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It's Friday, so Ernie P. is in the house

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Time for my weekly visit with long-time Giants beat writer Ernie Palladino. As usual, we are both answering the same set of questions. My answers can be found over at Ernie's Giants Beat.

1. What would you do to solve the C.C. Brown problem at safety?
 
Ernie's Answer: "You mean short of summary execution? Kidding. Really. It was obvious from the lack of activity at the trade deadline Tuesday that either the Giants aren't interested in bringing someone new in, or that they couldn't find anything suitable for a decent price out there. So they're stuck with an existing corps that is comprised of Brown, Aaron Rouse, and Michael Johnson, and a practice-squad safety in Sha'reff Rashad. Obviously, you wouldn't want to move Rashad into a starting position, but you might move Rouse there. He's a ball-hawk kind of guy, probably a lot better in coverage than Brown. But then you'd lose the run support that Brown offers. It's been suggested that Tom Coughlin move one of the cornerbacks to safety -- perhaps Terrell Thomas -- but with Aaron Ross still out with a hamstring problem, the corners cannot be diluted. And I'm not comfortable moving Rouse, who has only been here three weeks, into a starting position. He's good enough to get more time in passing situations, so I'd use the dime more frequently and throw him in there. Aside from that, I'd just leave things the same and coach the HECK out of Brown. It's not that he doesn't have the speed. It's his coverage skills, and those can be worked on. Not a wonderful solution, but with the talent available, it's probably the best one."
 
2. How do you think the Giants will rebound from a terrible loss like they had in New Orleans?
 
Ernie's Answer: "Tom Coughlin's teams have shown nothing if not resilience. You know that cliched saying, "Never get too high after a win or get too low after a loss?" Well, this team takes it to heart. Wednesday's practice had a lot of intensity to it, so it looks like their heads are in the right place. Besides, remember what happened in 2007 after they gave up 80 points while losing the first two games? They ripped off six straight wins and seven of eight. Then they pulled a 41-17 stinker against Minnesota, righted the ship, and went to the Super Bowl. I'm willing to bet this team plays 100 percent better against Arizona Sunday. What's more -- and I'm going to go out on a hell of a limb here, I know -- I'll bet C.C. Brown has at least an acceptable outing and the defensive line gets at least two or three sacks."
 
3. If Anquan Boldin's ankle prevents him from playing to full strength Sunday, does the secondary have a decided edge in the passing game?
 
Ernie's Answer: "Not really. Larry Fitzgerald is pretty amazing. And the guy nobody seems to talk about, Steve Breaston, can make enough plays himself. So they do have weapons besides the Boldin-Fitzgerald combo. Tim Hightower is a good receiver out of the backfield with 29 catches for 228 yards. But Breaston is the real secet weapon of sorts. You may remember him from the Cardinals' comeback after the Jets put up 34 points in the second quarter. Breaston caught nine balls for 122 yards that day and has 96 catches for 1,251 yards and four touchdowns over his last 19 games. So whether Boldin is there or not, a secondary that failed miserably at the task of containing the Saints' receivers last week will again have its hands full."
 
4. Should the Giants reinstate Domenik Hixon as a starting wide receiver over Mario Manningham?
 
Ernie's Answer: "Hixon ran a bunch of nice routes and was open deep several times last week. And his three catches for 22 yards simply added to a personal 300 combined yardage day. But Manningham has become a valuable entity at receiver, showing excellent concentration and improved route-running ability. So I'd keep Manningham right where he is and let Hixon concentrate fully on his kickoff and punt return duties, which he took from the ineffective Sinorice Moss last week. Can't argue with the results there, as Hixon's seven kickoff returns for 230 yards easily surpassed Moss' 6-for-109 total for the five previous games. Hixon showed some outstanding qualities last week in hitting gaps and insisting on getting those extra yards. It's stuff you never saw from Moss. Let Hixon go out in the three or four-wide personnel groupings, but his major contributions should -- and probably will -- come on the return teams."

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Dime

I thought last Sunday that Sheridan should have went to the dime earlier, but even when they did they still were getting burned. There has to be a happy medium between nickel/dime coverage and blitzes because pressure is really the key. This is where Sheridan will earn his paycheck. He’s already saying that he didn’t blitz enough last week, so we should expect more. I say bring it!

by potroast on Oct 23, 2009 8:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

What is up with Ross?

If he’s going to miss the whole season due to a hamstring, then put him on IR to open a roster spot and go find someone to help at safety.

by EverBlue on Oct 23, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ross

As long as they think Ross can return before the end of the season he will just be one of the game day inactives – so he is not using up a roster place on game day.

Plus they only way they can get safety help is thru FA and they would have done that last week before the trading deadline.

by G Fan in England on Oct 23, 2009 8:21 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

The Giants are thin in the defensive backfield. There is no one out there who is as talented as Ross, so the Giants are just going to try and wait for the guy. I think they don’t have a choice.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 23, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bradshaw

Ed

Is Bradshaw missing practice another of those rest and he will play on Sunday missed practice occasions?

As Jacobs is listed he must be over his stinger.

by G Fan in England on Oct 23, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Bradshaw and the boot

It seems like just a weekly thing where he will be limited in practice to protect that ankle of his.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 23, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes they are being very cautious with him..

He is still tearing it up out there..but I certainly hope he reaches the bye week for a good solid rest..but that is a ways out..He is one tough son-of-gun though, I don’t think lack of practice has effected him at all..So rest him during the week and keep him off that ankle.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 23, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes G

I think they are being very cautious with Aaron during the week, and yes Brandon’s stinger luckily was minor..painful but minor.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 23, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ronde Barber anyone????

Why didn’t the Giants go after a guy like Ronde? How much could tampa really want for the guy?…He seem to still be a good CB..maybe still top 25 in the game…a pretty good open field tackler ..with him you could play safety by committee..C.C when you want 8 in the box…Rouse/Johnson on passing downs.. .anyone know if Ronde ever played safety???

by freakynjbifemandhubby on Oct 23, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Well he would be a good one...

But these teams are not going to give up what talent they have..these kind of conversations drive me nuts..It is like going into game seven the poor teams are giving up..They aren’t at this juncture..The only chance we have to upgrade is after the season is over. Unless somebody is dumb enough to cut a really great safety, we need to deal with what we’ve got. If Sheridan breaks the entire defense loose, I think we’ll be fine.

by Bobbiblue on Oct 23, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is Hixon over Manningham a topic of serious conversation?

I really hope not. What has Hixon shown us now or in the past, that leads anyone to believe Manningham isn’t doing at least as well (if not better). Amen to Hixon as the KR and on the field in our 4 wideout sets. Then his speed on a dimeback is an advantage.

Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!

by bigbluethruandthru on Oct 23, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No we need

Hixon returning kicks and Mario out there catching passes…I really would like to see more of Barden..I wonder what is up with him?

by Bobbiblue on Oct 24, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs


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