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Q: Outside the building this week's game with New Orleans is big - two undefeated teams going head-to-head. To you, is this a particularly big game or is this the sixth game of the season? How do you look at it?

Coughlin: "Just as any game, it's the next game on our schedule, so it is the most important game of the year for us. It's an NFC game, it's a game against a very, very good football team and we are excited to be going to New Orleans, accepting the challenge."


Q: You said earlier this week to the media there was a lot of excitement around here. Do the players feel an extra jolt this week?

Coughlin: "Everyone knows what is being said on the outside here. We all know the fact that it's the sixth game of the year, but as I have said many times, each opponent is studied thoroughly and certainly recognized for the things that they have accomplished and this team has accomplished a lot."


Q: The way David Carr prepared himself throughout the week and the way he managed the game, do you think after what he did the entire week, including the game, if he has to go in at some point in an important situation that the team will have confidence in him?

Coughlin: "Well, that is the idea. David had an opportunity to get a lot of practice time in. The game time that he had, the thing that I spoke to him about when we were coming back on the field at halftime was that this was an excellent opportunity for him to get into the huddle with he and the other 10 offensive players and control and handle the huddle, manage the game and build confidence within the other members of the team and their ability to function."


Q: There has been a lot of talk about Brandon Jacobs and the fact that his yards per carry are down from last year. But an important facet of your offense is giving him the ball early and often to pound the defense and then have the other runners come in and run on a tired defense. Doesn't that make him invaluable in the run game even if his numbers are not as good? The other backs are not as productive when he doesn't play.

Coughlin: "There is no question about the style and the way in which we play. There is no exact formula as to when other people get introduced. But Brandon is the starter and when we talk about physical football he is the guy that has the ball under his arm, that our line, our fullback and our tight ends are blocking for to try and establish early on that the message is, 'Here comes the running game.' Our passion is to start with being able to run it and to stop the run."


Q: The defense is ranked number one in the NFL in several categories. There was so much speculation prior to the year how the unit would do with (new coordinator) Bill Sheridan. Has the adjustment with Bill and the players and the players to Bill gone about as well as you could have hoped for at this point?

Coughlin: "I think it has. We certainly had the spring and the summer and training camp and Bill was here, the players know Bill - that, to me, was not an issue. The issue was obviously once we saw the way in which our defensive team was built and then to have some injuries at some spots early on, it was to be able to manage and maneuver with regard to those things and play as well as we could play. So we have done a lot of good things, but there are a lot of things that we recognize have to be done better."


Q: I would assume one area you would like to improveis kickoff returns. The Giants rank at the bottom of the league right now.

Coughlin: "Our return game has to be improved, there isn't any question about that. We have worked like heck on it, we just don't have anything to show for it at this point."



Q: The Saints frequently change personnel groups and players and use a lot of formations and motion. Are they a confusing team to prepare for?

Coughlin: "I don't know if it's confusing, they also have the up-tempo offensive style that they like to utilize. They do play a number of personnel combinations, which we do as well. So I think working against each other in training camp helps with regard to that. I think that they do shift and they do motion and hopefully that is not a recognition problem, because you have the individuals with the position keys that allow you to line up and the safeties and the backs etc. are going to get you lined up in that regard. They also execute very well. That's the thing you have to be most concerned about, your pre-snap recognition and your categorization of what happens out of these looks. It all has to happen real fast. Their ability to execute, the way in which the quarterback gets the ball out of his hand, those are all key factors, the way in which they run the ball. They have excellent balance in their attack."


Q: Most teams use the run to set up the pass. Do they use the pass to set up the run?

Coughlin: "I don't buy that. I think their formations, some dictate pass first, some dictate run first. I think you just have to understand what they are trying to do. A few years ago when they were here they had two backs rush for over 100 yards. So they do a lot of things very well."


Headlines - Story - Coughlin's Corner - Giants.com

Rugby Saint II

The Giants will still feel good about being 5-1 going into next weeks game.

ArmySaintFan

Honestly we also would still feel good with one loss going into week 7....not that I want one but I wouldn't be ready to give up just yet