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Jason Pierre-Paul May Have Helped Save DC Perry Fewell’s Job With New York Giants

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By @mturnerny

Jason Pierre-Paul Perry Fewell

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The New York Giants‘ defense finished 29th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed. Numbers like those are generally grounds to fire a coach, and that’s why defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is on the hot seat. However, those numbers don’t tell the full story. They don’t mention how the Giants were in the top half of the league in several major statistical categories. They don’t mention how the play of one player, Jason Pierre-Paul, may be the entire reason why Fewell stays with New York.

Needing a strong finish to the year for both his and the Giants’ success, Pierre-Paul stepped up when his number was called. He led the team in sacks with 12.5 (the second highest total of his career), forced fumbles with three and was fourth on the team with 53 tackles. Those numbers alone, without having to watch any game footage, prove how well rounded JPP has become as a defensive end – he was solid against the pass, and was superb against the run. When you actually watch the film, you see how dominant he really was.

His performance is a large part of the reason why the Giants finished the season fourth in sacks (47) and third-down conversion percentage (36 percent), ninth in red-zone TD percentage (49 percent), and 13th in takeaways (25). Stopping the offense on third down and forcing them to kick field goals over scoring touchdowns are two of the most effective ways to defeat a team. The Giants’ defense certainly did their part in that aspect.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Giants played some of their best football towards the end of the season, making the appearance that they improved, which helps forgive their below-average play in the beginning of the year. In addition, there’s also the aspect that the Giants lost a league-leading number of players, most of whom played on defense. It’s not an excuse, but it doesn’t help when your best players are on IR.

With Tom Coughlin’s job safe, he addressed the media and defended, for lack of a better word, Fewell. That vote of confidence is huge as last season there was reportedly no interference from the front office urging then-offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride into retirement. That means Coughlin led the charge, and if he’s not in that same position this year with Fewell, it’s likely Fewell stays with the team.

It’s still early in the offseason and changes may still come, but at this moment it seems that all of the Giants’ coaches are going to remain with the team. And if nothing changes, Fewell has Pierre-Paul to thank for that.

Matt Turner is a New York Mets writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MturnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.

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