New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass down field while being pressured by New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul on February 5, 2012. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) |
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who played in 73 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, his first game back since permanently damaging his right hand, is optimistic that he'll be able to play at an even higher level this weekend when the Giants play host to the New England Patriots.
"I think yeah, I'll be better this week than last week," he said. "I was a little bit rusty, but each day is a day for me to get better, so I'm up for the challenge."
Pierre-Paul credited his intense training and conditioning program for setting himself up with the stamina necessary to make it through extended action in the warm Florida temperatures last week. As for his right hand, which was heavily wrapped in a thick mitten-like casing, Pierre-Paul put to rest any notion that his hand gave him any trouble.
"My hand doesn't hurt, guys, so let me just get that out there. It doesn't hurt, there's no pain, so I'm good," he said. "Physically, I was good. Like I say, I trained all season even with my incident or whatever it is, it happened or whatever, but I trained my butt off, so it was okay for me."
Pierre-Paul said it was more of a challenge for him to come back from his back surgery a few years ago than it has been to come back from the multiple surgeries and skin grafts he had on his badly damaged hand.
Turning his attention to the upcoming task at hand, Pierre-Paul said it's important for the defensive front to get after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in order to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. That strategy, however obvious it might sound, is exactly what the Giants emphasized in their prior three meetings against the Patriots, two of which were Super Bowl victories.
The downside is that save for Pierre-Paul, the Giants have a new cast of characters from the last time they faced New England - ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora and defensive tackle Linval Joseph have since moved on.
"We're going to get to the quarterback -- I know I am, I know others guys as well," he said. "We have to do whatever it takes. We all have to play as one -- no individuals. I'm not saying I've seen individuals play or whatever, but if we come together as a unit, as a defense, we're good."
