New York Giants got their man: Perry Fewell. The great unknown.

The New York Giants hired their new defensive coordinator, Perry Fewell. The former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator chose the Giants over potential jobs with the Bills and Bears. This is the man Giants coach Tom Coughlin wanted.

Fewell was a defensive backs coach in Jacksonville, working under Coughlin for five years. The two coaches obviously known each other well.

The task at hand for Fewell is to rebuild the Giants defense into the dominant force it had been under Steve Spagnuolo. When Spags left to become the St. Louis Rams head coach, Bill Sheridan took over the defensive responsibilities for the Giants. Sheridan was not successful at all as the Giants allowed 427 points this season, including 40 or more points in five games.

Perry Fewell is some what of an unknown for many NFL fans. Coaching on a Buffalo team that struggled to win games, many people do not know just how well Fewell has done. Coaching a Buffalo team that has generally had marginal talent, Fewell has his defenses ranking 10th, 18th, 14th and 16th the past four seasons.

When Fewell became interim head coach after Buffalo fired Dick Jauron, there was a noticeable increase in the teams defensive intensity. He has an aggressive coaching style, something the Giants need. I think Sheridan was to laid back. Sheridan was also unable to develop a close relationship with his players. That was clearly displayed by the Osi Umenyiora saga. Fewell has show the ability to develop those relationships with players. He is known around the league as an in your face guy that does not shy away from calling a player out and making them take responsibility.

Last year, the Giants gave up 31 touchdown passes. Fewell’s defense in Buffalo gave up just 14. Tom Coughlin noted how well Fewell’s defenses have been at forcing turnovers. Last season Buffalo had 33 takeaways, good for fifth in the league.

“His defenses have consistently done a good job taking the ball away” Coughlin said.

I think this is a very solid addition to the Giants staff. His enthusiasm should help re-motivate these players and return the Giants defense into a dominant force. The talent is there. They just needed someone to push them and find the best way to utilize the talent.

Sometimes a new face and new idea is the best way to go. Fewell provides that. Now its up to the players to get focused and bring back the type of defense the Giants franchise has been known for.