New York Giants' news, 8/14: Ryan Mundy, Dan Connor, more

New York Giants' news and notes for Wednesday, 8/14

By Ed Valentine@Valentine_Ed Aug 14, 2013, 6:00am EDT

Good morning, New York Giants' fans. Here are some of the stories making headlines around the Giants this morning.

Ryan Mundy In Familiar Role

Safety Ryan Mundy will likely take the place of Antrel Rolle in the starting lineup until Rolle recovers from his ankle injury. After four years as a reserve with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he started in only five of 64 games as a fill-in, this is something he has done before.

"This is a road that I’m very familiar with from my time at Pittsburgh, my five years there. I was a primary backup to Troy (Polamalu) and Ryan (Clark), so this is a role that I know how to function in and I know how to prepare for," Mundy said. "In Pittsburgh I did whatever was asked of me. If Troy was out of the game, then I was playing strong safety. If Ryan Clark was out of the game, then I was playing free safety, and you know that’s just been my whole approach to be a professional, whatever I need to do to help the team out, I’m more than willing to do."

Dan Connor On MLB Competition

Is Dan Connor the backup at middle linebacker? Is he going to wind up as the starter? Connor, signed as a free agent during the offseason, doesn't seem to be sweating the decision as much as fans or the media might be.

"I think we’re [Connor and Mark Herzlich] pretty interchangeable as linebackers. We both can do it. Who knows, we could be rotating through the season. Or he could do it and then I can do it later, or opposite," Connor said. "There are so many different options in the linebacker position. You get grinded out, you’re going to need guys to be able to spell you here and there through the game. It’s fun as a competition, with every single position."

Fewell Promises 'Very Multiple' Defense

The Giants, trying to improve a defense that ranked 31st in the league in 2012, have shown many different looks throughout training camp.

"We’ll be very multiple," defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said on Tuesday. "Personnel wise, we have guys that fit a 4-3. We have guys that fit a lot of different defensive combinations and so I’m going to build a defense based on our personnel."

Valentine's View: I will have more on the many looks the Giants are experimenting with later on, but I find the willingness to try different alignments to be encouraging.

Ryan D'Imperio Retires

Fullback Ryan D'Imperio, signed by the Giants at the beginning of training camp as insurance for the recuperating Henry Hynoski, has retired from football. The Giants placed him on the reserve/retired list and signed fullback Ben Guidugli. A 6-1, 242-pounder, Guidugli spent most of the 2011 season on the practice squad of the St. Louis Rams. He was active for one game.

Practice Notes

Players missing practice included cornerback Corey Webster (soreness); offensive linemen James Brewer (concussion) and Chris DeGeare (ankle); defensive end Damontre Moore (shoulder); safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring); running back Da’Rel Scott (shoulder); and wide receivers Jerrel Jernigan (soreness) and Brandon Collins (hamstring).
Cornerback Terrell Thomas is slowly increasing his workload, and played some nickel corner during Tuesday's practice. Head coach Tom Coughlin is uncertain whether or not Thomas will play Sunday vs. the Indianapolis Colts.