On Wednesday, Jan 6, the New York Daily News reported that Pepper Johnson, the former Giants linebacker and current Patriots defensive line coach, is a possible candidate for the Giants defensive coordinator position.

According to two people familiar with Pepper Johnson’s thinking, he would also be “very interested” in becoming the next Giants defensive he job. He has never been a defensive coordinator, but he has won two Super Bowl rings as a player and three as a Patriots assistant.

He also is a brilliant defensive mind, according to those who know him, and his presence and winning background would certainly get the attention of the Giants’ deflated defensive players.

“Yeah, definitely, it would be instant respect,” said Carl Banks, the former Giants linebacker and a teammate of Johnson’s from 1986-92. “But even if they know nothing of his history and care nothing about Giant tradition, they’ll respect his knowledge of the game. They’ll respect the success he has in this league and the teams he’s coached.”

Johnson, 45, has been a defensive assistant under Bill Belichick for 10 seasons, after lasting 13 years as a player in the NFL. In all, this will be his 16th season playing or coaching for the man Banks called “one of the brightest minds in football.”

And according to Banks, who is part of the Giants’ broadcast team on WFAN, that pedigree should count for a lot when Coughlin considers a replacement for Bill Sheridan, who was fired Monday after one miserable season as defensive coordinator.

“You could get another guy that might be bright, but in my opinion you’ve got to look at everything,” Banks said. “You’ve got to bring a guy who subscribes to winning principles and has been a part of it. You look at the Yankees. They don’t settle. The Yankees don’t bring in guys that could be good. They bring in guys that are good.

“And if you listen closely to what John Mara said (on Monday), I think it’s pretty clear what his standard is.”

What’s not clear is where Johnson sits on Coughlin’s short list, which one team source said is actually long. According to various team and NFL sources, it includes several coaches with defensive coordinator experience, including former Bills interim coach Perry Fewell, who was Coughlin’s defensive backs coach in Jacksonville (1998-2002) and who will reportedly interview for the job tomorrow.

Other experienced candidates on the list include former Bills and Bears coach Dick Jauron, Coughlin’s former defensive coordinator in Jacksonville (1995-98); Jets linebackers coach Bob Sutton (the Jets defensive coordinator from 2006-08) and Dolphins linebackers coach George Edwards (the Redskins defensive coordinator from 2002-03).

It may also include Dom Capers, another of Coughlin’s former Jacksonville defensive coordinators, although Capers currently holds that job with the Packers and makes more than $2million per year. Also available is Romeo Crennel, the former Browns head coach and Giants assistant who ran Belichick’s defense in New England from 2001-04.

But according to a team source, previous experience as a defensive coordinator isn’t necessarily a requirement. And it shouldn’t be, Banks said.

“When you look at what’s needed to straighten out the defense, it’s a culture that’s conducive to accountability and winning,” he said. “That’s how (Johnson) was brought up as a player. And then if you take the intangibles, I guarantee you guys will work for him.”

Now that the Patriots season is over, it’s time for the Giants front office to sign Pepper Johnson as Big Blue’s defensive coordinator and bring back the soul of the Giants – it’s DEFENSE.

source: nydailynews.com

The NFC wildcard Sunday game will be played in the desert between the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals and NFC wild card Green Bay Packers. The winner of this game gets to play next week in round two of the NFC playoffs. Based on our analysis, the Arizona Cardinals will win the game that will be decided by a field goal in the final two minutes. Lets size up the two teams. The betting line on the game is a Pickem. Over/under is 47 points.

The Green Bay Packers are lead by QB Aaron Rodgers. He has proven that he is a top-tier quarterback. He also has a deep, talented group of receivers. Expect the Pack to throw the football, especially in the area covered by Arizona CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who is nursing a knee injury.

The Cardinals counter with a great passing attack of their own. QB Kurt Warner to WR Larry Fitzgerald made sweet music together in 2008 but not as sweet in 2009. WR Anquan Boldin will be at less than 100% with ankle and knee injuries.

The running attack of the both the Packers and Cardinals are average at best but the Packers get the slight edge, especially if Rodgers is successful through the air – it will make their running game that much more effective.

This matchup is the hardest of the 4 NFL wildcard games to predict. But based on the experience of Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, them playing at home and their post-season experience in 2008 (making it all the way to the Superbowl) – we give the edge to the Cardinals.

Thenflthisweek.com prediction:

Cardinals 25 Packers 21

The AFC East Division champion New England Patriots (10-6) host the AFC wild card winner Baltimore Ravens (9-7) in the second AFC matchup of Wildcard Weekend. If you’re a betting man, you can bet on the Patriots winning this one and moving on to the second week of the AFC playoffs.

The Patriots certainly aren’t the same team they were in their Superbowl seasons of 2001, 2003 and 2004. But they still have arguably the best active coach in the NFL – Bill Belichick. They also have future hall-of-famer Tom Brady leading the offense. One impressive stat that stands out is the Belichick-Brady combo have a 14-3 playoff record.

The Baltimore Ravens are lead by sophomore coach-QB combo of John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco. In 2008, the Ravens stunned the masses by not only making the playoffs but advancing to the 2008 AFC Championship game. However, in 2009 they barely beat the Oakland Raiders to win one of the two wildcard spots. And since the departure of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan (Now the Jets coach), the Ravens defense just isn’t the same.

The New England Patriots offense does have one big issue to overcome. They will operate without their star WR Wes Welker (placed on injured reserve). But Thenflthisweek.com believes that the combination of Patriots future hall-of-fame WR Randy Moss and rookie WR Julian Edelman should be able to pickup most of the slack left by Welker’s absence. The Pats also have a multitude of running backs in Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris available to carry the ball.

Don’t be misled by the Ravens offense. QB Joe Flacco has a complement of talent to help move the ball in RB Ray Rice, WR Derrick Mason and TE Todd Heap. But based on his 2009 regular season statistics, QB Flacco is not as effective on the road as he is at home.

The Patriots are favored by 3.5 points with the under/over is 43 points.

The combination and playoff history of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is the determining factor in our prediction.

Thenflthisweek.com AFC playoff prediction

Patriots 21 Ravens 17