Tom Coughlin: Giants Not In 'Optimum Situation'

During his conference call with reporters today New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin made reference to the fact that the Giants, who have to play again Thursday night in New England against the Patriots, are not in an "optimum situation" when it comes to preparing to open the regular season.

"You are supposed to be in training camp to prepare and that certainly means to practice. Just take a look at the practices we will not have this week. You are talking about a force of nature, you're not talking about someone making a decision not to practice. We were all caught short and we were instructed to play it safe. We got a practice in Saturday, and Sunday and Monday came along. This week, you are only talking about jog throughs," Coughlin said. "It is a lot of forced learning and you have a lot of sore people who are going through the idea of sitting right down the next day. Are they complaining? No, nobody is complaining. Whatever we are assigned to do, we will do it. It is just not an optimum situation."

After Monday night's 17-3 loss to the New York Jets Coughlin had said one of Eli Manning's two interceptions was partially the fault of a receiver who did not make a proper sight adjustment against the blitz. Turns out he was talking about tight end Travis Beckum.

"He had a couple of catches also last night, so he does that," Coughlin said. "It is just the consistency and the total package that is what you would hope would all come together. We have to be confident that it will."

With Manning not having thrown a touchdown pass in his three preseason appearances the receiving corps beyond starting wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham is being questioned. Coughlin said it is simply a matter of Manning being able to trust that his receivers will do what they are supposed to do.

"You have to be where you are supposed to be at the exact time and proper depth. You have to be able to react to the world around you to make the proper adjustments," Coughlin said. "Like I said last night, we missed a very critical sight adjustment and we threw an interception."

Coughlin was asked about the inability of the passing attack to work the middle of the field -- something which goes right to the heart of the struggles of the various tight ends the Giants have employed and the search for an able slot receiver.

"This is a preseason where I can't think of us getting to the middle of the field on a play-action or anything," Coughlin said. "We missed one the other night but quite frankly, the receiver was covered so it would have been a great throw just to get the ball in there. That's the only one I can think of for a whole preseason so when you talk about attacking the middle of the field, we really haven't had that type of opportunity."