Dru Phillips: Giants' defensive stands stem from preseason practice

The New York Giants have generated consistent late-game defensive stands over their past three contests, and cornerback Dru Phillips said the results trace back to repetition in practice rather than any sudden change in personnel or scheme.

“I definitely feel like, especially in the preseason, we went through these situations so many times in practice where we get into the game, and we all trust each other -- it’s not like you got to be Superman and make a play,” Phillips told reporters on Monday. “It’s more just do your job and I believe everybody can -- we can get off the field if everyone just does their job.”

That same collective approach has coincided with a clear uptick in the defense’s blitz rate. After blitzing on 22 percent of snaps in the first two games, the Giants jumped to 56 percent against the Arizona Cardinals and 62 percent against the Washington Commanders.

Phillips said the increase has been a week-to-week decision driven by defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson rather than a permanent shift.

“Dennard has a way of cooking things up, but it’s definitely not I would say a consistent thing,” Phillips said. “It’s a week-by-week thing off of, I guess what we’re seeing and how we feel. So, you just go out there and if they send me I’m going to try my best to go get there and everything but the percentage is just it goes off the flow of the game.”

Wilson has also adjusted based on direct feedback from the secondary. Phillips said the corners told Wilson that opposing receivers were not creating separation, and the coordinator responded by freeing up more blitzes.

“You can definitely tell Dennard, and he’s told us, he definitely trusts us in the back end when it gets to those points in the game. We’re trying to figure it out, and we’re like these guys can’t separate on us,” Phillips said. “You tell him that, he trusts us. So, I think it’s a good connection where he trusts us and believes that we can’t guard every receiver that we go against. So, he kind of frees up and we can, let’s say, blitz more and be able to cover our guys.”

When those blitzes come from the slot, Phillips said the rusher carries an added responsibility to affect the quarterback because the coverage behind him is counting on it.

“I feel like anybody that blitzes, you have to look out for the people behind you,” Phillips said. “As being a DB as well, when you cover it, you depend on guys to get home. So, when I am blitzing, it’s like, yeah, I got to rush my tail off so I can help these guys in the back. That’s just -- you got to be aware of that. Not trying to ease your way in there just because you got guys fighting for their life behind you.”

The combination of practice-honed trust, Wilson’s willingness to adjust week to week, and players accepting the added stakes of vacating coverage has helped the Giants manufacture the late stops that have kept games close even as the roster has dealt with injuries.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Dru Phillips: Giants' defensive stands stem from preseason practice