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Ralph Vachiano

NFC East Reporter

EAST RUTHEFORD, N.J. — The Giants didn’t have an answer for Justin Jefferson when they faced off just three weeks ago. Therefore, he’s not going to focus his game plan on stopping his receiver at the Vikings All-Pro.

Instead, he just loosens up his defense at quarterback.

Because that’s what their defensive coordinator does best anyway. No coach is as electrifying and extremely aggressive as Martindale. He’s built this Giants’ defense in a crazy image.

That’s what’s underpinned the Giants’ defense all season, and he’s not going to stop now.

“Our character as a defense is to attack,” Martindale said Thursday afternoon.

The Giants mixed that strategy and success in their first meeting with the Vikings when they lost 27–24 on a 61-yard field goal on Christmas Eve. They were all over Viking QB Kirk Cousins that game, sacking him four times, hitting him 11 times, and throwing too quickly, causing 7 of his 48 passes to be deflected.

Of course, Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdown passes without ever getting picked off. And Jefferson caught 12 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, and tight end TJ Hockenson also caught 13 for 109 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants were caught in a blitz with a 17-yard catch-and-run by Jefferson in the final seconds of setting up Greg Joseph’s game-winning kick.

But anyone who thinks those numbers might scare Martindale or let him reign supreme in his defense doesn’t know the 59-year-old well. He didn’t inherit a strong defense when he played. Especially so last spring after cap troubles forced the Giants to release top corner James Bradbury. He has been mix-and-match with linebackers throughout the season. The two men who were in charge were Nick MacLeod and Fabian Moreau. He even lost a safe Xavier McKinney as he broke his hand in an ATV accident during goodbye week and missed as much as two months afterward.

As such, Martindale knew his defense could not beat a team on talent alone. He knew he had to let his players go.

And from what he’s seen, it’s working.

“I said something to them while I was losing [in Minnesota] “We’re building a playoff defense here, guys, make no mistake about it,” Martindale said. That is, he can only play one play at a time and is unflinching. They never flinch. We will correct any mistakes. If there is a play, celebrate it and prepare for the next play. ”

Whether or not the Giants really have a playoff defense remains to be seen. The unit ranks 25th in the NFL, but often because New York was so close in the 4th quarter. bottom. At times it felt like the defense was trying to hold out for as long as possible, dragging the game to the end in hopes that the offense would find a way to play.

Creating pressure has always been the key. The Giants recorded 41 sacks during the season, placing him 13th in the league. However, 19 players recorded at least half his sacks. It was a sign of what his defense would do. Pressure can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Don’t you think that’s the way New York is? Martindale knows that all four of his Super Bowl championship teams in this franchise have been backed by defense. He remembers players like Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenora and Jason Pierre-Paul terrorizing quarterbacks on championship teams in 2007 and 2011.

“It definitely inspired me,” said Martindale. “We know where the standard is and we want to keep raising the bar. That’s why I keep mentioning the fans. I think they like to see it. likes to see what can hit offensive styles of defense and quarterbacks.”

But yes, he understands the risks, and sometimes things go wrong. It was done when I was doing It’s a risk he’s willing to take, and one he probably has to take, knowing that his team probably won’t be able to stop Jefferson.

“Great players play great,” Martindale said. “Make no mistake, you can’t take 18 away. [Jefferson]You try to limit him, but you can’t take him away. Like I said last time, he’s one of the top two receivers, not number two in this league.”

But he can’t do it alone. So Martindale unleashes the wrath of the Cousins defense in hopes of jamming the play before Jefferson gets the ball. That’s the Martindale way. That’s now how the Giants do it too. And even if he has to take big risks in the big blitz where playoff lives are at stake, in the playoffs, of course, he’s not going to hold back on that.

As Martindale put it, “Personally, when I’m calling the game, I’m wondering if it’s time for us to win.”

When that happens, he really ramps up the pressure.

Ralph Vacchiano is FOX Sports’ NFC East reporter covering the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the last six years covering the Giants and Jets on his SNY TV in New York, and for his 16 years prior to that, he covered the Giants and the NFL on the New York Daily News. Follow him on his Twitter: @RalphVacchiano.

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