GIANT NOTES
Like anyone who makes his living with his hand on the ground and the ball never in his clutches, Rich Seubert proudly recalls a time when he was a target within the offense and not simply a blocker. As a freshman at Western Illinois, Seubert caught two passes as a tight end and as a sophomore he caught four more.
“A long of 36 yards vs. Elon, down the middle, got tackled by a safety,” Seubert said. “Should have been a touchdown. They just told me to run straight and that’s what I did.” Seubert won’t be hauling in any passes for the Giants tomorrow in Atlanta but the former starting guard, now a key backup lineman, is getting increased work as the third tight end.
With Jeremy Shockey not at full strength with a sore right ankle and foot and Visanthe Shiancoe the only other tight end on the active roster, Seubert might be needed even more if Shockey is unable to handle a full load.
That’s fine with Seubert, who at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds is a mauler at guard and will be asked to block and nothing more as a tight end in certain shortyardage or goal-line situations.
“Whatever I can do to get on the field,” Seubert said, “if it gets me a couple of plays, gets me to play a little bit. You’re out there in space more, you kind of realize what it’s like to be a tackle. A lot of times you got linebackers on you, faster, quicker guys. Assignmentwise I’m pretty comfortable.
I’ll probably be in only for running plays. I know I’m not going to be going out in any routes ever, which is fine.”
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S Gibril Wilson was added to the injury report as questionable after having his foot stepped on during practice.
Wilson had to have a toenail removed. … S James Butler remains listed as questionable with a knee injury. … The addition of massive NT Grady Jackson has helped the Falcons’ run defense allow only 69.3 yards per game, second-best in the league. The Giants took a look at the 345-pound Jackson this past off-season but decided to stick with rookie Barry Cofield at nose tackle. “Grady Jackson is probably our biggest worry, because he disrupts all of our misdirection type plays by pushing two or three yards into the backfield, which cuts off our angles,” Tiki Barber said, “so it’s really on [center] Shaun [O’Hara] this week.”
