NFC East

Sporting News, The, Nov 22, 1999

Fox demands, gets, more from Giants' D

The defense John Fox inherited in 1997 was young and talented, but he saw the potential for more. Specifically, more turnovers and more sacks. The Giants had only 30 sacks in 1996 under predecessor Mike Nolan's more conservative scheme.

Fox handed the players the thickest defensive playbook they had ever seen, accompanied by a simple message: He trusted them to make their own decisions and to use their talents--and to attack whenever possible.

The results were immediate. In 1997, the team forced 44 takeaways and had 54 sacks. There were another 54 sacks in 1998, the most of any team. So far in 1999, the defense again has carried an anemic offense, keeping the Giants in NFC East title contention, despite last week's 27-19 loss to the Colts.

The defense scored 14 points in a season-opening upset of the Buccaneers and made numerous big plays in a pivotal win October 31 over the Eagles, capped by Christian Peter's tipped pass that led to Michael Strahan's interception and 44-yard return for a touchdown in overtime.

With cornerback Jason Sehom back and playing as well as could be expected after missing 1998 because of a knee injury, the defense is more free to blitz and leave Sehom and Phillippi Sparks in single coverage on the comers. Both are savvy veterans who rarely give up big plays.

Fox also immediately set an aggressive tone off the field, which created a confident, fiery unit on it. Fox is tough, but he also knows when to pat players on the back. Most of them believe he will make an extremely effective head coach in the near future.

"You get fired of people telling you what you want to hear," Strahan says. "You need somebody who's going to tell you, `Hey, Mike, you screwed up.' Or, `I know you're better than that.' Hey, at this point, you know it's not luck that he's doing well." Neil Best

Arizona

3-6: 4th

Pittman's speed, hands and power a perfect fit

The future of RB Michael Pittman will be limited only by his ability to take a hit. He has suffered a string of nicks that counter a strong package of physical skills that finally landed him a spot as the team's featured back. It took the coaching staff a half-season to pull the trigger and bench Adrian Murrell, who was being felled by too many arm tackles. Murrell's dancing, cutback style--effective for the team in the playoff run last season--had taken him nowhere as the club's rushing attack plummeted to the bottom of the league. In Pittman, the club has a buffed package that includes fullback's power, receiver's hands and sprinter's speed. The only caveat was whether he could hang on to the ball. Pittman's powerful style is more effective for the way the club's line is playing. Murrell will need to find a niche as the change-of-pace back the rest of the way.... Having all three receivers healthy and getting enough practice to become knowledgeable and comfortable is paying off. Rob Moore and Frank Sanders are one of the league's most effective duos. David Boston could be a more dangerous weapon with speed to run past defenders. Zone-blitzing defenses taking away the underneath routes are forcing West Coast offenses to look long. The club is equipped for it.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rookie LT L.J. Shelton was not expected to have much impact after he ended his holdout. He had played in a passing system at Eastern Michigan and been an effective backside protector of Charlie Batch for three years. The question was whether he could run-block against NFL defenses. He quickly made his mark, winning the starting job because of his size (6-6, 343), quickness, footwork, hands and savvy. Shelton is especially effective keeping his shoulders square to the line to choke off pass rushers who try to go inside.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The latest wrinkle in the defense, a package called the Joker, has right end Simeon Rice moving into the middle, standing like a linebacker behind Eric Swann and creating a dilemma for the offense: which dominating player to block. Swann had two sacks against the Lions out of the package. Rice improved his league-leading sack total to 10. Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis likes having Swann's power and Rice's lightning speed together, which is problem enough for blockers. McGinnis then compounds the degree of difficulty by running stunts out of the alignment. --Lee Shappell

GRADING OUT Vs. Detroit

OFFENSE A-

Mixed it up well, producing most effective effort of the season.

DEFENSE B-

Who would figure Aeneas Williams would ever become a liability?

SPECIAL TEAMS B

A partially blocked punt and several big returns helped turn the game.

COACHING B

Finally got Pittman the playing time, but what took them so long?

CARDINALS

PASSING          Att.   Comp.    Pct.    Yds.    Long
Plummer           181      93    51.4     928     47
Da. Brown         123      60    48.8     703     71

PASSING            TD    Int.    Rate    Sacks

Plummer             3      14    39.6      14
Da. Brown           1       4    55.7      13

RUSHING          Att.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Murell            125     318     2.5       0
Pittman            61     281     4.6       2
Plummer            19      70     3.7       1

RECEIVING         No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Sanders            43     511    11.9       0
Murell             26     151     5.8       0
Boston             24     249    10.4       1

SCORING           XPM     XPA     FGM     FGA    Pts.

Jacke              10      10      13      19     49

PUNTING           No.    Yds.    Avg.    Blk.

Player             64    2670    41.7       0

KO RETURNS        No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Bates              26     622    23.9       0

PUNT RETURNS      No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Cody               17     215    12.6       0