Ralph Vacchiano at the Daily News has an interview posted with Tom Coughlin from this morning. Coughlin discusses topics ranging from the bitter feelings of last year’s season, being an underdog again in 2010, injuries to Osi, Kenny Phillips, Keith Bulluck, and others… and what it feels like in NY to be pressured to win.
"Daily News: Coming off a very down year, do you like the energy and attitude of this team heading into training camp?Tom Coughlin: I do. I like the attitude. I like the resolve. Our offseason program was really outstanding. Everybody was in attendance. So I know that the players are very, very upset about the past. I don’t want to talk about the past. I don’t want to get into that part of it. But I do know there is resolve. There is determination. The attitude and the work ethic in the spring was very good. Progress is there to be made. We have fortified ourselves in some key positions, and I really feel we’re all excited about getting going.DN: When you say you don’t want to talk about the past, do you want the players to forget about last year? Or do you want them to remember it and be angry about it?TC: Well that’s there. There’s no question about that. I didn’t say that I don’t want to think about it. The signs and signals have all been sent out. But really, I don’t see any benefit in continuing to go back. We know what the challenge is. We know exactly how we finished. And there can’t be any type of presentation in training camp without reference to exactly where we were a year ago – -and the results were not good in terms of where we found ourselves in any number of areas. So that challenge has been well-stated. The players know about it. The players are very much aware and very much believing in the fact that no one is beyond looking at where that was and what we have to do about it.DN: One advantage of what happened is something your players seem to relish: That much like in 2007, you’re being overlooked as a contender this year.TC: Yeah, well from what I can tell that’s the case. And that’s fine. We have the goals that we have to establish and our players are well aware of the fact that much is being discussed around the division and the league and we’re not included in a lot of it. That’s fine. I’ve always believed you’ve got to go do it. So ‘Don’t tell me, show me’ is very obvious. I think our players are very much in agreement with that.”DN: After what happened last year and the several key players that were hurt this spring, are you concerned or worried – – or whatever word you prefer – – about the health of this team?TC: That’s always a factor. There isn’t a question that iIf you’re going to be the kind of football team you want to be, players have to be out on the field and playing. You can do some things in some subtle ways in some positions, but the players that represent your team, you need to have them on the field. So it’s a very fine line as you know. Now when you start down the road about injuries, some of those things are unfortunately not controllable. You just hope there’s nothing of a serious nature that would take place that you’re not going to get the player back.DN: Were you and the organization in agreement about Osi Umenyiora’s decision not to have hip surgery during the offseason, and do you really believe this is an injury he can “manage” all year long?TC: Yes. And yes we do. And Osi believes that. And the doctors have fortified that. We’ve got to manage that. You used the word, and we will.DN: Kenny Phillips has been optimistic about a return to camp, though he’s admitted he’ll probably be limited when it opens. Is that still the plan?TC: Well I think for the first week, at least that’s the expectation right now, he will be tested. He will work with the training staff and he’ll be observed on a practice by practice, morning, noon and night basis. In terms of how he recovers and how fast he comes back from the extended exercise they’re going to put him through, that will determine when he comes on the field.DN: It took a while, but you finally got your middle linebacker, and it’s not often a player with Keith Bulluck’s resume is available so late in the offseason. What do you like about his addition to the team?TC: We’ve been looking at this young man since he was a free agent, wondering when it would be that he would actually get the green light medically to be able to perform and to play. As soon as that occurred, he was here. We’ve been vigilant in regard to that. We think and believe that this guy is an outstanding football player. He’s 33 years old, he’s had some outstanding experiences, he’s played on some very good teams, he’s had some very shocking experiences as a football player in terms of expectation levels not being achieved. He’s a tough guy. He played in Syracuse, so you know he’s a tough guy. But I think he brings a seriousness to the table. He’s a no-nonsense guy. He is emotional. He does have the ability to communicate. He is a veteran football player. He brings the characteristics that we’re looking for. And everyone would like to discuss where he can play. He can play in the middle. He can play on the outside. He can do a lot of things. We’re excited about him.DN: In front of him you have a seemingly deep defensive line with a lot of defensive ends that have been vocal about wanting to start. Since they all can’t start, do you really believe they can all be happy and do you have to be careful about which one gets relegated to a reserve role?TC: Well, your application of that thinking kind of goes against the grain of where we are today in defensive football. We are a situation oriented defensive team. We have any number of starters. It depends a lot upon the type of offense you’re playing against in terms of who goes out there for the first snap. But we have a team of starters. We have any number of guys that are in that position. Competition is the key. We’ve got that. A lot of this will play itself out, and I think the attitude of our guys is ‘Let’s get on the field and get this resolved.’ You’d be surprised: Everyone here roots for the other guy and wants the other guy to be as good as he can possibly be. I think we can continue to stress the way in which we’re going to play, and that is to situationally play the best people we can vs. whatever we’re playing against. I think what we’ve said all along to all of our players is we certainly understand and know the nature of our game is competition. We’ve got competition. Let’s go on the field and compete against each other, and as a result of that let’s be a better football team for it and let all these other things work themselves out. You know, we do talk about trying to leave the egos at the front door and let’s be the best team we can be. The pledge that I make to our team is we’re going to use everyone’s talents to the best of their ability to help us win.”DN: Some of your players have said that there’s a pressure to win this year because they fear changes may be made if they have bad seasons back to back – – whether that’s changing players, or maybe even the coach. Do you feel that pressure? And is that a good thing to have hovering over a team?TC: I think that in true John Wooden style, the most pressure anyone exerts on himself is internally. Whether you’re talking about me or on the players if they’re mature enough to understand it, pressure from the outside does not determine the way that an individual thinks or reacts. It’s pressure that’s exerted from the inside out because you want to be the very best that you can be. Your objective is perfection. You know you’re a human being and you can’t obtain that, but your goal can be that. Your opportunity to be the very best you can be is critical. So the way I answer that question is: Each year is a new year. We’re all playing one year at a time. We’re working one practice, one meeting, one minute, one day at a time, and there is nothing more than that. There never has been. I don’t care how many years your contract says, you’ve got a one-year contract and you’re going to have to go forth and perform to the best of your ability. I don’t feel it’s any different than anything else. I do feel, if anything, that there’s tremendous motivation. I know there is on my part. There’s a real, real feeling of determination. I would use other words, but I don’t want to see them in print."