Giants News

[kurtsimonw]

I think a few penalties needed to be handed out to players this week, this team should not put up with anything below expected performances.

THough Eli Manning.. man, even when his defense gives up a touchdown on prety much every drive, he keeps the game close. You're the man, Eli.

[kkr]

26tds this season is a career high for Eli. 24 was his previous best, be awesome if he could hit 30 this year. That said I don't care about stats as long as we make the post season.

[B-dub]

26tds this season is a career high for Eli. 24 was his previous best, be awesome if he could hit 30 this year. That said I don't care about stats as long as we make the post season.

I think he's also on pace for 4000 yards. Don't feel like looking it up but I believe Phil Simms in 1984 is the only Giant whose ever cracked 4000 in a season. (Of course the schedule was only expanded to 16 games in the late '70s.)

Fortunately we have the tie-breaker over both the Cowboys and the Packers. I think it's a good bet that either the Cowboys will lose to the Eagles, and/or the Packers will lose in Arizona in the final week, which would open the door for the Giants if they win their last two games. Away to Minnesota will be the tough one, but it could very well be a meaningless game for the Vikings by then.

[kurtsimonw]

Fortunately we have the tie-breaker over both the Cowboys and the Packers..

Thanks for pointing that out, I was trying to work out who had the tiebreaker between the Packers and ourselves.

On thr 4,000 yard thing, I think Kerry Collins may have had a season where he broke the 4,000 yard mark. Could be wrong though.

[B-dub]

Fortunately we have the tie-breaker over both the Cowboys and the Packers..

Thanks for pointing that out, I was trying to work out who had the tiebreaker between the Packers and ourselves.

On thr 4,000 yard thing, I think Kerry Collins may have had a season where he broke the 4,000 yard mark. Could be wrong though.

I worked it out the other day and if the Packers lost to AZ and the Giants run the table, they'd have the same conference records. The next tie-breaker then is record in common games, and the Giants would have the edge there.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Is Giants leaving Giants Stadium ? Where they will play in new stadium any info ? Do this includes Jets moving as well or Jets will have Giants stadium or what.

Just asking as it is news to me. Why relocation ?

[Tegis]

Is Giants leaving Giants Stadium ? Where they will play in new stadium any info ?

They are not moving by much ;-)

[Salsa Party Animal]

Imagine asking which stadium should I go Poor tickets staff

[pmarachi]

I got an Idea for the Giants and Jets:

Jets- Move to LONG ISLAND

Giants- Call yourself the New Jersey Giants

[Salsa Party Animal]

Imagine asking which stadium should I go Poor tickets staff

[kurtsimonw]

Went out instead of watching the game yesterday as I won't be watching the team while Gilbride and Sheridan are still there. Getting hammered by a bad team may be a good thing as they'll see that we're pretty useless on both sides of the ball, something of which the co-ordinators are largely at fault for and this may hasten their exists.

[kkr]

Gilbride id keep, its hard playing from behind all year, kind of limits what you can do. I imagine the move to a more pass oriented offense was something dictated by the ineptitude of Bill Sheridan and us needing to put up points quick time to cover for the awful D.

That said i wouldnt be against a complete coaching clearout and getting a younger guy with fresh ideas. Might be whats needed as Osi is making noises like he has played his last game for us and he is too talented to be traded, regardless of who we get in return.

Sign this please!

[B-dub]

Is Giants leaving Giants Stadium ? Where they will play in new stadium any info ? Do this includes Jets moving as well or Jets will have Giants stadium or what.

Just asking as it is news to me. Why relocation ?

Money money money. Giants Stadium was built in 1976 and has quickly become an antiquated facility by today's US pro sports standards. The new stadium will, of course, contain a lot more luxury boxes and the personal seat license scheme (PSL's) are going to rake in the cash and price out a lot of people who've had season tickets in their family for generations.

[leviramsey]

Disgraceful

It already was 24-0 for the Panthers on what was supposed to be goodbye party to Giants Stadium when Justin Tuck stuffed Brad Hoover on third-and-15 in the last minute of the first half, and the boobirds who still remember what disgraceful football looks like, all the way back to The Fumble, pierced the air of what already was a morgue with a Bronx cheer in East Rutherford.

The final was Panthers 41, Giants 9, which means it wasn't a goodbye to Giants Stadium as much as it was Good Riddance to the 2009 Giants, thankfully eliminated around 11:25 p.m. by Cowboys 17, Redskins 0.

