Perry Fewell’s name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a head-coaching position in recent seasons.

His defense helped the New York Giants storm to a Super Bowl title a year ago. And that same defense has been thrashed in recent weeks as the team’s collapse from contender to pretender has been quite a surprise.</p>

And Fewell isn’t taking much of a fall for the lousy results with the defense currently ranked 30th.

“We’ve prepared better than what we’ve played,” Fewell said, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. “I think if you look at the tape we’re in position to make plays. We haven’t made plays.”

The Giants have been gutted by the run and the pass and their pass rush has been the consistent force it was a year ago when a 9-7 team went on a Super Bowl run. The Ravens and Falcons bombed the Giants in the previous two weeks and now they need the most improbable of events to reach the playoffs. No one expects it to happen.

“We’ve been in position,” Fewell said. “We haven’t made a football play for the last couple of weeks. We’ve been in position to make football plays, but it hasn’t gone our way.

“It’s frustrating for me and for the defense to give up the big play and that’s been our nemesis all year. Have we worked to eliminate the big plays? Yes we have. Have we been able to do that? No we haven’t. I can't tell you why.”

Consider it a question to ponder through the offseason.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune