Giants Notes

[jaypaw]

Notes

Two Giants players, defensive end Sean Guthrie and guard Chris Snee – ironically, both products of Boston College – suffered from dehydration.

Guthrie was stricken late Monday and spent the night at a local hospital. Snee began vomiting soon after practice began this morning and was taken to the locker room, where he was given four bags of fluids intravenously. He said he hopes to practice this evening.

“I lost eight pounds yesterday,” said Snee, who was promoted to first team right guard on Monday. “I drank a lot last night and when I came in today, I was still three pounds down from yesterday. I didn’t think anything of it. Then the first couple periods of practice I started to cramp up a little bit. I started vomiting. I’m tired, but I should be ready to go this afternoon.”

Coughlin used Guthrie and Snee as an example for the rest of the players regarding the importance of staying properly hydrated.

“Sean evidently came in after practice not thinking he had done a lot and kind of did some work on the treadmill and things of that nature and started to cramp over in the dining hall,” Coughlin said. “He tried to take in some liquids and take care of it and it didn’t happen. By the time he got into the meetings he started to lock up. He had to be taken to the hospital last night. My reports this morning are that Sean had a decent night based on what he went through prior to that and he’s making good progress today.”

Coughlin, team vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes, and director of player development Ronnie Barnes visited Guthrie this afternoon at Albany Medical Center.


For the first time this summer, Eli Manning wore a brace on his left knee. There’s no problem with the knee. But he wears the brace during games and he wanted to test it before Friday’s preseason opener against Kansas City.

“He said he had worn that in college,” Coughlin said. “He said he had ordered the thing and it wasn’t here yet. I asked if there was some kind of incident? He said, ‘No, I just wore it in college and I’ll wear it here.’ It was a surprise to me, I’ll say.”


The following players did not practice this morning: Will Allen (foot), Jeremy Shockey (foot), Barrett Green (headaches), Carlos Emmons (leg), Tim Carter (hamstring), James McKnight (toe), Jason Doering (knee), Jamaar Taylor (leg), Mike Saffer (ribs), Mark Inkrott (thigh), William Joseph (pectoral muscle), Rich Seubert (leg), Lorenzo Bromell (knee) and Guthrie.

“It’s very troubling to me,” said Coughlin of the absent players. “Look at the receivers. Now you’re down just because they can’t work and we have to control drills. We wanted to do that extra blitz, kind of three-quarter speed teaching drill this morning, but we’re also trying to be aware of the fact that we have six guys that are running and competing at the receiver position and that does hold you back.”

Coughlin makes no secret of the fact that he wants the injured players back on the field, but the decision is largely out of his hands.

“It’s going to be all medical,” Coughlin said. “I can give them as much support to try to get them back on the field as much as I can, but the final issue is going to come from the medical room.”


While Emmons and Green watch practice, the younger linebackers have a chance to participate and show what they can do.

“It’s difficult when you have Barrett Green and Carlos Emmons standing on the sidelines, but it’s given the other kids a lot of reps,” Coughlin said. “The other kids have taken full advantage of it. With the special teams, or however you look at it, those guys have tried to take advantage of their opportunity. They try to stay out there. I’ve seen Quincy Monk and Kevin Lewis make great progress. (T.J.) Hollowell has taken full advantage of the opportunity he’s been given. (Reggie) Torbor, of course, has done that. (Wes) Mallard has made some impressionable things happen out there on the field. (Jim) Maxwell has done a couple of things that have gotten our attention. The guys keep going and the teaching keeps moving forward and they’re trying to take the best of it. I hope because of it we’re going to get some quality reps and some opportunities to in-depth evaluate some people that may have had a few snaps. Now they’re going to get a lot more.”

 

[jaypaw]

Coughlin Shakes Up O-Line
Diehl moves to tackle while rookie Snee gets shot at guard.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

Related links - Message boards | Latest news | Training Camp Central

August 9, 2004
ALBANY, N.Y. – The Giants have shuffled the right side of their offensive line, and the realignment has given them a rookie guard for the second year in a row.

David Diehl, who started all 16 games at guard as a rookie in 2000, has stepped over to tackle. Chris Snee, this year’s second-round draft choice from Boston College, is the new first-team guard. The odd man out is Ian Allen, who played in all 16 games last season, with 11 starts. He is now in a reserve role.

