Of all the good the Giants have done through their surprising 4-1 start, of all the statistics that have contributed to Big Blue’s turnaround from doormat to contender in the NFC East race, the most telling number is 11.
It’s no coincidence that their NFL-worst minus-16 turnover ratio last year led to their league-worst 4-12 record. But now they’re at a league-best plus-11 and enter this weekend’s bye as football’s biggest surprise. Value the football as you would a win, because they go hand-in-hand.
“You can’t overstate it,” Tom Coughlin said. “It’s probably the most critical statistic in winning and losing. It’s been proven.”
Since 2002, teams with a plus-four ratio or better are an aggregate 234-112-1, and 23 of 28 had winning records. But of 21 squads at minus-six or worse, they combined for 95-190, and only this year’s Rams have a winning mark.
To that end, the Giants have cut down RB Tiki Barber’s fumbling, replaced pick-prone Kerry Collins with Kurt Warner, and installed a scheme by defensive coordinator Tim Lewis that forces turnovers, something missing in past years.
“It has to be a mindset, something you coach,” Lewis said. “We talked about turnovers, and it doesn’t matter that you cause them: You have to make sure you’re there to capitalize on what you created. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
In the past, the Giants asked CBs Will Allen and Will Peterson to play more man coverage than any duo in the league, and as a result, Big Blue picked off just 10 passes last year. But mixing in more zones this season, Peterson already has two of their eight picks – or just one fewer than his previous career total.
“The last two years we’ve been crucified for not getting turnovers, putting it on the individual,” Peterson said. “Now you’re seeing that’s not the case. My hat’s off to Tim Lewis for putting us in the right position, and harping on turnovers.”
They can also avoid them. Between Collins’ 16 picks last year and Barber fumbling 35 times since the start of the 2000 season – the most of any NFL runner – the Giants were hurting themselves.
“The most important play [Barber] can make is taking care of the ball,” said RB coach Jerald Ingram. “We sat him down and said this is what you have to do. [To be] a leader you have to take care of the ball, and that’s what he’s doing.”
While Barber used to hold the ball at an inviting 90 angle, now Coughlin has him carrying it at 45 degrees, high and tight against his chest. He hasn’t fumbled once this year, and leads the NFL with 817 yards from scrimmage.
“Tom has a philosophy on everything. You either buy into it or you don’t, and I bought into it. It’s paying off,” said Barber. “When you’re fumbling, [it weighs on you]. But it’s out of my mind; it’s not a mental thing for me anymore.”
