Under Attack, Giants’ Handley Plays Defense

Coach Ray Handley gathered his players around him at the end of the New York Giants’ practice Wednesday afternoon, and there was an attentive silence while he lectured them for several minutes. Then several players turned to look at the media corps waiting some distance away on the sideline, and the whole group broke into laughter and headed for the locker room.

Once inside, several players made a point of either not talking to reporters or castigating them for trying to stir up trouble. The phrase “everybody’s writing us off” was used several times. Handley obviously told his players to be careful what they say for public consumption and not to let the media’s search for small truths divide them.

He was especially upset with one published report that quoted an anonymous veteran saying the Giants would be 5-0 if Bill Parcells still were the coach, accusing Handley of showing favoritism and estimating that 70 percent of the players would like to see Phil Simms restored as the starting quarterback ahead of Jeff Hostetler. “One player is an authority on several players?” Handley said in a questioning tone.

Still squirming uncomfortably in his new role, Handley said Thursday, “There’s no way anybody could have imagined the scrutiny to be as intense as it has been.”

Five games into the Handley era, the Giants are struggling to establish an identity and find the form that enabled them to win so many close games last year. That’s important because, with their ball-control offense and reliance on a strong defense, most Giants’ games are close.

The transition hasn’t been easy because there have been changes at so many positions of authority, including head coach, defensive coordinator and quarterback. The chemistry is different.

Asked if that could be a factor in the problems of an offense that has yet to score more than 17 points, Handley acknowledged, “Chemistry is very important, not only on offense but to the whole team. You can’t plan for chemistry. Quarterback could be a thing ... but I don’t think they’re having any problem adjusting to Jeff. I don’t think having Phil Simms in there would create a different situation than we have now. I have no basis for that, but I don’t think it would.”

That’s Handley’s opinion, and his is the opinion that counts. He’s not going to start second-guessing himself now. The questions are many and the answers are few. Therefore, the answer is not to think about the questions. Just find a way to focus on doing everything right against Phoenix Sunday at Giants Stadium. Handley is going with the traditional formula in this situation, which goes something like this:

--Blame the media for trying to divide the players and write off the team early in the season.

--Tell the players to look in the mirror to see who’s responsible for costly penalties and the increased number of turnovers.

--Cast out doubt, and trust that all coaching decisions from play-calling to the use of personnel are right.

--Win a few games and the critical questions will disappear like magic.

It’s not a bad formula, especially when coupled with a playoff format that last season made it possible for an 8-8 team to get into the six-team NFC half of the draw. The Giants may be three games behind Washington in the NFC East, but they certainly aren’t out of playoff contention if talent means anything.

As for whether the Giants’ mix has been altered too drastically, wide receiver Stephen Baker said, “You have to answer that with time. We’ve got to give (Handley’s) way a chance. We’re obviously not getting it done on the football field. He’s given us our ‘get going’ speech, and he has stepped in and taken control. We’re not out of it. All the bad stuff happening now can easily be turned around.”

Wide receiver Mark Ingram added, “The quarterback has nothing to do with it. The offense has played well, but we’ve been hurting ourselves when we get into the red area. If we hadn’t had penalties and turnovers, we might be 4-1 or 5-0.”

Leadership and personalities have nothing to do with the Giants’ problems, linebacker Gary Reasons insisted. “We have to respond by making plays,” Reasons said. “As simple as that.”

“We’re angry at ourselves,” said fullback Maurice Carthon. “The team hasn’t had trouble adjusting. Our problem is turnovers.”

If it sounds as though the Giants are working to get on the same page--another NFL bromide, you’ve got the picture. They’re joining hands to perform Handley’s Hellelujah Chorus. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t questions for which they have no answers.