Monthly Archives: July 2008
Mike Garafolo of the Star Ledger provides a number updates from camp today.
Kenny Phillips was given a chance to work with the first team, as Michael Johnson was bumped to the second unit. Phillips deflected a pass from Eli Manning for Steve Smith. James Butler grabbed the deflection for an INT.
Garafolo provides more notes regarding Justin Tuck, Derrick Ward, Kareem McKenzie, Eli Manning‘s worst pass of training camp, a great practice by David Diehl, and a wicked takedown of Bryan Kehl by Chris Snee.
Steve Smith returned to practice today after missing a couple of sesssions with a groin injury. Justin Tuck (foot) returned as well.
Ahmad Bradshaw was found to not be in violation of the personal conduct policy by the league and will not be suspended, according to NFL Network’s Adam Schefter.
Watch today’s episode of the Nooner over at TheNoonerBlog.com.
At WasWatching, Steve Lombardi says that Carl Pavano and Phil Hughes will make rehab starts for the Charlestown RiverDogs.
Tommy Dee of TheKnicksBlog grades the Renaldo Balkman trade, while Adam Zagoria at ZagsBlog has full coverage of the Big East media day.
Brian Bassett at TheJetsBlog has a look at the what the Jets have done on defense.
Toby Hyde at Mets Minor League Blog gives an update on Fernando Martinez, who is ‘coming along’ after his latest injury.
Lastly, at SNY.tv, Ted Berg says, although he looks just like Tom Morello, Raul Ibanez isn’t nearly as ‘awesome.’
Not able to make it up to Albany for this year’s Giants training camp? Well check out these 23 beautiful photographs from Sports Illustrated.
New computer background for me with photo #2. Enjoy.
QB David Carr was cleared to return to practice today.
He hasn’t made a great impression at camp so far and it appears that Anthony Wright is ahead of him on the depth chart to back up Eli Manning.
Coach Tom Coughlin has put an emphasis on Eli Manning to work on throwing deeper passes in camp to improve the Giants deficiency with the long pass last season.
“No, there were not enough. You’re always striving for more, it doesn’t matter what the number is. You look at other people and their numbers, and you look at your numbers … we feel like we need more big plays.”
The Giants finished tied for 21st in passing plays of 40 yards or more. The Giants were rated 25th on passing plays of 20 yards or more with just 36. Coughlin spoke about the need to put pressure on the opposing team’s secondary.
“It’s more of the idea of the versatility of the pressure that you can put on the defense. “Obviously, the defense is going to play you certain ways if you’re a better run team than a pass team. They are going to play certain ways if they feel that you don’t have the players, or the deep ball, or the big play.”
Tom Coughlin spoke with reporters at camp today, here are some selected quotes from his comments.
Anything wrong with Mario Manningham?
Yes, he’s got some quad soreness and about halfway through the individual Ronnie (Barnes) said that he ought to be shut down. I don’t know the extent of it. We will have to wait and see.
You have not talked to us since Plaxico (Burress) saw the doctor…
The doctor said that he had some soreness and hopefully thought that by mid-week maybe something would…he has a situation where he absolutely has to wear orthotics. He really has to wear them all the time. That’s really going to help and hopefully the soreness will be gone so he can work this week, I hope.
Is it concerning to you that it has been 6 months since he last played?
This is different. It is not the same problem.
Did he do something in the off-season?
It is a little bit of a structure and it is something he is going to have to deal with. It is the same ankle but not the same injury.
Is he going to be a guy that you are really going to have to take day-to-day, week-to-week?
I hope not. I asked him…I know one time this summer we had a conversation about it. He didn’t really think he would be limited. But, here we are.
I notice you have (Kevin) Boss working with all three teams. Are you trying to get him learning a little bit faster, or are you just short on tight-ends?
No, we have plenty of tight ends. We have five tight ends and they are all working. There are some things in camp that you would like him to see. So we put him in a different situation just so that he has an opportunity to run a particular route.
Eli Manning comes in at #10 on Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN‘s list of the most indispensable players in the NFL.
Talk about a guy who came of age in a relatively short time last season. Manning started 2007 with people wondering if he could become a more effective leader and he ended it with the Lombardi Trophy in his grasp. I’ve now stopped wondering whether he’ll ever be the prolific passer that his brother is, primarily because it doesn’t matter. He’s showed the world he can win in his own way and it’s hard to imagine another Giant who belongs on this list over him.
The Hater Nation isn’t so sure.
Seriously, how hard is it to just heave the ball in the air to Plaxico Burress, allowing him to make a play for the ball. Did this guy not watch the Super Bowl? What exactly did Eli do that nobody else in the NFL could have done?
Do you think that Jay Cutler could have run around and threw a ball to have David Tyree make a one handed catch? Is there an Arena Football League quarterback who couldn’t have thrown the ball to Burress when he corkscrewed a Patriots defensive back in the ground?
Its hard for me to tell when they’re being serious or joking over at the Nation, so take it for what its worth. While having Plaxico certainly makes things a lot easier for Eli, you can’t diminish his skills as a QB in pressure situations. Its almost as if Eli thrives on it, and that’s a pretty indispensable quality if you ask me. Eli is definitely someone you want on your team when the chips are down.
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