Defense confident it’s close to potential

BEFORE the Giants’ defense stepped foot on the field in the regular season, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo cautioned about expecting too much, too soon, given all the new moving parts and pieces. Seven games in, Spagnuolo’s words have proved prophetic.

“We’re still a work in progress. We’re still not a finished product but I think we’re headed in the right direction,’’ defensive tackle Damon Harrison said. “We’re starting to figure each other out. It will be something to watch out of this bye week.’’

The Giants are allowing 16.9 points a game, not bad considering on most downs half of the defense is new from last season. Injuries in the secondary have hurt badly, but players are healing and, as a result, Spagnuolo has helped his defensive line out by sending increased pressure, conf ident cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgerscromartie can hold up.

“We got all t he r i ght pieces, we got everything you can think of,’’ Rodgerscromartie said. “We’re kinda young, you look at it from years of experience, but we got guys who understand and are playing lights out. Once everything just really jells it’s gonna be scary.

“You understand what you have on the roster. I mean, if you look at it people will be like ‘ man, they should be doing this and that.’ But one thing you got to understand, it’s like a family, it’s got to come together and continue to grow with each other.’’

As the offense attempts to sort itself out, the Giants should continue to grow and improve on defense. The potential is there, with Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon starting to get more pressure, turnovers finally arriving and the back end healing.

“I’ve been seeing it, being here and I know the guys they added,’’ Rodgers-Cromartie said. “I know at time point in time it’s gonna click and when it does, things are really gonna get rolling.’’