Despite injuries, Fewell upbeat about 'D'

Despite all of the injuries on his side of the ball, Perry Fewell said the Giants can still be "a very solid" defense. But a top five defense, like last year?

Those expectations may need to go on injured reserve along with Terrell Thomas, Jonathan Goff and the rest of the players lost for the season.

"If I had all those guys, we think that we could have been a really, really great defense," the coordinator said. "But I still think we can be a good defense, though."

Will good be good enough? Fewell seems to think so. He admitted he's changed a few schemes and tweaked some assignments, mostly to work around rookie middle linebacker Greg Jones, who is starting in place of Goff.

"Some guys have to assume some different roles, and we are doing a good job of trying to fit those pieces into place," Fewell said. "Now how fast those pieces will develop for us, we will find out on Sunday."

Fewell said the biggest challenge in losing Goff is the experience he had as a two-year starter. But there's also the challenge of Fewell getting to know Jones.

"With Jon, I knew exactly what I was getting and we could formulate and think together," said Fewell, who called Goff a "extension of us as a coaching staff."

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Now Fewell may be saddled with another injury in Justin Tuck, whose stiff neck has kept him from practicing for more than a week. But as the injuries pile up, Fewell said there are no tears being shed.

"We are going down to win a football game on Sunday and we are not crying," he said. "We are locked and loaded and this is a good challenge for us. We will be ready to play football."

Just who is ready and how good they will be remains to be seen.