I had the opportunity to talk with a couple of the Giants defensive backs Monday afternoon while they were at a photo shoot for AKOO Clothing. While it wasn't the greatest setting in the world to conduct phone interviews, it's tough to pass up the opportunity to talk with players. So, I did chat briefly with cornerback Corey Webster and safety Deon Grant.
In a brief chat with Webster, I asked him about the transformation in the Giants' defense between the first and second halves on Sunday against Jacksonville.
"We knew it was time for a change, there was multiple guys who stood up. We came out in the second half and it showed," Webster said. "We need games like that. It brings out the character in everyone."
Webster said the Giants can't worry about the other teams in the NFC playoff race. By the way, I took a look at that playoff picture over at SB Nation New York.
"We just worry about what we can control. Don't get caught up in the hype about what everybody else has got going on."
I asked Grant whether the questions about veteran leadership on the Giants should be put to rest once and for all.
"I thought that would have been put to rest," Grant said. "If it wasn't, hopefully it is now."
Grant talked a little bit about the team's playoff push, and it was a good, if predictable, answer.
"We win one game at a time that'll get us where we need to go, so that's our main focus and that's exactly what we talk about," Grant said. "Win one game at a time."
Now for some other notes from around the Inter-Google.
There was a lot of great stuff from coach Tom Coughlin in his Monday press conference. I particularly like this remark from TC:
"Two things we talked about were winning the physical battle, and by the end of the game we had established that. We did not turn the ball over. Kevin Gilbride and I told this to the team pre-game that you have to remain faithful to the little things that you do and the values that you believe in," Coughlin said. "And with Giants football, that's one, win the physical battle, and two, don't turn the ball over, and win the turnover battle. Our percentage of wins when we do win the turnover battle is very, very high. We were able to accomplish that."
Quarterback Eli Manning discussed how the Giants had to simplify their offensive attack with so many receivers out of action.
"It's really just kind of getting down the stuff that we really knew. We didn't do as much three wide receiver stuff as we might do in a normal game if everybody was healthy. We kept it to more tight end, two receiver, two back stuff or two tight ends, two receiver, one back and just running plays that we normally run, we just stayed in our base personnel a little bit more than normal," Manning said. "It's not that you're simplifying things, you're just not changing personnel quite as much. You're putting your best players on the field and that's what you want. We do three wides because we figure that we have three really talented receivers and want to get those guys on the field as much as possible. All of the sudden you're short receivers, so let's get Travis Beckum on the field more, let's see Kevin Boss - put him in a situation to win for us."
New York Giants, not Jets, have Big Apple's best defense - ESPN New York
It may hurt Rex Ryan down to his vocal cords to admit this, especially with arch rival New England looming just ahead next Monday in a showdown that could determine who finishes with the NFL's best record, but the top defense in New York right now doesn't belong to the Jets. It belongs to the Giants.
Giants don't expect injured players back this week
Don’t expect any reinforcements to be taking the field Sunday when the Giants face the Redskins at New Meadowlands Stadium. None of the five injured offensive starters are expected to be healthy.
Ross still in 'pain'; sent for tests
Giants cornerback Aaron Ross missed practice on Friday and nearly missed the game on Sunday with what the team called an illness. But Ross said today that's not the right description for his ailment. "No," he told the Daily News.
Jaguars coach blasts refs for penalty | NYPOST.com
The Jaguars were fuming about an offensive pass interference penalty that proved crucial in their 24-20 loss to the Giants yesterday.
Giants Blog: Winning Ugly " CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
A wise man once said that an ugly win is better than any kind of loss. The Giants learned how much truth is contained in that statement during their 24-20 come-from-behind victory over the Jaguars.