Talking 'back'
Giants set to interview old friend Spagnuolo
The Giants, still searching for a new defensive coordinator, are expected to interview Steve Spagnuolo this week.
There is no need for a gettoknowyou meeting. Spagnuolo ran Tom Coughlin’s defense with the Giants in 2007 and 2008, winning a Super Bowl that first season and winning over almost everyone in the organization.
Spagnuolo’s golden touch with the Giants’ defense those two years did not translate into the winning touch in his next two jobs, as the Rams’ coach and later as the Saints’ defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo has been the assistant head coach/defensive backs coach for the Ravens for the past two years. The Giants had to wait for the Ravens to be eliminated from the playoffs — which they were on Saturday by the Patriots — before seeking an interview with Spagnuolo.
Coughlin met Monday with Pepper Johnson, the former Giants linebacker and longtime defensive assistant for Bill Belichick with the Patriots. Johnson this past season was the defensive line coach in Buffalo and three of his line men were named to the Pro Bowl. What could hurt Johnson’s chances is that he has never been a defensive coordinator.
Coughlin’s first interview was with Raheem Morris, the former Buccaneers head coach who, at 38, is the youngest known candidate thus far. It is believed the Giants are not considering Morris, who is expected to speak with the Redskins about their opening at defensive coordinator.
A report that Coughlin may also grant an interview to David Merritt, the Giants’ safeties coach since 2004, is not accurate.
This has already been characterized by coowner John Mara as a winorelse season up ahead and the week after the Giants finished 610, Coughlin fired his defensive coordinator, Perry Fewell, and the cornerbacks coach, Peter Giunta. If Coughlin wants to go for as close to a surething as possible, he will go with Spagnuolo, given that he has worked with him in the past.