Shockey criticizes Coughlin after loss

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By GREGG BELL, AP Sports Writer

Sun Sep 24, 10:23 PM ET

 

 

 

SEATTLE - Jeremy Shockey is at it again. New York's volatile tight end criticized coach Tom Coughlin after the Giants fell behind by 35 points early before losing to Seattle 42-30 on Sunday.

 

"We got outplayed, and outcoached. Write that down," Shockey said.

 

Asked what he meant by outcoached, Shockey said, "You saw the game."

 

It was reminiscent of comments made by running back Tiki Barber after the Giants' wild-card game loss to Carolina last season. Barber said after the game that the Giants were outcoached by Carolina's John Fox, a former Giants defensive coordinator.

 

Coughlin was practically shouting from a podium after the game. Sweat was running down his face at the thought of Eli Manning's two first-quarter interceptions, a lost fumble and a 35-0 first-half hole that was the largest in New York's 82-year history.

 

"We just gave the game away," Coughlin said. "A team that does nothing but preach and talk about turnovers, we turn it over like nothing matters, nothing counts. It cost us the game."

 

"We started the game and lost our composure again up front and had a couple of foolish penalties ... We had what we thought was a good game plan together. And obviously we didn't execute."

 

Shockey, who had four catches for 58 yards, stewed in the locker room by himself before being told of Coughlin's comments.

 

"They were in different defenses than we thought they were going to be in. They did different things that we haven't seen," he said. "You can make adjustments all you want, but when they do new things and they switch things up, you really can't do anything."

 

Shockey pointed out how well Manning played on New York's final scoring drive. Manning exclusively used the no-huddle offense to move 94 yards, a drive that ended with his 9-yard touchdown to David Tyree.

 

Manning thrived in the no-huddle to rally past the Eagles last weekend. On Sunday, Manning was 2-of-7 for minus-1 yards and the two interceptions in a conventional offense during an awful first quarter, when Seattle led 21-0. He was 20-for-26 for 238 yards after that.

 

Someone asked tackle Luke Petitgout if it mattered that his team rallied for 27 points late.

 

"No," Petitgout said flatly.

 

Shockey, seated next to Petitgout, said "I think it does."

 

"I think when Eli gets to call his plays, get his formations, I think we play better football, when he gets to decide a little bit more than just the set play and then you get to go for it," Shockey said. "But you can't play always in a no-huddle situation."

 

Why not?

 

"You've got to go by their plays," Shockey said. "They're the coaches. They get paid money. They call the plays. Every coach out there is trying to help everybody to move the ball and help his team win. You can't just go out of no-huddle all the time."