And when it was over, after Lawrence Taylor had walked out on the 2009 Giants, Hall of Famer Harry Carson questioned the heart and the pride of these Giants, who looked to too many of the shellshocked, disenchanted, furious fans trudging to the parking lots as if their once-beloved Dee-Fense didn't try, at best, and quit at worst.

John Fox sure had his Panthers, who aren't going to the playoffs, ready.

Tom Coughlin -- Tom Coffin -- sure didn't have his schizophrenic Giants ready.

Why is both incomprehensible and inexcusable, and never mind that Coach Sigmund Freud himself would have needed therapy trying to figure out how to get these guys ready.

An embarrassed, wounded Carson stood outside his old locker room, between the Super Bowl XXV and Super Bowl XLII insignias on the wall behind him.

"There's something missing from this team that I can't really put my finger on," Carson said. "It's one of those intangible things. I mean, they've got talent, but I don't know if they necessarily have the heart. You get down, can you come back? Do you have enough belief in yourself that you can come back?"

Eli Manning, devoid of big plays, wasn't bringing the Giants back throwing a slant behind Steve Smith that was intercepted and helped a 10-0 lead become 17-0, wasn't bringing the Giants back throwing underneath to Kevin Boss for five yards on third-and-15.

On the field at halftime, Bob Papa directed fans to the video board, where a tribute to players and teams of yesteryear played, to the accompaniment of Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball." Except that a wrecking ball had already found the 2009 Giants.

"It was a nice ceremony, too," Papa said. "Too bad everybody was angry."

Out through the old tunnel trotted LT, wearing his 56, into The House that LT Built for the last time, forcing a smile and waving to fans who wished he could suit up for the second half.

Once upon a time, LT and Carson and Bill Parcells would stand defiantly at the gates of this stadium, arms folded, and dare visitors to live to tell about it.

"Lawrence left a little after halftime," Carson said.

LT left completely disgusted, railing about a lack of leadership on the 2009 Giants.

"I'm not saying that they don't have pride, but I don't really see where the pride is coming from," Carson said.

"Wellington Mara always talked about, 'Once a Giant, always a Giant.' And the guys who have played here, we have a certain sense of pride that we have to sorta adhere to. I don't necessarily see that same pride among many of these guys who are here right now. ... We have that sort of connection and that sense. ... I don't necessarily see that with these younger guys."

No Giants defense, not Ray Handley's, not John McVay's, had ever yielded 206 rushing yards to a running back at Giants Stadium -- until Bill Sheridan's defense turned Jonathan Stewart into the young Jim Brown.

"We didn't hustle," Coughlin said. Or tackle. Or play with mental or physical toughness. Or anything else. Coughlin gambled on Sheridan replacing Steve Spagnuolo and lost, and the price he paid was no fifth straight season in the playoffs.

"It seemed like they wanted it more than we did," Tuck said.

That, my friends, is an indictment of all of them.

"I thought we had an outstanding Friday practice on Christmas Day," a stunned, bewildered Coughlin said. Too bad they couldn't play the game on Christmas Day.

"We have one more game to go, and we have to regain some kind of respect for the way the game is to be played," Coughlin said.

This wasn't The Fumble. It only felt that way.

"I told somebody on the sideline, the exact quote -- 'We've been a part of the highest of highs, but it's the lowest I've been in a Giant uniform," Tuck said.

A day that will live in Giants infamy. Let the tombstone read: A team that wasn't good enough, a team that did not deserve to be in the playoffs.

You bet this one hurt Harry Carson, who goes back to the beginning, Oct. 10, 1976, with Giants Stadium.

"It hurts from the standpoint of, I was here the first year, and I remember people booing," Carson said. "We started the season against Dallas [a 24-14 loss], and I think the next home game was against Philadelphia [a 10-0 loss to drop to 0-8 as John McVay replaced Bill Arnsparger], and we stunk up the place, and people were throwing [bleep] at us ... they were throwing apples, oranges, toilet paper, all of that stuff.

Here's what else Carson didn't like: It was Panthers 24, Giants 0 as the teams headed off for halftime.

"What the issue is might be more about pride," Carson said. "Guys now, they're playing against one another, but yet, they're friendly with the guys who they're playing against. ... I can understand that to a certain extent. But when guys are ripping your [butt], you don't get buddy-buddy with guys at halftime, 'cause there were a couple of guys who I saw buddy-buddy.

