WATCH: Coach Tom Coughlin previews #CARvsNYG and talks mindset of the #Giants for Week 15 https://t.co/5DK0JgQowQ
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 16, 2015
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin sounded like he was describing the kind of team he would like to have on Wednesday when he talked about the unbeaten Carolina Panthers.
"They're a very good football team, they're a very well-rounded football team they're balanced, they're a very strong defensive team, they run the football, they rank highly in time of possession," Coughlin said.
The 6-7 Giants, battling to stay in the NFC East race, host the 13-0 Panthers on Sunday.
"Exciting time for us. We are in the hunt here in the NFC East," Coughlin said. "This is a very, very good football team, an undefeated football team, and we are excited to host them this weekend."
Here are a few of the other topics Coughlin touched on during his Wednesday press conference.
Can the Giants clean up the missed tackles?
The Giants were officially "credited" with seven missed tackles on Monday, though there were probably many more than should have been made and weren't. Coughlin was asked about that on Wednesday.
"We need to. That was obvious the other night, and we need to do a better job of that," Coughlin said. "You can improve anything if you make it an emphasis and continue to talk about the fundamentals and the basics that are involved in it."
On Josh Norman vs. Odell Beckham Jr.
Panthers cornerback Josh Norman may be the best cover guy in the league this season. Odell Beckham may be the best receiver. It should make for quite the match-up on Sunday.
"He's [Norman] having an outstanding year. He's a very, very good cover guy. He's a technician, he gets himself in the right spot at the right time. He does play the ball in the air. He's quick. He's physical," Coughlin said.
"We'll see what happens, but certainly I would think that that would be the match-up abd so you're going to have a very, very good defenders against a very, very good receiver."
On the play of Cooper Taylor
The third-year safety, cut just a few weeks ago and then re-signed, played a career-high 18 snaps vs. the Miami Dolphins on Monday. Coughlin said Taylor is "improving."
"We're gonna play three safeties. He's gonna get his opportunity to play," Coughlin said. "You have guys that are involved in special teams as well. when it comes time for them to get a blow they get a blow, and if it's working out they make take an extra drive."