You want to load up against the run and force Eli Manning to throw the ball to his young and inexperienced receivers? That’s a tactic the Giants saw a great deal of down the stretch of last season once Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg and was never seen on the field again.
It’s a tactic the Giants are likely to see a great deal of – starting Sunday against the Redskins – until the receivers prove they warrant attention from opposing defenses.
“It probably would be a good thing if they did that,” Tom Coughlin said in his first press conference of the regular season.
That’s about as close to trash-talking as it gets for Coughlin and he’s either blowing smoke or else he truly believes his offense can make opponents pay for underselling the Giants receivers.
“I think we had some experience [throwing the ball] down the field this preseason,” Coughlin said. “Certainly that would be one thing you can do to answer that.”
The answers start coming on Sunday, or else the questions remain, as it’s likely the Redskins will put an extra defender in the box in an attempt to limit the effectiveness of RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
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The first injury report of the season for the Giants came out a short time ago and it’s a brief list that surprisingly does not include the name Chris Canty.
“I’ll put him on there if it will make you feel better,” Coughlin said.
Not having Canty on the list would seem to indicate that the Giants believe there’s no chance Canty won’t be able to play in the opener. That’s good news for the defensive line, as Canty was signed away from the Cowboys to provide depth at tackle and end. He’s been slowed by a torn hamstring but20this past Monday reported he felt much better and expected to be able to practice this week.
Coughlin cautioned “We’re going to build this up as we go” regarding Canty.
Also on the injury list: CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), C Adam Koets (ankle), CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring) and LB Clint Sintim (groin).
It does not appear Ross will be ready to play. He re-injured his hamstring on August 25, the final day of training camp. He did not practice today. “It’s day-to-day,” Coughlin said.
Dockery’s name was a new one, as there were no reports he was injured earlier in the week. Dockery also did not practice. Coughlin called that “precautionary.”
As for his message to the Giants as they embark on the first regular-season week, Coughlin said “Step lively, that was the message.”