"You have to go out and play with an attitude, and I don't necessarily see that in any of these guys. ... When you're getting your [butt] kicked at home, in front of your fans, you should be angry, as opposed to sort of hanging out with guys that you're playing against. You don't do that."

Justin Tuck disputed the notion that Giants defenders quit.

"You wouldn't have to ask me -- I'd tell 'em to get off the field if they were quitting," he said. "I didn't see anybody quit. We didn't play well, obviously, but ... heart and quit. ... a question of that, that'll never be an issue with these Giants, I promise you that."

So you would tell angry, disconsolate Giant fans what, exactly?

"I would tell 'em we didn't quit," Tuck said.

Tuck was informed that Osi Umenyiora, who had hoped to sign a big-ticket extension, had speculated he may have played his last game at Giants Stadium as a Giant.

"Well, could be," Tuck said.

Why do you say that?

"All of us could be outta here next year, off a performance like that," he said.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Do this mean a lot more seat available as I was told it is impossible to buy a ticket to watch a Giant match at Giant stadium.

[BerniesElbow]

Interesting.

I dont think theres any doubt about the level of talent on their roster, so the question is who is responsible?

Is it the players for not caring enough or the coaches for not making them care?

And I agree with Harry Carson, that friendly chit-chat stuff between players on opposing teams during the game makes my blood boil.

I always approached any sports I participated in as I'll be your friend AFTER the game and shake your hand, but during the game I want to kill you.

[kkr]

Couldn't agree more Bernie its like they are saying well im getting my $$$ so who gives a **** that were being trounced, its notorious with all modern overpaid sports stars.

Id lay the blame with Sheridan and maybe even TC though. Its clear that some of the players dont want to play for the coaches but is this just Sheridan and his **** up scheme or is old Tom back? Perhaps its become clear that Spags was the saviour of the 07 team and without him the D and Coughlin are screwed and perhaps the players have realised this and had enough of the nonsense.

At the bare minimum Sheridan has to go. I wouldn't be totally against tearing all the coaching staff down and going with some fresh ideas, it will get the players committed and playing again and they are as talented a group as there is in the NFL, when used correctly.

In a way i hope we get trounced by the Vikings again this coming week as it might signal big changes. I just think if you get a guy who can come in and teach his players and get the respect of the players like Spags did then the D would improve drastically and if you had a young imaginative mind at O-coordinator/Head coach then this offense is so loaded with talent that it would really take off big time.

[kkr]

Giants defensive coordinator Sheridan expects to be back

Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bill Sheridan expects to be back for a second season as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator despite seeing his unit rank among the NFL's worst in points allowed.

Sheridan said on Thursday that he has done a competent job and that he was not concerned about his job security.

"I know you guys are very concerned about it, but I'm not concerned about it," Sheridan said after the Giants practiced for Sunday's season finale against the Vikings in Minnesota.

The Giants defense has given up 383 points, ranking 28th in the league. It has allowed opponents to score 40 points four times, including Sunday when the Carolina Panthers embarrassed New York 41-9 in the team's final game at Giants Stadium.

The last time the Giants allowed that many 40-point games was 1966, when it happened five times.

Sheridan acknowledged he did not anticipate a season like this in his wildest dreams.

Some of the problems can be traced to injuries. Safety Kenny Phillips, cornerback Aaron Ross, middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and defensive tackle Jay Alford all suffered season-ending injuries. Cornerback Corey Webster (knee), defensive tackle Chris Canty (hamstring, calf, knee) and linebacker Michael Boley (hip, knee) have been sidelined for weeks.

The biggest loss may have been Pierce. The defensive signal caller missed the final seven games with a neck injury.

"That's a big void that's hard to fill, just from a leadership on the field standpoint, a gameday quarterback on the field," Sheridan said. "He hadn't played great week in and week out. That's a void that has not been filled since he's been out of the lineup."

Besides the injuries, Sheridan said there are some subtle and intangible things that he would like to change next season, but he did not get specific.

Coach Tom Coughlin and the rest of the Giants management will determine whether Sheridan comes back.

Coughlin will have the most say. He promoted Sheridan from linebackers coach to coordinator after Steve Spagnuolo left to become the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Sheridan said he told Coughlin that he was competent and that would do a conscientious, diligent job, when he interviewed for the coordinator's job. He said he would tell him the exact same thing if asked why he should return.

"To me, the most important thing is competence, that you can put your players, give them a plan on a weekly basis that will put them in the best position to defend and beat your opponent," Sheridan said. "And that's why he gave me the job. And if he's evaluated I'm still competent in that area, that's what I would tell him."

