Ben Solomon for The New York Times
Coach Tom Coughlin's teams with the Giants and the Jaguars have had significant slides — losing at least four of five games — in 9 of the past 12 seasons.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Several Giants players have recently become fond of saying they have "been here before," repeating a company line that has grown more prominent as the team deals with another late-season stumble and the pressure of needing to win the last two games to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
But whatever the players might have learned from last season's bounce-back, or the attempts at something similar in 2010 and 2009, none are as experienced with roller-coaster campaigns as Coach Tom Coughlin. Over his past 12 seasons — four with Jacksonville, eight with the Giants — Coughlin's teams have endured a significant swoon, classified as losing at least four of any five games, in nine of them.
This is not to say Coughlin is solely responsible. Every season is different, and injuries, not to mention unusual circumstances, vary widely. One year, a top player might become an enduring distraction by announcing plans to begin a career in television, as Tiki Barber did in 2006. In another, a star might inexplicably shoot himself in the leg while walking through a nightclub, as Plaxico Burress did in 2008. These things, apparently, happen.
Yet this season, as the Giants have gone from 6-2 to 8-6 — proclaiming their affection for playing under pressure all the way — it is not unreasonable to consider whether Coughlin and his coaching style have played a part.
Coughlin, 66, is intense. No one disputes this, and it is often cited as one of the his greatest attributes. He has high standards, an unwavering work ethic and a much-publicized affection for punctuality; five minutes early is, in Coughlin's world, just barely on time. "His passion and his consistency — that's what makes him good," defensive end Justin Tuck said.
A potential downside to that sort of leader, though, is an increased possibility of emotional fatigue.
Antonio Pierce, a Giants linebacker from 2005 to 2009, said that despite Coughlin's reputation as something of a drill sergeant, he is adept at giving players the necessary rest. The bigger strain from Coughlin, Pierce said, is mental. Trying to follow his rules, live up to his expectations and match his passion is difficult over a 17-week regular season, making players more prone to a collective letdown.
"He never beat us up physically," said Pierce, who also played in the N.F.L. under Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier and Joe Gibbs. "I was never physically tired from Coach Coughlin. I was tired mentally. I was drained from how to put my socks on, all the rules. I was tired from feeling like I had to be up all the time."
Tuck, who has played his entire career under Coughlin, said he understood Pierce's perspective. While Tuck has never experienced another N.F.L. coach's approach, he has heard from players around the league about other systems.
"It's very, very demanding around here," Tuck said. "I can definitely see where that can be difficult, especially for guys who have played for other coaches. Coach Coughlin does things his way, and it works. But that doesn't mean it isn't challenging."
Over the course of his career, Coughlin has forged a reputation as a team builder. He is not known as a defensive tactician like Bill Belichick or an offensive wizard like Mike Shanahan, and, as Pierce noted, he is not a new-school, so-called player's coach like Pete Carroll or Rex Ryan. "I remember when I first was getting on Twitter and he was like: '140 characters? You can't get your point across!' " Pierce said, laughing.
"But that's him," Pierce added. "There's a big gap. Twenty-year-olds might not always feel like he gets them, because the way he speaks at times is outdated. It comes with the territory. In a lot of ways, you respect that he is true to who he is."
Not surprisingly, many current players roundly praised Coughlin's techniques. Coughlin speaks to the team as a group several times during a game week, but his lengthier addresses are generally on Wednesday, when he sets the theme for the next few days of preparation, and Saturday, when he offers a motivational speech that sometimes includes props — a series of video clips, perhaps — but always is delivered with fervor.
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