Hey Giants here’s how you beat the Patriots on Defense.

So pretend I’m Steve Spagnulo. That’s because I too am a white 40 year old guy with a beard and an extensive knowledge of football and the leading HC candidate to be the coach of an NFL team soon. Anyway, defeating the Patsies is quite the complex task. Through 18 weeks, they’ve shown a boatload of strengths and schemes and personnel required to line up literally in about 15 different offensive formations that most teams can’t even attempt to do. Luckily, for Spags and America’s team, they have two weeks to gloss over these seemingly massive mismatch and try to mitigate the damage.

The first thing that Spags must do is to take his losses. Get it in his head that his team will allow atleast 3 touchdowns (sorry plax) and move on from there. Teams get this idea that they can completely shutdown the Patsie offense are grossly mistaken. They will get the points. The sooner defenses realize this the better. Also hoping for the 2 week layoff jinx is another help. The notion here is based on this Two week layoff, most teams especially ones reliant upon timing and rhythm which the Pats are can be out of sorts early on. Thus, the Giants have to come out sharp, focus and crisp.

Unfortunately there isn’t a scheme around that can matchup with the Pats. San Diego shut them down with a 3-4, 1 gap scheme. Baltimore plays the hybrid. Colts with the cover 2. Eagles with their blitz heavy 4-3. All these teams have had stretches were they were able to shut down the Patriots. The Giants in G1 were able to do the same as well as put a little harassment on Tommie B. Anywho, let's look at some personel before.

The Pats O-Line is the best in the league. They armed with the BEST INTERIOR in all of football. What this means is that Brady 95%of the time is able to STEP UP in the pocket in delivering a pass. Teams have to get some inside pressure to be successful. Let me introduce you to the Pats’ interior. Logan Mankins is the best guard in the NFL. Mankins is just a nasty beast with bad intentions in his heart every single play. He could poke you in the eye, punch you in throat and kick you in the balls. Mankins is dominant at the second level. Mankins is perfect in pass pro. Allows next to nothing in sacks all season (outside of last week.) Koppen at center is also elite. He can handle elite NTs (Williams/Hampton) but had some trouble with Ratbird’s Haloti Ngata. Sadly no one on the Giants can bring what Ngata brought and Robbins/Cofield need to have a strong game. Robbins especially must come out like a house of fire. He could give Koppen the most trouble. The Giants must have the guards of the Patriots help out on Robbins/Cofield. This will allow the linebackers to flow the football or follow the running backs/tight ends. Stephen Neal at RG is an ex collegiate wrestler who understands the use of leverage and hand placement. Not to mention the man is strong and is good at the second level also! Neal is equally scary in pass pro as he allows next to nothing in terms of a pass rush. This allows the Pats tackles to simply ride opposing De’s and OLBs behind Brady and the pocket and let Tom pick your coverage to death by simply stepping up.

So with that in mind, how do you get to Brady? Well you can’t count on it all the time but what the Giants need to do is atleast get some sort of action around Brady. Whether it means getting some hands in his face, batting down passes, getting pressure to shorten Brady’s stride in delivery and making sure to HIT him just after he releases the pass. What further complicates this is that officials know this and will be extremely willing to dole out 15 yard penalties. Regardless, the Giants can get to Brady as Osi, Tuck etc. got to him in the last game. They need to have some interior pass rush and when they can’t get to Brady try to bat his shit down or atleast raise your arms and hope for the best. I’m also not condoning diving for the knees but anything to get Brady out of his comfort zone should be utilized within REASON.

The Pats are also the best team in the league in using the check downs. Teams can get carried away chasing the Patsie receivers all over the place but what makes them a bitch to defend is those annoying little checkdowns on 3rd and 4+ to Maroney, Faulk. What that means is you need to have a linebacker follow both of them and smack them before they get out on routes. Again easier said than done but the Giants have the linebackers to do it.

This transitions into my next point. YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST BE PHYSICAL WITH EVERY RECEIVER ON THE PATS. Too many teams get scared of the Big play so they play soft and allow cushions. This is what the Pats want you to do. They want you to be scared and than they’ll dink and dunk you under the table. You must smack the living shit of of all receivers – WRs, TEs and Runningbacks. San Diego was able to matchup their corners with the receivers and limited the Patriots to 21 points. The Giants have similar skill among the corner position though without the playmaking ability. Philly and Baltimore both played the receivers tough and physical. You have to play man on man and you must watch the motion and those little dinky bubble screens to Welker that the Pats love to rock. Take the kid gloves off and let them get a chuck, punch, shove and push. Watson, too, must not be given a free release each and every pass play. Sure, being physical has its risks, but as Iron Maiden once sang, “if you’re gonna die, die with your boots on.” It’s better to be tough and rugged than passive and pussyfied. The Giants pass rush can also lead to problems that get knock the Pats out of rhythm and it WILL limit the time Mr. Gisele would like in going through his progressions.

In the AFCG, The Pats rode Maroney in the 2nd half and dominated the end of the game. The Giants have to be able to rotate their crew and get meaningful snaps from Tuck, Alford, Manny Wright, Chase Blackburn, etc. They can not get winded in the 4Q like the Chargers did before them. Giants actually could stop the rushing attack for the Pats as the Pats line is much better suited to pass blocking. The problem with Maroney and a similar Barber is their physical style. The Giants have to tackle low and not let them gain that momentum. Trying to tackle high especially with corners and safeties is a recipe for disaster. To further the point, the Giants need to stop Maroney with their front 7. They can not have either Wilson or Butler come up in run support as this is a sheer sign of doom. Wilson and Butler need to stay back and watch out for the big play always. Butler especially was victimized like a school girl in the last game. He must be the last line of defense.

The Giants can do it. They aren't a sad sack group of overachievers like the 2001 Patriots or something but are a skilled group of players with the best pass rush in the league. It's time to unleash that motherfucker on Tom Brady and the Patriot offense.