Sheridan also might be held accountable for problems with two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

Umenyiora skipped a practice before the season after a tiff with Sheridan. The coordinator then took away his starting job after Thanksgiving.

Umenyiora said on Wednesday that he wants to return next season provided there are changes.

Sheridan believes Umenyiora has not slipped after missing last season with a knee injury.

"I think he is more than capable of being a full-time player," Sheridan said. "With the depth we had had going in at the defensive line it was already predetermined we were going to be rotating guys and no one was going to be playing more than 30 or 40 snaps a game. In the latter part of the season his reps have fallen off but it's in no way a reflection of his ability."

Defensive end Justin Tuck said that Sheridan faced high expectations following Spagnuolo, who was the defensive guru of their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in February 2008.

"Oh-nine has been a year our defense would like to forget how we played," Tuck said.

The play of the defense was one of the major reasons the Giants failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Tuck understands someone has to be held accountable.

"Somebody is going to be a scapegoat," Tuck said. "That could be a lot of people. I don't think that is warranted. I don't think that is deserving of Bill because we all are accountable."

Tuck said he would like to see Sheridan return.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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Jason La Canfora

Change on the way among Giants coaching staff

Posted: December 31st, 2009 | Jason La Canfora | Tags: Bill Sheridan, New York Giants, Osi Umenyiora, Tom Coughlin

Members of the New York Giants coaching staff believe there is a strong chance some of them could be let go following the conclusion of the season this Sunday, according to league sources, with first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan among the primary candidates to be dismissed.

Sheridan has faced intense scrutiny for a struggling defense this season, and the Giants overall fell well short of expectations, failing to make the playoffs and putting forward uneven and sometimes awful performances down the stretch. Sheridan took over for Steve Spganuolo, who left to become head coach of the Rams, and has faced criticism from fans and the media. Sheridan’s relationship with star players like defensive end Osi Umenyiora has also been questioned.

The Giants had difficulty getting to the quarterback and defending the pass much of the season. The problems there go beyond Sheridan in the eyes of some other executives, with injuries taking a major toll and some players simply not performing to their standards. Regardless, the scope of the Giants’ collapse after a 6-0 start has led to a state within the organization where change appears inevitable to some with regards to coach Tom Coughlin’s assistants. Those moves are expected to begin early next week.

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Q. Do you want to replay or rethink what you said in front of your locker after last Sunday's game?

A. It was frustration man, definitely a whole lot of frustration. Given the fact that it was the last game at Giants Stadium, with all the things our predecessors have done there and all the things we have done there as a team and all the things that I think I have done as a player, to see the team play like that, especially on defense, and not being able to help them or play as much as I would have liked definitely made me angry and frustrated. I came in and just reacted without much thought, but it is what it is and we'll move past that and go on from here.

Q. Coach Coughlin said that, 'Osi is an important part of our team and we plan on having him here.' Has he communicated that to you and does it make you feel like a significant part of this team?

A. I haven't really paid much attention to any of that. I am pretty much focused on Minnesota and how we are going to handle winning this game because it is very, very important. All that other stuff I think will take care of itself and we will just move on from there.

Q. Have you talked to Jerry or Tom about the comments after the game?

A. I haven't talked to them specifically but really, what is there to talk about? It is what it is, it's an unfortunate situation but it is what it is.

Q. Miserable record aside, you do want to be here?

A. Oh, of course. I love this team. I spent the last seven years of my life here. I have a bunch of great friends here, I would love to be here, but the situation cannot continue the way it is. I think definitely some things are going to be changed, but I love this place, I love this organization, the front office, and the coaches. I am all in, but I think I am too good of a player for this kind of situation.

Q. Do you think you are still as much in their plans as you want to be?

A. I am not a general manager; I don't know what is going on. I just play football, I have tried for the most part to do everything that has been asked of me for the last couple of weeks. Obviously I am a great competitor and a man of great pride, so it's been difficult, it's been rough. I have tried to keep my mouth quiet and keep my head down and do everything that has been asked of me, but unfortunately I let my emotions get the best out of me on Sunday and said some things that I shouldn't have said. That being said, it is what it is and we will move on from there.

Q. Is this all about playing time or are there other things that are...

A. Like what Ralph, can you give me an example?

Q. You walked out of practice back in August and a lot of people thought that you and Bill Sheridan didn't see eye to eye. Did that have something to do with it or was it that your playing time has gone down?

