Giants news, 11/30: Who returns punts now?

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Let’s get to your Friday morning headlines.

Who will return punts?

With Quadree Henderson (fractured shoulder) on IR, the Giants could have another new punt returner Sunday. They have used Kaelin Clay, Stacy Coles, Odell Beckham Jr., Jawill Davis and Henderson in that capacity this season.

“Welcome to our world,” said special teams coach Thomas McGaughey. “It is what it is. You just – like I told you guys before, it’s just one of those deals, you’re just always ready to expect the unexpected and just roll with it. Good thing we got options, so nothing to sweat about it. Just go out there and play.”

Davis has a 24.4 yard average on seven kickoff returns, but has only a single fair catch as a punt returner. Davis has not been active for a game since Week 6.

Corey Coleman has averaged 29.7 yards on kickoff returns over the past three games. He has never returned punts in the NFL. As a collegian at Baylor, he returned three punts for 9 yards.

Cornerback Antonio Hamilton is another option. The 25-year-old averaged 21.7 yards on 23 punt returns and 24.8 yards on 33 kickoff returns at South Carolina State. Combined, he had five touchdowns. He has never returned a kick in the NFL.

Mike Shula reacts to Beckham’s “game plan” criticism

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Shula on Thursday seemed unconcerned about the criticism of Sunday’s game plan vs. the Eagles by Odell Beckham Jr.

“I don’t really ever worry about that. We talk here with our players and our coaches and we move on. If there’s ever any issues, we handle them one on one, whether or not it’s coaches and players, players and players, or coordinators or head coaches, and then we move on, make sure we’re on the same page,” Shula said. “Everybody wants to win, for sure with receivers. We’d all be disappointed if guys didn’t want the ball more. Unfortunately, there’s only one football, and the bottom line for us is we want to all be on the same page and do whatever we can each and every guy, player and coach, to go win a football game.”

Bettcher: Defense needs to focus on fundamentals

Mailbag Questions?

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Have questions about the Giants? E-mail them to bigblueview@gmail.com, and the best ones will be answered in an upcoming mailbag. Thanks!

The Giants nearly surrendered a 17-point lead two weeks ago in a 38-35 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They did give up a 16-point lead in a 25-22 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. How can they prevent that from continuing to happen?

“That was a big part of our message this week, and we kind of talked about that for a couple weeks now,” defensive coordinator James Bettcher said. “We don’t have to press, you don’t have to do more than your job. If your responsibility is being in A-gap, then you need to be in A-gap.

“Now, there’s obviously more that goes into it than that, that’s very simply stated; but at the end of the day, that’s really what it amounts to. Tough moments where you feel things pressing on you, when you feel the pressure of the game, that’s when you have to fall back on fundamentals and technique. When things feel like they’re haywire in a game, when a game’s not going good, you have to fall back on something and that’s fundamentals and techniques. We just have to continue to work the process to continue to improve in that way so in those moments we play better.”

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