Tim Lewis fired as Gints D-coordinator

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Coughlin fires defensive coordinator Tim Lewis

Coughlin fires defensive coordinator Tim Lewis

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer

January 11, 2007

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Tim Lewis was fired as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator on Thursday, a move that will give embattled coach Tom Coughlin two new top assistants in a likely make-or-break season.

The move came just a day after management gave the 60-year-old Coughlin a lukewarm one-year contract extension through 2008. His charge: make the Giants more than simply a playoff team.

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Neither Lewis, who interviewed for the vacant head coaching job in Miami on Wednesday, nor Coughlin was immediately available for comment.

Kevin Gilbride, who took over the play-calling after offensive coordinator John Hufnagel was relieved on Christmas Day, is the favorite to run the offense next season. There have been reports that Miami defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who worked with Coughlin in Jacksonville, will run the defense if he is not promoted to the top job with the Dolphins.

The Giants (8-9) were a major disappointment this past season. They were expected to be a Super Bowl contender and just barely made the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Philadelphia Eagles 23-20 on a last-second field goal.

While the defense was beset by injuries to star players, its play was still sub-par.

The unit ranked 25th overall in yardage allowed (342.4 yards) in the 32-team league, and 28th against the pass (228.1 yards). It was last when opponents got inside the 20-yard line, allowing them to score touchdowns on 30 of 46 chances in the red zone, or 65.2 percent. The opposition also got 10 field goals, which is an 87 percent conversion rate.

In the final seven weeks of the season, the Giants lost four games in which they either led or were tied in the fourth quarter.

The most recent example came in the wild-card game at Philadelphia on Sunday. The Giants tied the game at 20 with a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that consumed almost 10 minutes.

The Eagles got the ball at their 34 with 5:04 to play and drove 46 yards for David Akers' winning 38-yard field goal as time expired. Seven of the 10 plays were runs, for a total of 33 yards.

The worst of the folds came Nov. 26 when Vince Young rallied the Tennessee Titans from a 21-0 deficit in the final 10 minutes to a 24-21 win. That was the game rookie defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka let Young go on what would have been a game-clinching fourth-down sack because he feared being called for roughing the passer.

In Lewis' defense, the Giants played the final 11 games without linebacker LaVar Arrington (Achilles' tendon injury), and eight of the final nine without seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan (foot). Defensive end Osi Umenyiora, a 2005 All-Pro, missed five games with a hip injury, backup defensive end Justin Tuck (foot) missed the final 11 games, and veteran linebackers Brandon Short and Carlos Emmons also missed seven and four games, respectively, with injuries.

The Giants thought they had upgraded their secondary in the offseason by signing cornerbacks Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters and safety Will Demps. However, the unit lacked cohesiveness.

Lewis was the first hire made by Coughlin after he became the Giants' coach in January 2004. Lewis came to New York after four seasons in a similar capacity with Pittsburgh.

When the Giants won the NFC East last season with an 11-5 mark, Lewis was interviewed for head coaching jobs with Green Bay, Detroit, the Jets and one other team, which he did not disclose.

He didn't get a job then and now he is looking for a new one.