New York Giants
Youth Malcolm Jenkins Jerseys , and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spoke to the media on Monday to talk about some of the improvements he wants his group to
make, and what makes preparing for the Panthers so challenging.Here’s what the
DC had to say:On Avonte Maddox at safetySchwartz noted that on a short week, the
team did what they had to do in terms of personnel decisions. He went on to say
that he should really tip his hat to Maddox, as he was the guy who probably had
the most on his plate on Thursday, not just in terms of playing safety but also
to move over into the nickel without taking any reps there.He went on to say
that Maddox’s flexibility there was a big reason the Eagles won that game.
Schwartz then talked about the big tackle Maddox made to force the Giants to
kick a field goal, and the DC noted that the rookie saved them four points, but
that’s what a free safety is supposed to do.He continued, “That’s one of the
things we liked about him, his range, he’s tough. He’s not the biggest guy in
the world, but he plays big.”Schwartz was then asked what about Maddox off the
field that made them so comfortable giving him so much responsibility as a
rookie. He went on to say that Maddox is a smart guy and is mature beyond his
years
Malcolm Jenkins Jerseys Stitched , and since he’s gotten to Philadelphia there hasn’t been a situation that was “too big” for him. Schwartz also lauded Maddox
as having a great attitude, and when they asked him to take reps at safety he
just said, “okay”.He talked about players like that with low blood pressure, who
just go about their business, and it serving them well on the field.Schwartz was
asked why they moved the rookie safety to the slot, as opposed to a veteran guy,
but the DC noted that the rookie took all those snaps in training camp. He also
pointed out that based on the corners they had and the matchups they were
looking at, they thought Maddox at nickel made the most sense.He continued to
talk about how Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills are both young players, but they do
have a bit more experience, and so he tried to put the hat on those guys a
little more. Schwartz did say they could get a little more help to the slot than
they could on the outside.Defense vs. the GiantsSchwartz was asked how they get
production out of a very young group — noting that Malcolm Jenkins was the only
defensive back over the age of 24 to play on Thursday. The DC wasn’t willing to
give out any gold stars just yet, and noted that the group has plenty of things
to work on still.He did say that it’s a committed group of guys
Youth Darren Sproles Jerseys , and the veterans (read: older guys) who are sidelined with injuries are sure to help coach up some of their teammates and
getting them ready. Schwartz emphasized, as he’s done in the past, that it’s a
group effort moreso than based off of any one individual performance, and that
the players among the group being so close helps drive that team mentality.He
was asked about some of the missed tackles on Saquon Barkley on Thursday night,
but Schwartz wouldn’t be so quick to call them misses, but rather that Barkley
is just an impressive player. Schwartz noted that their game plan going into the
matchup was to limit Odell Beckham Jr.’s targets, which made them more
vulnerable to the run game, but that was a calculated risk they were willing to
take.He said the most disappointing run from Barkley wasn’t any of those in
which players “missed” the tackle, but the one where no one laid a glove on him
and the rookie went for 55 yards. He continued to point out that with guys like
Barkley, you just have to keep coming.“He was outstanding in that game, he was
certainly all that we could handle
Darren Sproles Jerseys Stitched ,” Schwartz said of Barkley.On the roughing the passer callsSchwartz was asked how he coaches his pass rushers to be aggressive,
while also trying to avoid a roughing the passer flag, specifically pointing to
Tom Brady almost being taken down on Sunday Night Football before being let go
and eventually scoring. Schwartz noted that something like that isn’t entirely
new, and talked for a bit about when he was in Tennessee and they lost to Vince
Young after a defender tried to avoid drawing the flag.On Carolina prepHe did go
on to talk about specifically heading into the game against Carolina, and having
to prepare to face a 6-foot-5, 250-pound quarterback who’s hard enough to tackle
alone, then to add in trying to avoid the roughing the passer penalties while
also accounting for their designed runs, is challenging.Schwartz went on to talk
about Cam Newton and how he’s opened up just about every designed run possible,
and how the Panthers offense has used more quarterback designed runs than they
have in the past.“To go Spinal Tap on you, they just turned their quarterback
runs up to 11.”He summed up that it’s difficult to avoid those penalties, but
they just have to make sure they stay within the strike zone
Youth Jerome Brown Jerseys , you can’t hit late, can’t use their head, and now have to try and shift their weight to avoid coming down on the quarterback. Schwartz
admitted in the heat of battle it’s a little easier said than done, but that’s
the job they have to do.Schwartz was later asked how the Panthers’ run game
compares to others, and he noted that while a lot of teams are using zone reads,
even in the redzone, that Carolina is a team that you can’t put constraints on
based on down and distance. He was asked if Carolina’s offense looks the same or
different under new OC Norv Turner, and Schwartz thinks there were significant
changes this offseason. He went on to point out that there were some familiar
faces, but there were also a lot of changes along the offensive line and to some
of the receivers.Schwartz acknowledged that it’s not just a new offensive
coordinator on the Panthers sideline, but also a lot of new personnel to account
for.On injuriesSchwartz noted that the string of injuries to the defense this
season is one of the reasons they emphasize cross-training and versatility in
their players. He said injuries are nothing new, and it’s just a matter of when
they happen and to how many people in the same position group that matter
most.He was then asked when he started putting such an emphasis on
cross-training
Jerome Brown Jerseys Stitched , and he pointed to when offenses started using three wide receivers and it sort of took the box safety out of the equation —
somewhere around the early- to mid-2000s. It won’t make Bears fans feel any
better . . . or Cody Parkey for that matter. But the NFL officially changed
Parkey’s 43-yard, game-winning attempt to a blocked field goal.No one mentioned
Parkey’s kick being blocked until postgame interviews when Eagles defensive
lineman Treyvon Hester revealed he tipped the ball. It began a social media
debate about whether Hester really touched the ball, with a “Zapruder film” type
of frame-by-frame video of the kick.The NFL, though, has made the change on its
Game Statistics & Information System site. In the play by play from the
game, it now lists the play as:4-2-PHI 25 (:10) (Field Goal formation) C.Parkey
43 yard field goal is BLOCKED (T.Hester), Center-P.Scales, Holder-P.O’Donnell.So
it’s official: Hester blocked Parkey’s kick. Now, everyone can debate whether
Hester’s tip was the reason Hester missed the kick, but the NFL apparently saw
enough that it thinks Hester was the reason for Parkey’s miss.
