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Preason Game: Detroit Preview
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Preason Game: Detroit Preview
from http://trainathought.insidefootball.com/2008/08/giants---detroi.html
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Giants - Detroit Game Preview
This Week: Giants at Detroit, 7:00 p.m., WNBC
Preseason isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about evaluating the players, and certainly the giants have some tough decisions they’ll need to make by the end of the month when the final rosters need to be formed. So don’t get too hung up over the final score.
Look for the starters to play maybe a dozen snaps or so, I that many. It’s all about the young kids who are looking to add depth to the team and for the team to emerge from the preseason opener relative healthy. The outcome doesn’t matter. What’s more important, besides the coaches getting a chance to evaluate players, is that the team emerges from these preseason games as healthy as possible.
What to Look For
Domenik Hixon, who thanks to a strong spring performance catapulted ahead of Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss to earn snaps with the one’s in training camp, has been making the most of his opportunities. Hixon, whose camp got off to a shaky start, has been getting better and better, making the touch catches look easy and the easy catches look effortless.
With David Tyree (knee/PUP) likely to start the season on PUP, Hixon, who also doubles as a kickoff returner and who has been seeing some work as a punt returner, seems to be well on his way to nailing down a roster spot, possibly as the third receiver behind Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.
Meanwhile the original trio I thought would compete for the third receiver spot have struggled either with their performance or with health. Mario Manningham and Steve smith have missed practice time with injuries and Sinorice Moss, while healthy, has been inconsistent and has dropped some easy catches.
Kenny Phillips is making a strong case to earn playing time with the one’s, and last week he finally did crack into the one’s thanks to his aggressive play. Incumbents James Butler and Michael Johnson, who are currently penciled in as the starters, are not about to go quietly into the night, however, though it would seem inevitable that Phillips, who thus far has shown to be an upgrade at the position, will be in there sooner than later.
QB David Carr found himself behind the eight ball when he opened up camp on the PUP list with a foot injury. Since returning to action, Carr has looked skittish in the pocket and often times unsure of himself as he goes through his reads. Head coach Tom Coughlin said that Carr knows the offense, but so far he hasn’t been able to consistently translate that knowledge onto the field. He’ll need a strong performance to move up the depth chart, and with Carr scheduled to see his snaps after Anthony Wright, it will be interesting to see how he does behind a makeshift offens9ive line whom many of the players might not last beyond the first cu down date.
Safeties James Butler and Michael Johnson are penciled in as the starters, but rookie Kenny Phillips has been getting noticed for his aggressive play and his uncanny ability to be in the right position to knock balls away (not to mention knock people down), Phillips is making a very strong case for a starting role. Meanwhile veteran Sammy Knight was added in the off-season as insurance and he too has been having a strong camp. Johnson and Butler certainly have their hands full with these two worthwhile challengers.
The Giants are still trying to find their punt and kickoff returners. Among the candidates for kick returner are Domenik Hixon, Michael Jennings, Craphonso Thorpe and Ahmad Bradshaw. The punt returner candidates include R.W. McQuarters, Bradshaw, Jennings and Hixon. The criteria of course are ball security first, breakaway speed second, so this will be an area worth keeping an eye on.
Seen and Heard
Despite not being able to practice, LB Gerris Wilkinson isn’t as far behind as you might think, at least according to his position coach, Bill Sheridan. “He actually has more experience in the defense than Danny (Clark) because he was here a year ago with Steve (Spagnuolo), when Steve came in. (Gerris) looked good yesterday afternoon, and I think he’ll pick it right up, but you just always have a concern about long range health because he didn’t have surgery and is going to rehab himself through.”
Injury Report
Not expected to play for the Giants are receivers Plaxico Burress (ankle), Steve Smith (groin), David Tyree (knee/pup), and Mario Manningham (quad); corner Sam Madison (sports hernia); and linebacker Gerris Wilkinson (knee).
Receiver Amani Toomer (leg) and linebacker Danny Clark (hernia) are both expected to play. Offensive linemen Shane Olivea (back) and Chris Snee (tendonitis in the shoulder) are going to be game-time decisions.
Across the Field
Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press reported on August 3 entry that Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli is sparing no expenses in preparing for the Lions’ preseason opener against the defending Super Bowl Champions very seriously. Marinelli has been putting his team through all kids of potential scenarios and distractions in order to sharpen their focus and he’s also been working with their running game, which will prove a nice test for the Giants defense which last year was dominating against the running game.
By the Numbers
The Giants are 18-20-1 vs. Detroit and 4-9-1 in preseason. The last time these two teams met was in 2007 when the Giants beat Detroit 16-10 at Ford Field.
Post Game Coverage
The Giants will have Friday off (there will be a media conference call with head coach Tom Coughlin). They’ll return to practice at UAlbany on Saturday with a single workout workouts scheduled for 2:40.
Be sure to check back with the blog for updates. Inside Football subscribers meanwhile can look for our full post game write up and film analysis over the weekend.
Big_Pete- Giants Legend
Re: Preason Game: Detroit Preview
This might be a stupid question, but does anyone know if this will be nationally broadcasted on NBC. I'm in Maryland until Friday and I of course hope to see the game tonight.
NYG Hampton 27- Rookie
Re: Preason Game: Detroit Preview
Sorry Hamp, I think you're out of luck. ESPN has the national game (Saints/Cards). Giants are on NBC and Jets on CBS but pretty sure it's New York market only. I doubt there's more than one nationally televised pre-Season game. If you can pick up the FAN down there (660) or get the stream on line, you can at least listen to it.
Gman329- mascot
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