Head Coach Tom Coughlin
Postgame vs. Jets, December 6, 2015
Difficult game to even bring your team up after the game. You’re up 10. Didn’t finish. Didn’t finish, had opportunities. As I mentioned, I went for it on fourth and two thinking that that would certainly give, after the long drive and the amount of time used up in the drive, I thought that that was the play at the time. I still do. Obviously we didn’t score there, we had an interception there. They drove, kicked a field goal and then we didn’t do anything with the ball again.
So we have a four-minute offense, we’re expected to end the game with the ball in our hands, we haven’t done that. We ended up kicking the ball back and the other team scores. We get in overtime, they drive it down, we stop them, they kick a field goal, we drive it down, we’re in field goal range. But I was thinking more touchdown, to be honest with you. I was not thinking field goal, and we left ourselves a long field goal and, for whatever reason, we missed it. I think that’s the first one that Josh (Brown) has missed all year.
I do think you’ve got to score more than 20 points to win in this league, and we got an outstanding special teams play, but, again, did not finish. Had the lead, 20-10, and lost the ball, again.
Q: You said you’d stand by that decision on fourth and two. A 13-point lead usually is something you take at that point, making them need to score two touchdowns?
A: Well, yeah make them score two touchdowns to beat you, but by that same token, if we scored there and fourth and two, then we push the score up to where maybe they can’t beat us with whatever. So we’re up 17. I stand by it.
Q: In 41 minutes they didn’t score two touchdowns, so what made you think they could do that in nine minutes? If you kicked a field goal, you’re up 13. They hadn’t scored two touchdowns at that point…
A: I thought that was the play. I thought that was the play
Q: What made you think they would score two touchdowns in the last nine minutes?
A: Did you see them do it? That’s what made me think it.
Q: No, they kicked a field goal…
A: Yeah, but they were down there. How do you know what they would’ve done? They would’ve scored or they would’ve tried anyway. You can argue all you want.
Q: Rueben Randle on that interception there, it looked like he just stopped his route?
A: I’d have to look at the tape. I can’t tell you that.
Q: You said it’s hard to bring a team up after that. What were you describing there? Was that the scene in the locker room?
A: Well, it’s difficult. Again, our team put a lot into this. They worked very hard for this. They worked very hard for this. They had outstanding practices on Wednesday and Thursday. We were in good position to win the game, we didn’t win the game, we didn’t finish it, we didn’t win it. So there was a lot of disappointment, obviously.
Q: This obviously isn’t the first time your defense has had issues in the fourth quarter late in the game; do you think they’re just wearing down in those situations?
A: I just think we keep sitting there saying, ‘Let’s make a play. Let’s make a play. Let’s make a play.’ There were a couple of tipped balls late in the game there that might’ve ended up, could very well have ended up, as interceptions. That’s part of your thinking, too, maybe you get a turnover.
Q: You have given up the winning points prior to today three times in the last ten seconds of the game and then lose today in overtime. Is there a way to characterize or put into perspective how difficult the season has been?
A: We’ve been in position to win games and we haven’t won. I’m taking full responsibility for that. But still, we’re there. As I told the team, we’ve got to find a way to finish a game… to win a 60-minute game and be in position at the end of the game to win it. It seems like back and forth we do have opportunities even offensively to end the game before they get the ball on the final drive and we hadn’t been able to do that.
Q: Can you talk about your offensive line and how they performed today with the different parts and the rookie Bobby Hart at right tackle?
A: It’s obvious that we were going to run the ball or try to run it and we did. We did try to run it. I haven’t seen the tape, but [Bobby Hart] did a respectable job, I’m sure. He went out there and battled, he’s been in a lot of big games as a young player, he’s only going to get better. We had to obviously go to him and we did and I think he certainly held his own.
Q: Any update on [Ereck] Flowers?
A: No one has reported anything to me, no.
Q: Thinking behind Jason Pierre-Paul lining up on the left side?
A: It was just to put him on both sides, to use him on both sides.
Q: Does the way your defense has been playing and giving up these longer drives affect you and the way you coach and some of the decisions that you make?
A: Well, obviously, I have made a decision to be very aggressive at the end of the games, I’ve done it all year long. I don’t have a lot to show for it. We’ve tried to do that. We try to take some of the pressure off of everybody and had we scored that touchdown, fourth and two, I think we would have taken a lot of pressure off.
So while I hate the call, I don't mind him defending it.
The D has noooo talent to get off the field. You can criticize him for playing too conservatively the you can't comeback and say he's too aggressive. His team is not good. I'm amazed with this shitty talent they have been in these games at all.
Eli is playing out of his mind with 1 rcvrs and noooo zero run game. The D has none at LBrs and on DL this is a terribly constructed team. I think this has been one of the best coached jobs I have seen. I'm serious. WTF do you expect? We never should have been in those other games. If we don't blow someone out or win on last possession we will not be able to stop anyone. Just face the facts this team has below avg talent at most positions except a few spots.
Absolutely delusional. You need a team of doctors to check you out if you actually believe this.
Absolutely delusional. You need a team of doctors to check you out if you actually believe this. [/quote]
If your honest you will see clearly this is a poorly constructed team. The front office has overvalued mediocre talent. That is clear as day. FA has been an abomination. The truth hurts. We have enough talent to maybe win 3 games. If TC coached Dallas, Philly or Washington they would go to Super Bowl. Those teams have legit talent. The only thing we have is Eli and Odell. The fact that this team plays so hard when it is so clearly undermanned is testament to his coaching abilities.
A: Well, obviously, I have made a decision to be very aggressive at the end of the games, I’ve done it all year long. I don’t have a lot to show for it. We’ve tried to do that. We try to take some of the pressure off of everybody and had we scored that touchdown, fourth and two, I think we would have taken a lot of pressure off.