Loading ...The New York Giants are 6-2 once again, but head coach Tom Coughlin wasn't interested in that as he took the podium for his weekly press conference. Instead, he was first focused on the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, wishing all well. Then, as you might expect, it was down to business.
The pre-practice injury report included a variety of new faces: David Baas (ankle), Antrel Rolle (concussion), Victor Cruz (calf), Rocky Bernard (quad), Chase Blackburn (hamstring), Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), Bear Pascoe (ankle), Kenny Phillips (knee), Keith Rivers (calf) and Jacquian Williams (knee).
Of the players listed, Bradshaw, Pascoe, and Rolle will not practice. The good news is that Phillips, Bernard, Cruz and Baas will.
And in the event that Phillips is able to return this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, what does that mean for safety Stevie Brown, who won NFC Player of the Week honors?
"Stevie Brown has had an outstanding run here. We'll find ways to involve all [safeties]," Coughlin said.
Meanwhile, Coughlin hopes that will be a concern come this weekend, because as of now, Rolle has yet to pass his concussion exams and is not cleared to play. However, the coach doesn't foresee that being a long-lasting issue.
Finally, Coughlin praised the Steelers as an all-around tough, physical and versatile team. And in terms of NFL tradition, it really doesn't get any better than this weekend.
"It doesn't get anymore traditional than the Steelers and Giants," Coughlin said.
And although he wouldn't go into any great detail, one thing will obviously be of significant focus for the defensive front seven this week: put pressure on Ben Roethlisberger.
Photo Credit: Mike Gannon
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I looked at our last 3 seasons and we started 5-2, 6-2 and 6-2 as most of us know. What I found interesting is that all three years through 10 games we were 6-4. So to me it underscores how big these next two games can be in at least earning a split. 8-2 puts us in great position. But 7-3 still assures us of at least a one game lead in the division as our fellow division rivals begin to play each other.
It’s weird that everyone has played us in the division, including Dallas twice but there have been no matchups within the rest of the division. The good thing is everyone could just beat up on each other. But I think a possiblity is that one team emerges and sweeps their 4 games versus the other division opponets. Both Dallas and Philly after this week have favorable schedules as compared to what they are acapble of if the can start some momentum by winning this week. The next two weeks will either make Dallas a theat of bur them w @Atl and @Phil. Even with the problems in Philly and Dallas it’s hard for me to see Washington sweeping through those teams with their defense as teams start to form a blueprint for their offense.
Off of the top of m head I think 2008 ma be the only ear in the Coughlin era that we were 7-2 or better. Pretty sure we were always 6-3 or 5-4 after 9 games so you are right, a win Sunday will go a long way in preventing the usual 2nd half dip.
I also like the w the schedule is set up with Dallas-Philly- Washington all beating the hell out of each other the 2nd half of the season.
Looks like my Y key is screwed up:-)
Based on what we have seen so far it appear all of our division foes will beat up on each other. But when I look at especially Dallas their schedule is light after the next 2 games (@Atl, @Phi). They play 6 home games and only Washington and Cincinati on the road. Dallas is 7th in total offense (YPG) and 3rd in total defense (YPG) which shows they have some promise if they can just play clean football. Which is probably easier said than done. But Washington and Philly just might be more flawed.
agreed, they will be the most talented, biggest underachieving 8-8 team in the NFL
You know that just might not be true. Looking further in to who Dallas has played I see they have lost @Sea, Chi, @Bal and to us. That’s 3 very good teams and another good team at probably the toughest place to play in the NFL. Those are 4 good losses. Maybe the media expects too much of them because looking big picture wise a lot of teams would lose those games. This tells me this team could be a 10-6 type team with their remaining schedule.
But the bigger point is that we can’t count on being able to cruz to the division title with a 4-4 finish at 10-6. We might be able to but that’s no given.
It’s very good news that KP is practicing because I think it’s unlikely Rolle plays. We have had several players with concussions this year and they all missed one game from what I recall. If Rolle had already pass his test then that would make me more hopeful. Plus with KP possibly returning a Steve Brown there is no need to rush him back after suffering an injury like a concussion. But even if KP can’t play that shouldn’t influence playing Rolle.
I’d actually be surprised if Rolle doesn’t pass his tests by tomorrow. That fall he took didn’t look so bad as to cause more than a low-grade concussion. I hope that’s right because his presence could make a big difference.
I’m pretty pumped about Bernard’s return, and what looks like Phillips’ return. Having KP patrol that deep third will be a big deal with the three speedy Steelers’ receivers trying to get deep on double moves after seeing how well others have pulled that off against Webster (that horror show late on Sunday was not the first time he’s fallen for that this season). And being able to use Rocky against a determined Steelers’ run game while allowing him plenty of rest thanks to Canty and Joseph being available and Kuhn having done well enough to get a few snaps could be BIG.
We have to stop their young bruiser from repeating what the kid from Washington did to us in the first half two weeks ago. This guy is very similar. About 235 pounds, hits the hole hard, and then keeps moving his legs and taking it to the outside if tackling isn’t crisp and sure. And if they can run and make Roethlisberger comfortable in third-and-short for large chunks of the game we will have problems.
repost
F0XLIN says:
October 31, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I think one interesting thing we will learn this week is, how far has Robinson come along in the first half of the season. Either Beckum gets activated or Robinson will be seeing the field in the next couple weeks