The Giants used their first two draft picks on defensive players, taking cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive tackle Marvin Austin.

Unfortunately, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has not been able to coach up his two new prized rookies due to the lockout. And knowing the enthusiastic Fewell, it is probably killing the defensive coordinator.

Fewell, who will participate in the Giants' non-contact youth camps beginning later this month, talked to Newsday and the Newark Star-Ledger about his new rookies.

“I am enthused about working with him," Fewell told the Star-Ledger about Amukamara. "I’m sad that I haven’t had an opportunity to work with him at this point of time. I’m very, very excited. I think he showed some really good things on tape from Nebraska. We’d like to take it to another level.”

Fewell will have his work cut out for him. Whenever the lockout ends, Fewell will have to get his rookies up to speed with possibly only a training camp to do so. The rookies have had the rookie camp, minicamp and offseason training activities wiped out by the lockout.

Austin will be even more behind than Amukamara since the defensive tackle didn't play football last year, missing all of last season at North Carolina due to the NCAA investigation scandal.

“I don’t know how you can account for what happened to him," Fewell said. "I do know this: Evaluating his junior tapes and looking at some of his workout, he is extremely talented. Now, will he make a commitment and be a consistent for us and make it pay off for us this fall? That’s the challenge for us going into 2011 season."

Fewell is eager to get his second season with the Giants going. In his first year, the Giants became a top-five defense but finished poorly with losses to the Eagles and Packers with a postseason berth on the line.

“I think all we did was just scratch the surface of what we can be with the New York Giants,” Fewell said of last year. “I thought we played well, but we didn’t play consistent enough. And as a guy that aspires to be a head football coach, we want consistency in our play and in our game.”

Fewell interviewed with numerous teams for a head coaching position earlier this year and believes he learned a great deal about taking that next step toward running his own team.

“I know now, probably more so than ever, that I’m ready,” Fewell said. “I’m prepared to lead a club and an organization and a football team into battle on Sundays to win a Super Bowl. I learned a lot about administration and organization and preparation as far as the interview process is concerned.”