Giant changes make good defense great.(New York Giants football team)(Brief Article)

Whether it is out of salary-cap concerns or a fear of tinkering with success, Super Bowl teams tend to rest on their laurels. Most Super Bowl teams in the past five years have either been forced to unload talent to meet financial ceilings or simply have failed to realize the need for change in certain areas of weakness.

Not Jim Fassel. Not Ernie Accorsi. Not the Giants.

The Super Bowl losers were aggressive in their offseason approach. Fassel, the Giants' coach, recognized the problem he had at cornerback and addressed it in the draft. Fassel also recognized the need for more speed in the front seven, and Accorsi, the general manager, made it possible for the Giants to sign highly touted free-agent defensive end Kenny Holmes. Moves such as those have turned a good defense into a great one, putting the Giants one step closer to winning their first NFL championship in the Fassel-Accorsi era.

Let's look at how the Giants have improved their defense.

* Secondary: Jason Sehorn had his best season last year, and the Giants rewarded him with a contract that made him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. Sehorn showed his appreciation by going through a rigorous training program. He even scheduled his marriage to actress Angie Harmon around the team's voluntary workouts.

At the other cornerback spot, the Giants entered the offseason needing an upgrade. Dave Thomas was a marked man last season. His inability to turn and run in man-to-man coverage made him a constant target, as opponents routinely attacked him deep. This forced defensive coordinator John Fox to frequently use an extra defender to help Thomas in the deep third of the field. That cut into Fox's capability to blitz, his forte.

The addition of rookie cornerbacks Will Allen and Will Peterson should enable Fox to do more blitzing. Both players have terrific man-to-man skills. This will allow the Giants to pressure quarterbacks into making poor decisions more than they did last year. Thomas should make a fine nickel back--he was excellent as a third corner in Jacksonville--where he does not have to make as many plays in the vertical passing game.