With the Giants off until training camp, we're periodically taking a look at what the coaches are saying about how their positions looked this offseason in OTAs.
Today, we look at Peter Giunta's thoughts on Corey Webster.
Cornerback Corey Webster made news in March when he agreed to take a $3 million pay cut on his $7 million salary in order to remain a Giant going into the 2013 season. Secondary/cornerbacks coach Peter Giunta thinks Webster will be motivated to bounce back from a poor 2012.
"Definitely," Giunta said. "Finishing the way we did, everybody has a real sense of urgency this year to get back to playing the kind of football we did at the end of the 2011 season in that six-game stretch and playing that kind of defense."
The Giants finished 28th in total pass defense last season. Webster, taken in the second round of the 2005 draft, Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley and Aaron Ross should form the backbone of the cornerback corps this season. Terrell Thomas is rehabbing from his third ACL injury, a difficult situation from which to return to top competitive form.
Giunta also said Webster's broken hand, suffered early in the season, had an impact on his disappointing play later in the year.
"In his defense, he breaks his hand, and it set him back a little bit not being able to use his hands up in press coverage," Giunta said. "He struggled in the end when we didn’t have a lot of continuity back there. He did have a tough year for himself."
The Giants need to get better production from their cornerbacks, but the team isn’t making a wholesale change in personnel. Now it’s up to Webster and his position-mates to ensure that that faith isn’t misplaced.
