Key night for several Giants

by Ed Valentine on Aug 25, 2007 7:45 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Newsday's Arthur Staple has done a good job breaking down players who need to play well tonight when the Giants take on the New York Jets.

Here is Staple's list.

DT Marcus Bell -- Remember when he might have started? He was running with the third unit this week.

RB Reuben Droughns -- Derrick Ward's sprained ankle should give the veteran a chance to show some more, but Ward and even Ryan Grant have outplayed Droughns thus far.

CB E.J. Underwood -- Hasn't hurt himself with his play of late, but has been hurt more by some improved play from Kevin Dockery.

K Lawrence Tynes -- Josh Huston's 50-yarder in Baltimore gave the rookie the edge, so Tynes needs an opportunity to make something and kick off deep to prove he should be the kicker.

QB Tim Hasselbeck -- Needs to have the greatest game ever to even be considered for the third QB spot.

OL Adam Koets/Guy Whimper -- If neither shows improvement, everyone better pray that David Diehl stays as healthy as he always has.

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I would add CB Corey Webster to the list. He has a huge opportunity this week with Sam Madison injured, and needs to show the Giants he can handle the job.

As for Koets and Whimper, scan the list of backups on the Giants offensive line. After Gray Reugamer and Zach Piller there isn't much to feel comfortable with. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Giants pick up a veteran OT on waivers before the season starts.

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John Madden

Madden must see something in Whimper that none of us have so far. He even made a point on air last week to say that he disagreed with the coaching staff about him. The last time Madden was this vocal about a Giant offensive lineman was when he was the first to jump on Jumbo Elliot's bandwagon when all of us were calling him a bum.....hmmm.

I hope the Giants keep Ward. He looks very good. I also hope Huston wins the kicking job if for no other reason than his kickoffs are much better.

by giant fan since 57 on Aug 25, 2007 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

Hope Madden knows something we don't !

My biggest concern offensively is depth at tackle. Everyone is concerned about Deihl, what if McKenzie goes down? DD would be the most logical to slide over to RT having played the position bfore and that would put Whimper in guarding Eli's blind side. I'm starting to miss Whitfield. Yeah he was old and kind of a loose screw but, he had the nasty streak offensive linemen should have and I wasn't as concerned about Eli reaching middle age.
I agree about Ward,he reminds me of Simms early in his carreer , just when you start realizing how good the guy is he gets hurt again.I hope he gets over his latest nagging injury and gets the chance to spell the starters in a game so we can see what he really can do.

by big blue wrecking crew on Aug 25, 2007 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Head Butt Whitfield

Are you nuts, missing Whitfield? He couldn't block worth a darn anymore, but he was real good at picking up 15-yard head-butting penalties. As I wrote this morning, though, I think the Giants should be scouring the waiver wire the next couple of weeks for an experienced tackle (one who is not an expert head-butter!).

by Ed Valentine on Aug 25, 2007 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions