On defense

Giants defense is playing very well this year and DC Spagnuolo gets (rightfully) lots of credit for being the architect of the defense. He makes the schemes, calls the blitzes and the defensive calls. The Giants position coaches on defense are very good as well, especially DL coach Mike Waufle and DB coach Giunta. It is true that they have a lot of good raw material and talent to work with, but they are getting a lot out of them and they are improving their players in their fundamental techniques, not only within the larger design of carrying out their assignments on defensive schemes.

It is largely thought that Spagnuolo simply imported the defense that he learned when he was in Philadelphia under legendary DC Jim Johnson, but this is a great discredit to DC Spags who calls a much different game than Johnson does. Johnson is thought of as being a blitz-oriented DC, also called a very aggressive coach. (Digression -Just once, I want to see a new DC get hired and say something like: I will not run an aggressive defense, I believe in having a shy, retiring, timid defense.) Spagnuolo is aggressive but is much more thoughtful and cerebral in his defensive calls. In the last few weeks, he has blitzed selectively. In fact, I have seen him blitz more early in the game and show blitz formations in the 2nd half but blitz less often. He will bring one LB instead of an all out blitz and rely on the DL to beat their man to generate the pass rush.

Maybe by blitzing in the 1st half, he gets the opposing offense conscious of the blitz later in the game. Then when the Giants show blitz, the offense could make one of two mistakes: they could misread the blitz and keep extra blockers in to protect making it easier for the DB-field to defend; or - even if they read correctly, there is still a moment of hesitation to read whether the defense is coming and the offense is slightly more tentative coming off the ball. This was an adjustment that Spagnuolo made after the Bengals game when we blitzed a lot and the Bengals were able to max protect, pick up the blitzes and make plays down field. He has a much more cerebral approach to defense than just "blitz, blitz, blitz".