Loading ...Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell was still a hot name in the head coaching mix approximately 18 months ago. As he went on to win a Super Bowl ring with his New York Football Giants, the enthusiastic coordinator has had a pretty quiet six months following that great win.
The Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans were interested and interviewed Fewell last offseason. Tampa Bay this year was rumored to have interest, but never requested permission to interview him. Although those pesky regular season stats show one aspect of the Giants defense, the showmanship that lives on in a four DVD set put out by NFL Films (“New York Giants Road to XLVI”) tells the world the rest of what a fraction of defensive diehards had already known: what the players on the defensive line of scrimmage were capable of. Fewell knows what he has coming (soon) out of training camp.
“We have a good feel for each other because a lot of the starters are back. We’re on the same page as far as calls and the communication is concerned. We’re tinkering with different ways that we can use our personnel right now. That’s a little bit of an adjustment for the guys, but we do have a flow and that’s very good. You have 11 guys and you have to get those 11 guys playing together,” Fewell said. “We all have to believe in the same things. What we were able to accomplish those last six games is a testament to the players and that, ‘Hey, when we all think alike we can do some good things.”
What appear to be “some good things” for coach Fewell are the strong, competitive mindsets many of his troupes at training camp have armed themselves with. While these athletes walk onto the field or into the classroom feeling that it’s their job to lose, they haven’t lost the focus of the team concept. Each man echoes the sentiment of doing whatever is best for the team. Safety Antrel Rolle’s recent comments on possibly playing nickel (again) are a prime example.
“Yeah, that’s an accurate read, but in life, sometimes you’re going to get some changes … You have to play the cards that are dealt to us. It’s something I’ve done before. I’m not a stranger in this position, so if I have to play it, then so be it…Well, in this league, we have to have an open mind. A ball player is a ball player,’’ said Rolle. “It doesn’t matter what position you are at. And if I have to go down there and do it again, then so be it.’’
Linebacker Keith Rivers has also stated that he’d play wherever Fewell feels he’ll excel.
"I think he’s a helluva coach. I’m excited to work for him. We were watching some film today of the run (to the Super Bowl). It was amazing to see how he’s been able to put guys in position to make big plays," Rivers said. "A lot of places, they just plug you in and say, ‘We’re paying you all this money; just do this.’ You know? He’s like, ‘Okay, let me put this guy in the best position for him to make a play.’ I like that. I’m looking forward to playing in a system like that."
Guys are stepping up this camp and linebacker (whew, especially MLB) is just one area. They all seemingly have bought into Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s goal of improvement, though. Each competitor has his personal reasons for wanting to be the best they can be while also potentially earning starter status, but Perry Fewell is a big part of why this Giants defense is "All In" and gelling. Anyone that’s seen him interact with his men can see why. He’s an accomplished teacher, but his approach is one of an actual team captain. He holds each skill player responsible for their respective assignments and will call them out as deemed necessary (see his rant post-New Orleans Saints game last season). However, he will not only laud players for great plays on-the-field, but get involved in the celebration vocally as well as physically – for the most part from the legal sidelines area. This is a Coughlin, remember?
Fewell is excited for this upcoming season -he’s recently voiced so- and it shows in his training camp demeanor, more so than in the past two years. He knows a lot more than the media and fans do at this point, so it can’t be a horrible idea to get excited and animated along with him, right?
Perry Fewell is signed through this upcoming 2012 season only, but if “Damage, Inc.” comes through for him as predicted by many of the Big Blue Faithful, the defensive coordinator may very well be sacked in January with multiple requests from other NFL teams for interviews as well as a Giants contract extension.
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Re-posting:
fanfor55years says:
August 11, 2012 at 9:52 AM (Edit)
Okay Dan, now I don’t know how to respond to you. I don’t demand, require, or need plaudits for being right (which, just btw, I am an awful lot more than most because I know football, have watched this team for almost 60 years, and am no dummy), but I think it’s entirely reasonable to not expect a combination of resentment and derision from the founder of the site (which I, along with others, helped survive when you were on the verge of failure).
And no one needs to remind me that I’m wrong on occasion. I know that. I don’t expect perfection from myself or others. Now, having certain posters who have been wrong about 90% of what they’ve said over the years pile on when I am occasionally wrong seems a bit much, but I don’t feel the need to respond to that or to remind them that they don’t have particularly attractive track records around here. Like I said, everyone is entitled to an opinion. Not everyone’s is equally meritorious. That’s reality, much as many in our society, and around here, would prefer. That statement isn’t politically correct, but it is the truth. So those of you who want to point out the relatively few things about which I’ve been wrong (none of which I have denied or hidden…I think it helps to learn from the mistakes of smart, or wise, or experienced, people) are certainly welcome to do so, but might want to do so in the context of just on occasion acknowledging your own record.
