Spagnuolo has Super memories
Because he’ll be plenty busy this week, it’s not likely that newly hired New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have much time to reflect on what was happening four years ago at this time.
Then again, with preparations being made for Super Bowl XLVI, a game that will be a rematch of the New York Giants’ stunning 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Spagnuolo may allow himself to think back and reminisce.
Spagnuolo, who accepted an offer from Saints coach Sean Payton to replace Gregg Williams on Jan. 19, was the head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2009 until he was fired earlier this month after compiling a 10-38 record.
Before that tough three-year stint with the Rams, however, Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator of the Giants in 2007 and ’08.
In his first year as an NFL coordinator in 2007, his defense ranked seventh in fewest yards allowed at 305.0 yards per game and gave up 21.1 points a game. The Giants were even better in the postseason, winning four times away from home while giving up 286.3 yards and 16.3 points a game.
The cherry on top of that run through the playoffs, however, was the win over the undefeated and heavily-favored Patriots in Glendale, Ariz.
The Patriots had already won three Super Bowl titles in a six-year span and were, after averaging 411.3 yards and a league-best 36.8 points, shooting to become the first team in NFL history to finish 19-0.
That’s where Spagnuolo came in as he devised a magnificent game plan that had the Patriots’ explosive offense on its heels most of the night.
Bringing relentless pressure from his front four, the Giants rattled regular-season MVP Tom Brady and sacked him five times. They also held the Patriots to 45 rushing yards, which made Brady more vulnerable.
In the end, the Patriots were held to 274 total yards and two TDs, just one in the first 57 minutes of the game.
Their 14 points was a season-low, as were their spirits after the Giants’ offense — which naturally had been overshadowed going into the game — drove 83 yards to the winning touchdown with 35 seconds left.
Afterward, even Spagnuolo, who was on the Philadelphia Eagles’ staff when they lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX, admitted he never dreamed of holding that offense to just 14 points.
“In all honesty, no,” he said. “I believed in the guys and what they were and what they did and what they could do. I thought if our offense could control the ball and score a few points, then maybe we could outscore them.”
A year later, the Giants ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest yards and fewest points allowed.
While his old team plays the Patriots again with a chance to win another title this week, Spagnuolo will be busy evaluating a Saints’ defense he hopes to bring to another Super Bowl one day.
If he does, Saints’ fans can only hope it turns out like it did four years ago.