Perry Fewell: From Potential Giants Coaching Successor to Possible Firing

It's Christmas week, and teams in the NFL are figuring out their possible playoff destinations.

The New York Giants, who sit at 7-7, are just trying to hold on to their hopes for the playoffs.

This is the same Giants team that started out 6-2 and were on top of the world after upsetting the New England Patriots back in early November.

Seems like a long time ago, huh?

Since then, the Giants have gone 1-5, relinquished first place in the NFC East to the Dallas Cowboys, and are in the midst of yet another second half collapse.

Before Week 15, the Giants were at 7-6 and had control of the division following their comeback victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

All they had to do was beat the Washington Redskins this past Sunday, but they lost 23-10 in their own stadium.

They didn't just lose, they looked like a team that didn't show up to play football.

OK, sure, Eli Manning had a bad game. He's allowed one, considering he's had a phenomenal season. And if Manning has a bad game, it's usually a rough day for the offense.

The defense on the other hand, is a different story. On Sunday, they were, once again, bad.

But it wasn't the first time they were bad. Nope, they have been bad all season long, which leads me to current defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

When Fewell was hired in January of 2010 to take over for Bill Sheridan, Fewell was in charge of trying to restore order to a unit that was god-awful in 2009.

In 2010, they were improved, and Fewell was credited with the exceptional work.

Some even thought he did such a great job that he could potentially be a candidate to be a head coach, maybe even for the Giants themselves in the future whenever Tom Coughlin retired.

In 2011, things have changed dramatically for Fewell, because the Giants defense has been absolutely terrible.

As of Week 15, they've allowed 372 total points, which is the fourth worst in the NFL, whereas a year ago, they only gave up 342 points in 16 games.

Aside from that, they aren't getting nearly enough as pressure on the quarterback as they did a season ago.

Granted, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora have been injured. But, aside from Jason Pierre-Paul, the rest of the defense hasn't done the job in getting pressure.

In two straight games against the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, the Giants defense did not get a single sack against Vince Young or Drew Brees.

And, in both games, the Giants ended up losing.

But, they have had their fair share of injuries to the unit.

Tuck and Umenyiora have been banged up, first round pick Prince Amukamara missed the first two months of the season, and Terrell Thomas, Jonathan Goff, Clint Sintim, Brian Weatherspoon and Marvin Austin are all out for the season with different injuries.

But injuries are a part of the game, and it's up to Fewell to coach the current players and prepare them to play defense every week.

And it's clear that this defense is not a top-caliber NFL offense. In all honesty, they have been a terrible defense in 2011.

In the 1-5 stretch, the Giants defense has allowed 188 total points, which is just dreadful. And it falls onto Fewell's shoulders.

So when the season concludes, if the Giants do not make the playoffs, I think the entire Giants coaching staff is out—from head coach Tom Coughlin, to offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and to Fewell. Tight end coach Mike Pope and offensive line coach Pat Flaherty might be the only two coaches I would keep around.

But if the Giants somehow manage to win the NFC East and they decide to keep Coughlin, Fewell might still not be back.

A year ago, people were talking about Fewell to be Coughlin's successor. Clearly, that's not the case anymore. He can barely run his own unit successfully.

Last year, Fewell had a few interviews for head coaching jobs. But, during this winter, he may not even have an interview for another defensive coordinator job.

If anything, he may have to take a job as a defensive backs coach somewhere.

The remaining two games will determine Coughlin's fate in New York for 2012.

As for Fewell, I think he could very well be coaching his last few games with the Giants in the next few weeks.

I don't see him coming back next year, given how bad the defense has reverted back to.