Loss Of Spagnuolo Leaves Giants Defense In Question

The New York Giants' defense will not be under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the first time in two years.

The defensive coordinator, whose aggressive blitz schemes helped the Giants win their first Super Bowl in more than 20 years, left for the head coaching job in St. Louis.

Linebackers coach Bill Sheridan, who beat out defensive backs coach Peter Giunta for the defensive coordinator position, has been picked to fill the vacancy. While many believe the transition from Spagnuolo to Sheridan will be a seamless because both men share the same defensive philosophy, I myself have some doubts.

Spagnuolo comes from a notoriously strong Eagles coaching tree and was the apprentice to legendary defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson, widely considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, taught Spagnuolo everything he knows, including the scheme he brought to the Giants.

As soon as Spagnuolo took the job in 2007, the Giants' defense became more aggressive, blitzed more with their corners and linebackers, and disguised more of their schemes coming out of the huddle. All of this was akin to Jim Johnson’s notorious Eagles' defense.

The problem is while Spagnuolo learned from the defensive master in Johnson, it is harder to say if Sheridan learned from a master in Spagnuolo. Even if we classify Spagnuolo as a master of his craft (it is too early to tell), Sheridan has only been under his system for two years. Spagnuolo, on the other hand, was on Johnson’s coaching staff for seven years.

I don’t think Sheridan spent enough time under Spagnuolo to really understand the when, where and how of his defense in the same way the Spagnuolo learned from Johnson on the Eagles.

Look for the Giants to be consistent at defense this year, just not as prolific as they were under Spagnuolo.