No, my objection isn’t to a failure to gain plaudits, nor to someone pointing out my errors. But yeah, I very much DO object to seeing someone praised while AT THE VERY SAME TIME someone who has a very good record of being right about the subject of this site is criticized for it. I don’t want the praise (unless it is generally being handed out willy-nilly like is done in a lot of elementary schools so everyone maintains their “self-esteem”), but I don’t think I am due YOUR criticism.
Reply
James Stoll says:
August 11, 2012 at 9:54 AM (Edit)
FF, give me kudos for calling you out on Henderson!
A 2008 6th round DE pick
I did that from memory!
Reply
Dan BentonDan Benton says:
August 11, 2012 at 10:06 AM (Edit)
Resentment and derision? Is that how you see things? It’s interesting how two people interpret the same thing two completely different ways, isn’t it? And I’ve repeatedly thanked you and others for your contributions. Endlessly and over and over again, in fact. Your contributions did help to move this website to the next phase, and for that, we’re all very thankful. But that’s all that it bought – the survival and continuation to this site. It didn’t dawn on me until later that it came with strings attached (see: every time we disagree, you remind me of it as a way of saying “shut up and do as I say because I donated.”) When the time comes, I will refund your money and anyone else who wants it as well because I have clearly not lived up to the expectations you had when you donated.
Moving on, I didn’t remind you that you were wrong. Other readers here did, so that point is moot. As I’ve said, everyone is sometimes right and everyone is sometimes wrong. That’s common knowledge and not something that needs be discussed over and over.
That said, you are right about one thing – not everyone here is equal. Not their opinions or who they are because we live in a world that, although we’d all like to believe we’re equal, we’re not. And on that note, it should be remembered that I own this site. I created it. And I, and I alone, have complete and total creative control, and that includes what does and what does not go into our published works.
As it relates to the plaudits, I feel I explained that quite well in my previous post and why it was Simon, a non-anonymous credentialed journalists with years of experience at Giants 101, was praised instead of an anonymous reader whom, to the best of my knowledge, has a total of 0 published works anywhere.
All that said, I don’t feel any of it is criticism (certainly not to the extent in which you’ve repeatedly criticized me or my writers over the years). If you feel not being patted on the back is a form of resentment or criticism, I certainly do apologize for the way you interpret that. Unfortunately, short of dedicating a wing of the Hall of Fame to you and making note of your positive predictions (and only the positive ones) in every published article, I don’t know how to appease your ego. And I’m sorry if that seems offensive or sarcastic to you (as it is, essentially both), but as a man who often shares “non-politically correct statements”, I’m sure you can both understand and relate to where I am coming from. Additionally, I hope that you aren’t overly offended by those comments as you, yourself, have acknowledged your ego (in softer tones), so it does seem like fair game to address.
As I’ve said many times before, I do appreciate your contributions here and your knowledge. I value you, as I value everyone else, as readers. But I can’t offer you a statue or pedestal beyond that, which is what I feel like you’re seeking. And because I can’t (see: won’t), you take that as some sort of resentment when, in reality, I have none and do not even allow you to cross my mind when I am not here on this site.
Alas, in an effort to squash this unnecessary nonsense, I offer you the following: FF55, you were spot on about Stanback and Hill and their performances based on the first preseason game of the year. Stanback in particular flashed far more than even I expected, and if you’d like to write up a neutral piece on him (meaning no “I” or “My” verbiage), I welcome you to do so. It will be published and credited it to you anonymously using your alias here on Giants 101.
See, here’s a case of where you seem to have selectively re-posted and left out a few posts. I suggest anyone interested in this intramural disagreement look at the thread about Donte Witner to see my point.
No, I won’t be doing any pieces on Stanback. But thanks for the offer.
Best approach is to get past this and demonstrate some mutual respect.
Check time stamps dude, I didn’t selectively re-post anything. You just keep going on a continuous rant, so I was allowing you to rather than copying and pasting things repeatedly for hours. You’re like a politician the way you try to skew this nonsense, as if the material isn’t right here on the site for everyone to read.
I’m going to simply go back to not replying to you like I have for a long time because, frankly, it’s obvious that you have some sort of complex about me, my opinions and how you think I should handle things. And more importantly, this sort of stuff hurts the site and it’s not worth it.
At your old age, you really should lighten up though. Life is too short for all of us to be taking this stuff as seriously as you are. And whatever your personal issue is with me, get over it.
I apologize for the selective re-posting comment. You’re right, I didn’t check the time stamps, thinking you had just posted another thread.
FWIW, I don’t have any problem with you except when you interject yourself on behalf of a particular agenda. As for what I take seriously, it isn’t sports blogs. But I most definitely DO have a strong sense of fairness in all things, and I most definitely DO have a sense of how people ought to conduct themselves. I’ve tried very hard my entire life to “be fair, be kind whenever possible, and be just”. And that I most definitely DO take seriously.
No point arguing with you. It’s your site, so arguing is futile. Like they say, never argue with the guy who owns the presses (or in this case, the http./). But you might try thinking about why I might have been offended by your actions.
Continued:
fanfor55years says:
August 11, 2012 at 10:05 AM (Edit)
And since I’m on a rant right now, let me remind all of you that not a single one of you agreed with me that Corey Webster would become a fine corner for the Giants. I said that after he had been benched in 2007. Most of you laughed when I said Eli Manning was headed toward being an elite quarterback and the Giants were headed for multiple championships and might even establish a dynasty (I said this at the beginning of the 2007 season). I was just about alone in saying that Reese would be nuts to acquire Edwards or Boldin because the team was establishing a corps of good young wide receivers and that Hakeem Nicks was headed for Canton someday. I could go on.
But hear me now. All of you so sure Prince Amukamara is headed toward being a bust are dead wrong. He may need more time before he “gets” it but that kid is a blue-chipper. So is Hosley. So is Hill (and for whomever insisted that lots of posters had said something about Hill, you might go back and see that when I said it there wasn’t anyone else doing so and I said point blank that he was better than a good number of safeties already starting in the NFL).
And as I said starting a few months ago, Stanback could be a valuable member of the team because of his versatility and because he’s simply a football player and a winner.
From the little of the game I saw it seems quite obvious that they have something in Randle and Kuhn. I no longer care if Randle sleeps through a few meetings. The guy knows how to get himself open and catch the ball. And Kuhn has the look of a Jim Burt-type DT: strong as an ox and a high motor who never stops coming at you (and no, that comparison isn’t because they’re both white…it’s because Kuhn’s game reminds me of Burt’s, one of Parcells’ favorites because of his effort and willingness to play hurt).
Reply
James Stoll says:
August 11, 2012 at 10:07 AM (Edit)
But FF, what about my Henderson outing?
I didn’t see the beginning, or much else, of the game, so cannot intelligently comment on the defensive effort. But I stand by my contention that, barring injury, this is the best defense in the NFL and will be the driving force behind a good many wins in 2012.
There was some reason to worry about safety depth until the emergence of Will Hill. There was some question about the MIKE position, but it appears Hezlich is making big strides (and we already know Blackburn can handle it, even if not at an elite level). There is some question about cornerback thanks to Thomas’ health and a dependence upon a confused Prince Amukamara and a rookie in Jayron Hosley. Amukamara will be fine. Hosley will definitely contribute. Both are truly exceptional athletes. Fewell and Guinta just need to slow the game down for Prince by simplifying his responsibilities. Just remember how lost ALL of the defensive backfield looked for the first two thirds of 2011, and then how solid it was down the stretch. They will be just fine.
The Met is going to be filled again with chants of DEE-FENSE for the first time in years. Giants’ football is on the verge of being back.
Man…I make 1 joke about one of the guys FF55 pointed towards as “guys to watch,” and it becomes Menstruation City up in here.
Lighten up, FF55. Everyone busts balls on this site, and that used to include Dan Benton. An increased workload in his personal and professional life led to him taking a backseat in the comment section. Note that it wasn’t some ethical decision, but rather a choice made out of necessity. No time to mix it up since he was busy keeping the lights on. Last night he made 1 light hearted jab at you–which wasn’t even funny, by the way– regarding your tendency to stick your own piece in you mouth every time one of the 6 million “predictions” you make comes true, and THIS is how you respond? Come on dude. Sack up. It was a joke. Throw it back in his face. Maybe bring up Benton’s writing and syntax is reminiscent of that of a 8 year old girl. Or poke him about his ridiculous obsession (see: homoerotic fascination) with Elianning. Or get a Facebook and see that Dan impersonates you and your self-felating contortionist act on almost every single posts he makes.
As for everyone else–FF55 is a valued member of this site. He’s good people and he’s a Giants fan. We all are. That’s why we are here. THAT’S the point of G101.
That and paying for Benton’s hooked on phonics subscription.
Now, if there is one guy on this site I DO resent, it’s this one right here. And not because of his playful (or not-so-playful jabs), but because of filthy private messages he sends me on Facebook despite my many attempts at saying “No, Kujo. No! Bad Kujo!”
Don’t judge me, and don’t knock it til you try it. Bukake is a highly respected sexual activity in south east Asia. Now go eat some Chic Fil A, you Obama hating h0mophobe!
More to the point of Jen’s article, Fewell may have seen a silent offseason, but should the defense play as well as we all expect, he’ll undoubtedly be at the forefront of the head coach search again next season. It’s actually surprising that he made it for this long.
