Giants Coordinator Corner: Intensity, demands pick up
The New York Giants’ three coordinators addressed the media on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Giants defense has found a lockdown corner in free agent James Bradberry, who is one of Pro Football Focus’ top defenders after two weeks. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was asked about the No. 2 corner spot, which has been manned primarily by second-year defensive back Corey Ballentine with mixed results thus far.
“I’m not content,” Graham told reporters. “We all have to get better. I’m not going to single [Ballentine] out. I have to get better. Patrick Graham has to get better. We’re in the early part of the season. I have to do a better job of coaching, I have to do a better job of calling the game. That’s how I see it. Everybody has to get better.
“Any time we get complacent in this league, it might be your last day, it might be your last year. Who knows? But I’m not ever going to get complacent. I’m never going to let them feel me getting complacent. We have to keep improving. Am I content? I hope not. I hope not. If I do, then I’m probably at the end of my career.”
The Giants’ offense has been lukewarm so far, scoring 16 points in Week 1 against Pittsburgh and 13 points in Chicago last week. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was asked if there was a sense of urgency going into Week 3.
“There is always a sense of urgency obviously,” Garrett said. “What you’re trying to do with each phase of your team is you’re trying to put yourself in the position to win a game. Some games are going to be more lower scoring games because of the team you’re playing or the style you want to play. Other games, you might want to open it up a little bit more.
“Obviously, we need to score more points. We need to be more productive of an offense. Moving the ball on a more consistent basis, scoring points on a more consistent basis and that’s what we’re trying to do. You go about it each and every day, you come to work, and you just try to improve. You try to improve day by day, week by week. We’re certainly trying to do that with all aspects of our offense.”
The Giants’ special teams have been among the NFL’s best since Dave Gettleman became the general manager bacon December of 2017. He brought back Thomas McGaughey from Carolina to run the special teams and now has Joe Judge, who coached special teams under Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, as head coach.
Last week, the strong-legged Graham Gano hit two field goals but missed on a 57-yarder. McGaughey said Gano’s plant leg wasn’t ‘deep enough”.
“That’s well within his range and he should have made it,” McGaughey said. “He’d tell you the same thing.”
As a member of the Panthers, Gano beat the Giants with a 63-year field goal at the gun to win the game 33-31.
