Dennard Wilson Warns Giants Defenders to Run to the Ball or Be Replaced
The defensive coordinator called the loss to New Orleans one of the unit's worst tackling games. He named four linebackers who can call the defense if Tremaine Edmunds can't play.
Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said Thursday that the team will replace defenders who do not run to the ball if their play doesn't change, three days before the Giants play at Houston.
"If you don't change the behaviors, we have to change the players," Wilson said at his weekly news conference.
Wilson called the Oct. 18 34-27 home loss to New Orleans "one of our worst tackling games" and said the defense did not run to the ball on every play, which he called unacceptable. He said those plays are shown in meetings. Of players who don't run to the ball, he said, "I call them traitors because they're traitors to the defense." Our film review of that game breaks down the loss.
Wilson said cornerback Paulson Adebo, who returned to practice Wednesday after the team designated him to return from injured reserve, is "healthy right now." "If he gets his opportunity to play, we expect him to play well," Wilson said.
Special teams coordinator Chris Horton, asked about plays this season with only 10 Giants on the field, said, "Quite frankly, it's embarrassing that that is continuing to happen."
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday. Asked who would wear the green dot, the helmet radio that carries the defensive call, if Edmunds can't play, Wilson said Micah McFadden, rookie Arvell Reese, Jack Kelly and Zaire Barnes can all call the defense. The Giants play the Texans at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.