Dan Graziano, senior NFL national reporter 9y

New York Giants safety Nat Berhe talks like a veteran, says he's ready to start

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- We didn't hear much from New York Giants safety Nat Berhe in 2014. Like most wise NFL rookies in backup/special teams roles, last year's fifth-round pick stayed in the background and learned by watching instead of talking.

But that doesn't mean he didn't have his own opinions about what was going on. Or that he liked everything he saw.

Berhe, who right now projects to open training camp as a starting safety due to the dearth of other options on the Giants' roster, had a lot to say Thursday about the way the defense operated last year under then-coordinator Perry Fewell. Let's just say Berhe is happy with the switch to new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

"Coach Spags, I can talk to him. I don't know if I can say that about the last coordinator," Berhe said. "I mean, he was good, but Coach Spags is someone I can have a conversation with and talk to in the halls and stuff like that. Coach Perry Fewell, I wish him all the best, and that's pretty much it."

Berhe said he prepared himself for what appears to be an opportunity at a starting job by sitting behind Antrel Rolle last year and watching from the sidelines.

"I saw a lot of things that I liked, and then not playing, you saw a lot of things you don't like," Berhe said. "You saw what works and what doesn't work."

What would he have done differently?

"Attack," Berhe said. "Last year, I felt like we were more reactionary. We just kind of waited and reacted instead of really getting after it."

Unless the Giants draft a safety or someone overtakes him in camp, Berhe should get the chance to put his stamp on Spagnuolo's attacking defense in 2015. He certainly doesn't lack the confidence he needs for the role.

"It's funny to me how, like, last year, people were calling for the young guys to play and they wanted us to play, and now that we've got the opportunity to play, everybody's scared," Berhe said. "It's kind of funny to me. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't play.

"Everybody gets caught up in seniority and stuff. But if you make plays, there's no reason you shouldn't be starting."

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