Glauber: Giants' defense seems to be turning things around

If it seems as though you haven't seen this kind of play from the Giants' defense in a long, long time, you're right.

Oct. 11, 2009, to be exact. That's the last time the Giants could say with any kind of assurance that their defense was worth a lick. It was so easy in that 44-7 win over the Raiders at Giants Stadium that middle linebacker Antonio Pierce likened it to a scrimmage. The resounding win boosted the Giants' record to 5-0. Then the bottom fell out.

The Giants went on to lose eight of the next 11 games, giving up at least 40 points five times in one of the most embarrassing defensive collapses in team history. Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, whose impassive stares from the sideline matched his futile attempts to plug the leaks, ultimately paid the price with his job the day after the 8-8 season ended.

Perry Fewell was brought in to revive the defense; now his unit's performance could determine if the Giants rebound to make the playoffs or are forced to reconsider whether they have the right players.

The latest clues came last night against the Steelers at New Meadowlands Stadium, where the defense flashed the kind of effort it will need to compete.

Sure, it's preseason, and it's dangerous to draw any conclusions from a game that doesn't count. So we won't make any definitive proclamations, other than to say that there were enough flashes to produce some cautious optimism.

On the Steelers' first drive, Antwaan Randle El was taken down by end Justin Tuck for a 13-yard loss on an end-around.

On Pittsburgh's next drive, defensive end Osi Umenyiora knifed through the line to bring down running back Rashard Mendenhall for a 7-yard loss to the Steelers' 30. Remember, it was Umenyiora's spotty run play that prompted Sheridan to remove him from the starting lineup last season.

On the next play, Ben Roethlisberger attempted a deep pass down the right side for Mike Wallace. Cornerback Corey Webster stepped in front and intercepted at the Giants' 29.

The Steelers reached the Giants' 9 after a 17-yard completion on third-and-14, but Pittsburgh got only to the 8 before settling for a field goal.

Excellent pressure up front. Solid tackling at linebacker. Ball-hawking coverage in the secondary, which has two interceptions in two preseason games. The Giants' starters outplayed the Steelers' starters, walking off the field with a 7-3 lead before the second- and third-teamers came on for the invariable helter-skelter play that is typical of Week 2 of the NFL preseason.

"Everybody played within themselves, and we slowed things down,'' said Mathias Kiwanuka, who combined with Tuck on a second-quarter sack. "We don't want to say we've arrived and get too far ahead of ourselves. It was a good start.''

Said Tuck, "We can talk all we want about who's on this team, but until we go out and do it, none of that will matter. Like we say around here, 'Talk is cheap. Play the game.' "

They will start playing the real games next month, which is when we'll begin to see if last night's flashes were the start of a defensive rebirth or simply a preseason tease that ultimately will lead to more regular-season disappointment.

"We started out good at the beginning of training camp," Webster said. "We're making progress the way we should by making plays and creating turnovers."

Making plays and creating turnovers have been the hallmarks of the Giants' great defenses, the championship defenses. Too early to make any sweeping pronouncements - but not too soon to say they are heading in the right direction as they try to recover from one of the biggest meltdowns in franchise history.