Diehl and Snee will be starters at their new positions when the Giants open their preseason schedule at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Tom Coughlin was asked if the shift is permanent.



Rookie Chris Snee will get a shot at the starting right guard spot, vacated by second-year player David Diehl who has been moved to right tackle.
“Provided they play well,” Coughlin said. “They’re going to have to. We’re looking for some more consistency there, the elimination of error. I think we definitely can improve from the other day (when the Giants practiced with the Jets). We weren’t very physical up front the other day and we need to move on. We need some versatility and we need to develop 6, 7, 8 guys that can all play multiple spots, so that hopefully will be an answer for us.”

The rest of the line remained unchanged – Luke Petitgout at left tackle, Barry Stokes at left guard and Shaun O’Hara at center.

“We have some guys playing multiple positions,” Coughlin said. “We started Scott Peters at center a little bit today. We’re trying to get as many guys in those kinds of roles as we can. The number one thing is to come off the ball and be more physical in the run game. Pass protection wasn’t very good the other day. We’ve got to anchor down and be solid in that as well. So we’ve got a ways to go.”

Diehl last year became the first Giants rookie to start all 16 games since Mark Bavaro in 1985. While he was a beacon of stability at guard, Diehl played next to three right tackles: Allen, Chris Bober and Jeff Hatch. Bober (who now plays for Kansas City) and Hatch are no longer with the team, and Allen got the first shot to win the job this year. But after a week-plus of practice, Coughlin has turned to Diehl, who played both tackle and guard at the University of Illinois.

On Sunday, Coughlin informed all of the involved players of the moves, which had been rumored since Snee was drafted.

“I have moved to right tackle now – it’s official,” Diehl said. “Now that I know the I’m going to continue to work on my technique and get the reps I need to get prepared for Friday. I was going back-and-forth between guard and tackle. Now I can have a solid focus on what I need to do and what I need to improve on. I can work with Chris more now and get down the communication things we need to get down and get ready for a good season.

“I knew this was a possibility. Now that it’s here, I have to take advantage of it.”

Diehl will have the benefit of working every day in practice against Michael Strahan, which he said, will “help me greatly. The best thing about it is having a guy like Michael across from me. There’s only a chance to get better from him.”

Coughlin was asked about his confidence in Diehl.

“Obviously, I’m confident enough to think he can go out there and play,” Coughlin said. “We’ve had him from time-to-time out there, and I told him that I wanted to leave him out there this week so we could get a better feel about where we are. He’s a guy who’s very conscientious, he works his tail off. Sometimes he gets a little high, but he’s a tall man so you try to keep him down a little bit. But I think he can do it, otherwise he wouldn’t be out there.”

Snee was a first-team All-Big East selection last season at Boston College. From the day he was drafted, the 6-3, 314-pound Snee has been considered a player with the potential to step into the starting lineup as a rookie.

“(Coughlin) said he’s trying to look at the right combination of guys,” Snee said. “I’m glad I’m getting an opportunity. Now I have to prove that I’m worthy of being a starter.”

Snee said he was pleased with his progress in camp – until the Jets came to town.

“I thought I was making steps forward, but I really wasn’t happy with Saturday’s performance,” Snee said. “Everyone said the speed would pick up a notch and it really did. But it was good that I got to see speed like that before playing Kansas City. I don’t know if it was nerves or what, but I didn’t play like I normally play. I’m looking to fix that on Friday.”

Coughlin said Snee has earned the chance to work with the starters.

“He’s a powerful, wide-bodied run-blocker that’s shown that he has the ability to play against some of those bigger people inside,” Coughlin said. “We felt we needed that mass against mass inside.”

Diehl and Snee have already demonstrated that they work well together.

“From day one in mini-camp, he’s probably been the most helpful (teammate) with my technique and everything,” Snee said. “Whenever I need help, he’s there.”

Diehl said, “The biggest challenge he’s going to have is going in there and doing it game-in and game-out. In college, there are times when you go against somebody that you can just dominate. This is the NFL. You’re playing the best of the best. Each play can make a difference. You can’t go in timid. Just because you’re a rookie doesn’t mean you don’t belong out there.”

Allen took the news of the shift with grace. He will continue to work with the second team, where he has been the left tackle.

