Coughlin Confirms

Looks like Christmas came early for you guys. Obviously responding to intense pressure from our blog commenters -- more likely, just using his coaching smarts -- Tom Coughlin confirmed today that Aaron Rouse will be starting next to Michael Johnson at safety, with C.C. Brown coming in whenever the third rostered safety is called for.

Asked his reasons for the switch, Coughlin declined to slam the four-year veteran Brown's coverage abilities, or lack thereof.

"There was no thought," Coughlin said. "CC can play both sides and Michael has played. We have three guys, they all play a lot. The third safety played 26 snaps the other day. So we are just going to try to maneuver around a little bit and defend the deep ball better – that’s all."

Rouse has his own set of problems, including his continued learning curve on learning his new system's terminology since arriving off Green Bay waivers in Week 3, and the fact that he missed a tackle that might have held LeSean McCoy to a minimal gain on his 66-yard touchdown run last week.

He feels, at least, that the language and communications part is starting to smooth out for him.

"I completely feel up to speed," Rouse said. "If I wasn’t, I don’t think the coaches would make me a starter. That shows the confidence they have in me. I am just trying to go out there and live up to it.

"You go from three different coordinators in three years, it is going to be different. Coach Dave Merritt brought me along smoothly. My teammates, (Antonio) Pierce, Michael Johnson, C.C. Brown, have been talking to me constantly. (Corey) Webster, making sure that we are on the same page. When you have teammates out there that constantly talk to you and make sure that you are on the same page, it works out well."

Brown earlier said the demotion comes as no surprise to him. He probably got a big hint from the coach's displeasure with him about so grossly misplaying DeSean Jackson's 54-yard touchdown catch. But whether Rouse proves a true upgrade will be determined by whether the entire secondary can hold the big-play Chargers down to manageable levels come Sunday.

"He has done okay," Coughlin said of the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Rouse. "He is still trying to fully understand what is expected and what the new language is – the new language of our defense and what his responsibilities are. But I see a tall, fast athlete that can certainly contribute.

"I just think that – it is just the ability to play the ball in the air and we’ll see. It means that we are going to have to put him in the game to see how that is going to be."

Not exactly a glowing endorsement. But as I've said, until Aaron Ross gets back, this is the best move available.

EP