punts.
After Eli Manning connected with Hakeem Nicks for a touchdown, Corey Webster intercepted Matt Schaub’s pass by stepping in front of Andre Johnson to pick it off at the Texans 40 and four plays later, the Giants had a 14-0 lead.
Another three and out gave the Giants great field position and before the Texans knew it, they were down 21 points and unable to get gain yards on offense.
The first half domination was complete from start to finish. The defense held them to only 74 yards and four first downs as they saw themselves down 24-3 on the scoreboard.
Much like Cutler the week before, Schaub was under pressure from this suddenly resurgent defensive line. Sacking him several times, batting down passes at the line of scrimmage to negate the tendency of their offense to utilize many three step drops.
"The guys up front, when they couldn't get there, put their hands up to knock the ball down and that's great,” said Corey Webster. “We'd like to get our hands on some of those tipped balls but they did a great job of putting pressure on him and getting their hands up when they needed to."
Give Giants Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell credit for studying the tendencies of the Texans and relaying the message to his players.
Their main goal was to slow down Arian Foster, one the league’s leading running backs. To a man, they all felt that their offense started with him before they unleashed their passing game.
Foster only gained 25 yards on 11 carries as the Giants played in control, staying in their gaps and not allowing any cutback lanes, something the Colts and the Raiders could not do where Foster had his two best games of the season.
"We didn't over penetrate,” said Coughlin. “We didn't give them the big cutback lanes; we stayed at home. We seemed to always have an extra guy hanging over on the back side. The safeties did a good job coming down and attacking."
With nothing in the running game and trailing by hefty margin, the game was on Schaub to win it with his arm. This time, the defensive line was able to dial up pressure and with numerous bodies in the secondary to flood passing lanes, he had very few places to go with the ball and few of their passing attempts could be considered successful.
Schaub finished the game only 16-of-34 for 196 yards, a down performance for one of the NFL’s top statistical quarterbacks.
Said Umenyiora, "Our offense put them in a situation where they had to pass the ball.”
Umenyiora was part of the reason for the Texans lack of success passing, who despite battling knee problems during the week, continues to play exceptional on Sunday. He was able to follow up his three sack, two forced fumble effort against Chicago with a two-sack, two forced fumble game against the Texans, wreaking havoc on their game plan.
If the Giants are going to get this type of play from Umenyiora to go along with Justin Tuck and the continued inside production from Barry Cofield and Chris Canty, than this becomes a defense to contend with.
Jonathan Goff continues his development, showcased by an impressive play blowing up a gap and taking down Foster for a three-yard loss early on.
The back end of the secondary has been tremendous as Fewell has taken to using a three-safety alignment with Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant with the results so far being tremendous as the defense now ranks number one in the league in pass defense.
With great coverage play and the line creating penetration shutting down the run and forcing opponents to pass, perhaps the Giants can become that top defense again.
"Anytime you win a game it feels good,” said Tuck. “Hopefully we can make it three next week."
If they can, perhaps they can have lofty dreams this season.
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