Loading ...Only two weeks into the preseason and the Giants have already suffered injuries to an unnerving number of their starters (and potential starters). Thus far, Giants fans have heard the bad news about Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Tim Brown, to name a few. However, it doesn’t stop there.
Now the Giants are discussing the news about a new batch of injuries nagging the 2010 team. Specifically, the following:
- Aaron Ross has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, which if you recall, was the same issue Eli Manning dealt with for a great deal of last season. At this point, Tom Coughlin doesn’t seem to think it will keep Ross out in any substantial way, but a bum foot can only limit a CB.
- In addition to the other offensive injuries, the Giants also disclosed the injury to Ramses Barden, who suffered a stress fracture of a transverse process, per Mike Garafolo. However, this will not require surgery, according to Coughlin, and “is an issue of pain” at this point. Hopefully this will not have any long-term effects.
- In what seems like the most ominous sounding injury, Michael Johnson is dealing with disc-related problem in his back. This is eerily reminiscent of Antonio Pierce’s injury last year (herniated discs in his neck), which ended his career. The difference between neck and back is notable, but disc injuries are difficult to treat regardless. This will be an important one to watch.
- Travis Beckum is dealing with neck issues, while Jim Sorgi remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Wrap these up and you’ve got enough reason for concern this close to the season. Hopefully the Giants will be able to square away these “complications” before Week 1, even if it means a heavy dose of backups through the rest of the preseason.
Stay tuned to Giants 101 for more updates as they come.
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When most were certain that the starting O-line this season would be Beatty, Diehl, O’Hara, Snee and someone-other-than-McKenzie (whom many said was washed up) I was making it clear that I thought Beatty needed another year (and another 15 pounds) before he could displace Diehl at LT, and that the starting five would be the same as it has been for years.
I may prove wrong, but I don’t think so, and I hope not.
I love what Reese is building with this O-line.
That starting five (which is neither “old” nor “soft”…. nor strictly “finesse”…you don’t have to all be 320 pounds to move people off the LOS or protect the QB) is, IMO a very solid group.
The depth is outstanding now, with the exception of the absence of a really strong backup center, which is a need that I believe must be addressed next April.
If Andrews can stay healthy he will, at some point, move Seubert out of the lineup and give the Giants two Pro Bowl-quality guards. Beatty still has to mature but he looks like he will be a very good left tackle for many years. Petrus is a guy who was dominant in college and should be fantastic depth for this team at guard and may well be taught to play center, which would make him unbelievably valuable. Koets is probably a stopgap, but you never know. Perhaps he’s more talented than we know. The coaches seem to like him and, unlike my opinions of some of these coaches, the O-line coach is a quality guy who knows his stuff.
So if the “depth” going into the season is Beatty, Andrews, Petrus and Koets that’s pretty darn good stuff right there. I think there’s a decent chance that Andrews and Seubert trade places at some point this season. At that point we’d have a starting five that has as good a pedigree as any in the league. And Reese has brought in some very promising youngsters who should be ready to start getting mixed into the lineup over the next few years.
I’ll let some of you worry about our O-line. It sure doesn’t worry me.
Oh, while I’m on the topic of O-lines I might as well also note that not only do I expect Brandon Jacobs to have a big year (no, he is not through) but the Giants’ running game to be right back up near the top of the league as long as BJ and Ahmad stay healthy.
FF
don’t know if one can really take anything from it, but I thought the most recent interview clip of BJ reflected a player who understands his status has been downgraded from the No 1 back to the No 2
dis you get the same vibe?
Didn’t see it. Where is it?
posted on both bbi and giants.com
Okay, took a look. You may be right, but I get the impression he’s pretty confident and just waiting to prove all the critics dead wrong. Looks like a guy who wants to speak with his play, not his mouth. Interestingly, he looks a bit thinner this year. I wonder if that will help, or hurt.
It all depends upon his having no hesitation when hitting the hole and being confident his O-line and fullback will have created a crease when he gets there. That dancing around last year was a clear indication he was not confident that would be the case. With good reason. Everyone was hurt. Now they’re healthy. I think things will be very different.
@ Demo you took the words out of my mouth. While we have had more injuries than you would like most of our injuries have been minor and going forward very few of our front line players should be affected – like mentioned above excluding Ross. However, even Ross is probably our nickel back and even if he couldn’t play for a few weeks, B Johnson is a decent nickel back. On offense, all of our starters should practice and play this week. On defense, the same is true save for Ross who could easily be considered a backup.
The problem last year is we had prolonged injuries to core starters. The possible long term injuries to Barden, Sorgi, M Johnson, Boothe and Ware even if there all out should have little impact on our ability to play at a high level. What’s more important is that Snee, Seibert, Boss, Alford, Bullock and Phillips continue the progress in their recoveries. If they all can play at or near 100%, we will be a good football team.
There’s nothing wrong with Jacobs that a little deception wouldn’t cure. He can’t run against a stacked defense… especially out of the I-formation.
Unfortunately we’ve done nothing to fix this for 2 years.
Just to add to what Demo and GOAT said, remember, the injuries, right now, are not in the “core” of the team (O-line, D-line and franchise quarterback). The linebackers are getting healthy. Phillips is looking like he has recovered (a HUGE development that the “experts” will ignore but we should recognize is a vast change in the defense). Our top two running backs look healthier than they have since 2007. Our three best WRs are feeling good. Kevin Boss is in far better shape than he was last season.
So, so far, so good. The two injuries that are going to be tough to overcome on special teams are those to Hixon and Jones. They both would have been big contributors there, so their absence will hurt. And Hixon would have been a terrific #4 receiver and Jones would, IMO, have turned out to be the #4 safety. Those were tough injuries.
The one to really be concerned about at this point is Ross. If he can manage the plantar fasciitis and play with it, fine. If it keeps him out of games, or at only 85-90% effectiveness, that is a big problem. Don’t kid yourself, even if he was going to be the #3 cornerback that’s a critical position in Fewell’s defense. And he certainly seemed to be the best option in regard to punt returns. he may be fine, but that remains to be seen. That’s the injury to watch, at least for now.
I also have to say, for all my bad feelings about Coughlin, I think he has managed the players extremely well this preseason in order to have as many healthy as the season starts as possible. He deserves a LOT of credit for that.
# ZBerm New schedule for the Giants, with practice in the a.m. Expect practice reports beginning around 11:30
Sidney Rice has had surgery on his hip today … expected to miss half the season.
Well, apparently there’s an …
UPDATE UP TOP!
(Thanks for telling me, fellas!)
Here are the biggest problems, there is no game breaker on the kick return teams and the punter stinks.
Aaron Ross is one fart away from the end of his carreer. So they also need another CB and punt returner. Maybe Cruz can turn into a good return man, but he isn’t a CB.