LB Keith Bulluck was working as one of the outside LBs with the first-team base defense. He was in there in place of LB Clint Sintim, who was still with the starters in the "big base" defense. This seemed like a possibility when Coughlin said before the start of camp Bulluck would begin as a middle linebacker but could move elsewhere. "He's played there all his career," Coughlin said Monday of Bulluck's playing the outside. "Just to make sure he's familiar so he can be more versatile." Asked if he still considers Bulluck a middle linebacker, Coughlin replied, "I consider him a linebacker."

As for Sintim, Coughlin said he "attacked the line of scrimmage better the other night (against the Steelers). I just think the competitive aspect of it is the way we've gone all camp. If that creates a little bit of competition over there, so be it."

* LB Clint Sintim, who began training camp as the starting strong
side linebacker, was taking his snaps with the Big Base and some other
sub packages while Keith Bulluck worked at SAM in the Giant’s base
defense.

Coughlin was naturally evasive when asked about the change. “Just to
make sure he’s familiar – he’s played there all his career so to make
sure he’s familiar so he can be more versatile.”

Coughlin, who when asked if he still considers Bulluck a middle
linebacker responded, “I consider him a linebacker,” wouldn’t obviously
come right out and say it, but for anyone who saw the last two games,
Sintim’s performance has become a concern. So it appears that the
Giants are trying out different looks at linebacker in an effort to
light a fire under Sintim, who came into camp with no real competition
to speak of.

*One last thing on Bulluck to SAM. When asked if the decision to move
Bulluck to the outside had anything to do with Sintim, Coughlin was
again evasive. “Actually Clint attacked the line of scrimmage a little
better the other night. I just think the competitive aspect f it – the
way we’ve gone all through camp , if it creates a little competition
over there, then so be it.”

Read that however you want to. The way I see it, if a guy was progressing, there would be no need to light a fire under him.

* By the way, Jonathan Goff has been holding down the middle
linebacker spot in the base defense. I didn’t see Gerris Wilkinson, who
has played well on the outside, take any snaps at that position today.

* DE Mathias Kiwanuka was observed to be doing more of his individual
work with the linebackers than with the defensive linemen. “Was he?”
asked Coughlin in a playful manner. “I must have missed that.” Coughlin
then turned serious and said, “He’s been working on his drops.”

Actually Kiwanuka lined up a few times on the outside, with one
package having Chris Canty at defensive end and Kiwanuka at linebacker.
With the Giants looking to get as many of their pass rushers on the
field, this seems to be one way for Perry Fewell to get both Kiwanuka
and Umenyiora on the field together.