And back to the previous WR topic, I see the Giants keeping the following six:
Hakeem Nicks
Victor Cruz
Domenik Hixon
Jerrel Jernigan
Rueben Randle
David Douglas
Okay, now we can actually debate.
Why do you see DePalma and Stanback NOT making it when both can be good special teams players and Barden is useless as that and it appears that Randle can do more in the red Zone than Barden anyway?
As for Douglas, I’ve heard good things but haven’t we heard great things out of Albany about Barden for three years and seen nada on the field when the games matter? Why is everyone in love with that kid?
I’m basing it on two things: 1) What the Giants tend to do (keep Barden around, for some damn reason) and 2) What I’ve seen at camp.
DePalma, Stanback and Douglas have all looked very good in camp, but Douglas has looked much better than anyone not named Victor Cruz. He’s very quick and almost Wes Welker-like in what he’s capable of doing. He’s rapidly getting a grasp on the playbook (as is Will Hill) and he’s focused a lot of his attention on improving on Special Teams so he can play that role as well.
It’s not the say the others haven’t, just based on what I’ve seen and read, he’s way out ahead of the other two. All that said, if he doesn’t heal up and get on the field in the preseason, it may be for nothing.
As far as Barden goes, my opinion is not necessarily one that he deserves the spot, just that the Giants want the big bodied WR and seem to refuse to give up on the guy. And as per the usual, he’s good in practice, giving everyone continued false hope. And sadly, for that reason, he’s going to take a spot away from someone else that can actually contribute to the team (see: DePalma in particular, who can play WR, ST and CB).
Actually, and on that note, I somehow foolishly forgot about Randle, whom I believe the Giants will keep over Barden. So there ya’ have that (although, they may opt to keep Barden over Douglas just because of the what “could be’s”).
Hakeem Nicks
Victor Cruz
Domenik Hixon
Jerrel Jernigan
Rueben Randle
David Douglas
On that TD catch last night, dare I say Randle looked Plaxico-ish in the way he positioned himself for the ball and blocked the defender out?
But didn’t the defensive players all say that DePalma was the guy they simply could not cover during practices last season? I know some of them have praised Douglas, but unless DePalma can be stashed on the practice team again it seems a real risk to let him go, especially if at some point Cruz has to move outside and they need a very shifty slot guy (I gather you’re saying Douglas could be that, but isn’t DePalma more tested since he’s been seen for two years now and mimicked Welker for them twice so well that the defense pretty much knew how to shut Welker down both times they played the Pats?).
I have an irrational hate for Barden. Of course I trust the Giants’ coaching staff more than my own eyes, but the guy just seems like a not-quick-enough Harold Carmichael type who would potentially be valuable IF they hadn’t drafted Randle and IF Randle didn’t already show a good ability to shield defenders away from the ball with his big body.
And I still think Stanback can be one of those guys who gives a team so many ways to use him (including, not incidentally, as a #3 quarterback in an emergency) that he can potentially make a play in many of the “special situations” that the Jets are hoping Tebow will this season.
Anyway, at this point give me DePalma and Stanback over Barden and count me as having no idea what Douglas can do. But that’s MY preference. I cannot believe that both DePalma and Stanback will stick while Barden gets cut. I think that makes sense, but cannot imagine it happening.
Umm, where’s Randle??
I forgot him for a quick second. See comments lower down.
Where’s demo? He’s usually at the center of every vaginitis breakout.
says the rectal rocking fruitloop with the Twilight avatar…
My special power … I can summon my fool with a few words.
and suck a basketball through a swizzle stick…
Enjoyed watching some Giants football last night. Was really impressed with Tracey, Hendricks, Benett, Hill, JPP, Wilson and Randle. I couldnt help but think that about 3-4 guys that get cut from the Giants could end up starting for Jacksonville. They really are a dreadful team. I also liked seeing the blitz off off the slot with the nickel corners.. Teams will have their hands so full dealing with our DL that those guys wil come free a lot.
LOL @ Benton and FF55Yrs going at it..Must be football season.
Barden is a Renaissance man who will have no trouble making his mark. Whether fashion, or philosophy, or simply his good taste … I’m sure he won’t miss all the millions he could have made had he put as much effort into football as he did NY Fashion Week.
After watching our Punt returners treat the ball like they were playing volleyball and seeing TT’s knee issues linger, I’m wondering if Ross might have been the better guy to keep. We won 2 SB’s with him starting and he was a very reliable punt returner. We’l see what happens with TT’s knee and our brick handed punt returners..
Jax paid him a boatload … and then let him work part time during the Olympics. No way he got that deal from us.
Yeah we payed TT a boatload and he wont see his first snap in a game of anykind until Late September or October..