New York Giants Tuesday Afternoon Practice Notes
RB DJ Ware and S Sha’Reff Rashad are both still sidelined with post-concussion effects. Tom Coughlin said Rashad has the better chance of returning first.
With Michael Johnson‘s recovery time from a back ailment open-ended and UDFA Mike Greco limping around on a sore knee, the Giants were suddenly short on healthy safeties.
The team cut Greco and brought in Matt O’Hanlon, another UDFA who has spent time in both Carolina and Tampa Bay. The question everyone wanted to ask to was if Kenny Phillips would get more reps now. The answer from Tom Coughlin, as you could have figured. was “probably not”.
Aaron Ross went to North Carolina to get his sore heel examined. That’s good that he’ll start recovering, but at the same time its bad, because there’s no time frame to that recovery.
Others who did not practice: C Shaun O’Hara (ankle), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (groin), DL Chris Canty (groin – happened today), WR Ramses Barden (back), TE Travis Beckum (neck).
Eli Manning continued to practice with out a helmet. He will try to put one on tomorrow. Coughlin said he was not worried if it took longer.
Some observations…….
Alex Raskin, CBS Sports.com
After only taking reps at middle linebacker in training camp, LB Keith Bulluck has been seeing time on the strongside this week. Coach Tom Coughlin said he wanted, “to try to find the best situational players for maybe a first down run or something like that.”…..Last year, LB Clint Sintim took some snaps at DE against multiple-receiver sets. This year, former DE Adrian Tracy, now a LB, might get that opportunity. “If that’s how they want to use me,” Tracy said, “I’d be more than happy to fill that role.”
Pat Traina, Inside Football
FB Madison Hedgecock has been doing a better job of late catching the ball in practice. However, it’s his blocking skills the team needs most, and Coughlin said the fullback has improved in that area from the first week. “I thought he played better. I think he listened to what he needed to improve upon [from game one to game two] and let’s hope he does it again.”…..Adam Koets, working with both the starters and the twos, didn’t have any problems with snapping the ball, but he looked to be slow in getting into some of his blocks, as twice I saw his man blow by him……Mathias Kiwanuka continued to receive snaps at outside linebacker in the sub packages. READ FULL REPORT
Mike Garafolo, SNY / Star-Ledger
Bomar and Cruz might have had trouble connecting early, but they really hooked up late. A miscommunication between S Antrel Rolle and CB Bruce Johnson) allowed Cruz to get deep for a ball from Bomar. And later, Bomar hit Cruz again past Bruce Johnson and S Kenny Phillips.