A. In a game of that magnitude, a game of that seriousness, just the way it went down and happened, obviously that's exactly why I reacted like I did on that particular day. I was angry and frustrated and said some things that I wish I would have kept to myself but they came out and it is what it is.

Q. This is the first time in five years that you have a game that really doesn't mean anything other than playing for pride. How do you get motivated?

A. Well, you have to get motivated, you don't have a choice. We were 5-0 at one point, we lost I don't know even how many games. Everybody is on us and saying how we are one of the worst teams in football and how can we let this happen. So if you don't have the ability to get up for this game and put your foot down and say enough is enough and play with as much pride and respect as you can, then you are in the wrong sport.

Q. Have you reflected that this could be your last game in this uniform?

A. I mean, to be honest with you, I can't get into that anymore. I think everything is going to take care of itself after the season is over with. I don't know how things are going to turn out, but I want to be here, I love the fans, I even love you guys (beat writers), man. Imagine that. Everything is going to take care of itself, just put everything in the hands of the Lord, I am not trying to get all religious on anybody here, but that is pretty much all I can do and everything will take care of itself from there.

Q. Have your skills and explosiveness diminished because of the knee injury?

A. Absolutely not, I am not sure what tape everybody else has been watching. It seems like everybody is watching a different film than the film we watch in the D-line room. I am just as explosive. I am still the same player that I was and I have Dr. Russ Warren, Ronnie Barnes and Byron (Hansen) and all those guys I thank for that because they did a tremendous job putting me back together and I will be in their debt forever. I don't look at myself and see any difference in the player that I was before and I think anybody that knows about football and watches football will say the same thing.

Q. Has anybody from the coaching staff agreed with you that you should have been on the field more on Sunday?

A. We don't talk about that. We just got pounded, 41-9, 250 yards rushed on us. I am not something that we are talking about right now, we have to find a way to fix that concentration and fixed what happened and that's what everybody is talking about.

Q. How much do you personally and as a team need a big game here to send you guys off into the offseason?

A. Its important for us, for our coaching staff, for our organization, for our fans who are so used to seeing us perform at a certain level and we just haven't done that consistently enough this year. I think we have one more opportunity to go out there and show that we are still a good football team and promise the next year and I think we are going to do that.

Q. Would you expect more time on the field on Sunday?

A. I don't know what their plans are; I don't know what they are going to do. Whenever my number is called I will go out there and I will perform like I have always done. There is no question in my mind about that but I have no idea what they are going to do.

Q. Do you believe that this will be fixed and you will come back next year and it will be good again?

A. I don't know, man, I hope so. I think it's a situation that can be rectified, but for me personally, I feel that not playing on first and second down and making the amount of money that I am making and then just coming in on third down and being chip blocked 90 percent of the time, I just don't think they can continue to pay me just to do that. These are very, very smart people we are dealing with. They understand and are very, very intelligent, good businessmen and I just don't see a way in which they will continue to do that. Everybody has their own situation and way of thinking and whatever happens we will just go on from there. I hope I am here, I love to be here, I am definitely under contract here, so I can't tell you I am going anywhere. It's all in their hands.

Q. You talked about the situation being rectified. Would it be easier to be rectified if there was a new man calling the shots on defense for you?

A. I can't take any shots at Bill. This is his first year at D-coordinator, he has done an admirable job in my book, and I hope he doesn't get fired. Whatever happens, happens. I have no control over that. He is a good man.

Q. Clearly there is something different to rectify?

A. All I can do is continue to do my job. Am I going to work harder this offseason than I did last offseason? Absolutely, not because I can't. I busted my *** to try and get back in. So I don't know what I am going to do differently but I am going to keep on working as hard as I possibly can and we will go from there.

Q. Clearly, there seems to be a disconnect with you and the coordinator, or he doesn't value your ability the way other coordinators do. Do you agree with that?

A. Boy, you are trying to get me, man, but I won't let you. I don't know what you are talking about, man.

Q. This coordinator has made you a third down player?

A. I am not a third down player; I am not a third down rusher. I can play the run and I have played the run this year. I think I had a bad game against Denver, a bad quarter against Denver, and things kind of snowballed from there, but in actuality who on this team has played excellent every single game. Things happen, so I cannot take that away from myself because I am only in on third down and people say I can't play the run. That's absolute B.S because I can and the film is there to prove it.

