Coughlin: Giants prepared for running quarterback

Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers is the first of the running, read-option type quarterbacks the New York Giants will have to face this season. They will face Michael Vick of the Washington Redskins and Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins twice, Terrelle Pryor of the Oakland Raiders and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks before the year is done.

Head coach Tom Coughlin said Thursday that the Giants "studied the heck out of" the read option and how to deal with running quarterbacks during the offseason.

"We've studied in the offseason and studied a lot of these option-type quarterbacks and we have a plan. As you say, we haven't really been tested in that area, but we have worked in training camp on responsibilities. I'm confident we'll have a guy in the right place, hopefully at the right time," Coughlin said during his Thursday session with reporters. "Everybody has a key that they look at for run or pass and you better believe what you see."

Newton has run the ball nine times for 53 yards (5.9 yards per carry) in Carolina's first two games. The Panthers are sixth in the league overall in rushing averaging 129.5 yards per game. DeAngelo Williams (39 carries, 171 yards, 4.4 yards per carry) is the Carolina workhorse.

In addition to studying, the Giants revamped the center of the their defense with defensive tackles Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson, Shaun Rogers and Johnathan Hankins. They also have a new middle linebacker in Mark Herzlich.

"We haven't really been tested in that area, but we have worked in training camp on responsibilities," Coughlin said.

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