Q. Do you think you were singled out on defense because they had to make a move to change the lineup?

A. I wouldn't say I was singled out, but like I said, I think things needed to be changed at that point in time. They needed to shake some things up, I guess, because we obviously couldn't continue going the way we were going. Myself, Fred and Chase were the people who obviously took the fall for that, but it is what it is. I'm going to keep my head up and I am just going to keep going.

Q. Are you cognizant of being labeled a mal-content and does that concern you?

A. Yeah, that is not in my character to behave that way. A couple of things that I said and did are not the way I represent myself at all. Given the frustration of the moment, I think I reacted, it's not something that I plan on doing again or I don't think or I hope not. I am just not that type of person and everybody who knows me knows that. At the end of the day, I am still a man of great pride and I am very much respected by a lot of people in the NFL and they know what type of player and person I am. So I can't settle for anything less and I can't settle for not being or playing because it's just not right.

Q. You don't know what the GM might do but might you go to them and say, 'look this stuff has to clear up, and if you don't consider me a three-down player, then give me my release or trade me?'

A. We have to focus on Minnesota right now and as soon as we are done with the Minnesota game all that stuff. I promise you, will take care of itself and we will go from there.

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[kurtsimonw]

Sheridan had better not be back.

It wouldn't be the end of the World if Gilbride stayed. While he's exactly a genius, our offense put up some nice numbers in alot of games this season. I would just like him to be a bit more unpredictable at times, we're too easy to work out. I'd give Coughlin another year, too.

[kkr]

Kevin Gilbride has been an offensive coordinator for five NFL teams to varying degrees of success, so he knows exactly what Bill Sheridan must be thinking right now.

And he realizes Sheridan can use a laugh every now and then.

“So you wanted be a coordinator?” Gilbride said he’s joked with the head of the Giants’ defense of late. “How do you feel about that now?”

Those in the Giants’ organization can’t feel well about the way the team’s defense performed in its first year under Sheridan. Through the first 15 games, the Giants have surrendered 383 points – the most they’ve given up since the 387 their defense allowed in 2003. If the Vikings score at least 5 points on Sunday, the Giants will have given up the most points since 1980, when opponents totaled 425.

Considering many of the same players on this defense were much more successful under Steve Spagnuolo the previous two seasons, the finger has been pointed at Sheridan for the past couple of months. And with only three days remaining in the season, there is plenty of speculation Sheridan could be in his final hours as the Giants’ coordinator.

Thursday, in what might have been his last session with reporters, Sheridan claimed he isn’t listening to such chatter and believes he’ll be back next season.

“Absolutely,” he said, adding: “I’m not concerned about it. I know you guys are very concerned about it, but I’m not concerned about it.“

In a 10-minute meeting with the media, Sheridan displayed his lack of concern about his job security by providing several reasons for the defensive struggles:

* Injuries to players such as linebacker Antonio Pierce, safety Kenny Phillips and defensive tackle Jay Alford. (After at first saying injuries weren’t an excuse because they’re “inevitable.”)

* The possibility the players just aren’t good enough: “Maybe some of it is personnel,” he said, “but our coaches do not think that way."

* And a poor performance in the red zone (a league-worst 68.5-percent touchdown rate), which explains the fact the Giants have given up the fifth-most points in the league while allowing the 10th-fewest amount of total yards.

In other words, Sheridan indicated there were plenty of reasons for the defense’s struggles. And none of them seemed to be him.

Asked what he would tell Tom Coughlin if the coach asked him why he should be back next season, Sheridan replied, “The same reason why he gave me the job – because he thinks I’m competent and do a conscientious, diligent job.”

Asked if he believes he was competent this year, Sheridan replied, “Oh, absolutely.”

The players have defended Sheridan this season, saying his knowledge of the game is excellent. But what they omit in their statements (perhaps intentionally) is there’s more to coaching than Xs and Os. There’s also the motivational factor, and the defense’s uninspired play indicates Sheridan has come up short in that regard.

Sheridan said there are changes he would make to his approach, though he indicated they would be “mostly intangible, management-wise, and would be subtle.”

In short, he sees no reason for an overhaul in the plan he and his assistants had for dealing with the players each week.

“One thing at least we will get credit for is we stuck to our plan of how we’re going to coach and how we’re going to teach and game plan,” Sheridan said. “We’ve done that every single week and, like they say, the proof will be in hindsight.”

Or in his job status by this time next week.

Mike Garafolo may be reached at mgarafolo@starledger.com.

He must be on crack!