“(Coughlin) wants to mix and match and see how other guys can mesh together,” Allen said. “If he feels that’s the better fit, what can I say, as long we win with that fit? I was a little surprised. All I can do is the best I can. I’ve done nothing to demonstrate I should have gotten moved, but if that’s how he feels, you have to live with it.

“I’ll continue to play as hard as I can and do the best I can. I clearly belong in the NFL, I clearly belong as a starter. But he wants to try some different things right now.”

 

[jaypaw]

Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Friday, August 13, 2004 at Giants Stadium



THIS WEEK: The New York Giants (4-12 in 2003) will host the Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) in the preseason home opener at Giants stadium (80,242). Kickoff is 8 p.m. on Friday. The Giants finished 1-3 last preseason, while the Chiefs were 3-2.
TELEVISION: The game will be televised live locally on WWOR-TV (Ch. 9 in New York). Sam Rosen will provide play-by-play detail and he will be joined by former Giants stars Phil McConkey in the booth and Harry Carson on the sidelines.
RADIO: WFAN (660 AM) will carry the game live. Chris Carlin will handle the play-by-play duty, fill in for Bob Papa who is in Athens covering the Olympics. Former Giants defensive back Dick Lynch, number 22, provides the color commentary. Lynch enters his record-setting 37th season in the Giants broadcast booth along with former Giants punter Dave Jennings, who begins his third season on the mic after spending the previous 14 years handling radio commentary for New York’s other NFL entry. Fans throughout the northeast can catch the call of the game on the following stations: New York – WHEN-AM (620) Syracuse, WPYX-FM (106.5) Albany, WOFX-AM (980) Albany, WIZR-AM (930) Johnstown, WKNY-AM (1490) Kingston, WHBE-FM (96.7) East Hampton, WHAM-AM (1180) Rochester, WIRY-AM (1340) Plattsburgh, WENE-AM (1430) Binghamton, WINR-AM (680) Binghamton; Connecticut -- WLAD-AM (800) Danbury; Pennsylvania -- WEEX-AM (1230) Easton, WYNS-AM (1160) Easton, WVPO-AM (920) Stroudsburg; Vermont – WKOL-FM (105.1) Burlington; New Hampshire – WTSN-AM (1270) Dover.

This marks the third time in which the New York Giants have met the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason. The preseason series is split 1-1. The last preseason meeting took place in Kansas City on August 20, 1989 when the Giants defeated the Chiefs, 45-7. The only other preseason meeting between the two teams took place on July 29, 1972 in Canton, Ohio for the Hall of Fame Game. The Giants fell to the Chiefs, 23-17.

One of the more memorable games between these two teams took place on September 23, 2001 when the Giants traveled to Arrowhead to resume play following the bye week due to the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The Giants defeated the Chiefs, 13-3, in front of a crowd of 77,666 on a day in which Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes gave NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue a proclamation declaring Sunday “New York City Day” in the heartland city.

New York currently holds a 5-0 home record against the Chiefs and has not lost to Kansas City since Sept. 10, 1995.



THE LAST TIME (Regular Season)

August 20, 1989 @ Kansas City
GIANTS 45,CHIEFS 7

It was a blowout as the Giants cruised to a 35-7 halftime lead, won going away and racked up 423 yards of total offense. After a Lee Rouson 1-yard TD dive opened the the scoring, the Chiefs tied it at 7-7, only to have Phil Simms hit Odessa Turner on a 73-yard TD bomb for a 14-7 edge. Rouson scored on another 1-yard plunge for a 21-7 lead, and Jeff Rutledge pitched a pair of TD passes, 29 yards to Turner and 20 to Zeke Mowatt for the 28-point halftime lead. Rutledge then targeted Mark Ingram for a 43-yard TD connection and Raul Allegre kicked a 54-yard FG to close out the scoring. Rouson had 50 yards rushing to set the pace there while Rutledge was a perfect 8-for-8 for 156 yards and three TDs passing. Turner had just two catches, but they went for 102 yards and two TDs. First-year Giants Greg Cox, Steve DeOssie, Myron Guyton and Greg Jackson all had interceptions, while rookie Dave Meggett had 70 yards on four punt returns and 62 yards on two kickoff kickoff returns. Mark Collins, John Washington and Ricky Shaw all had QB sacks.


September 23, 2001 @ Kansas City
GIANTS 13, CHIEFS 3

The first proof that this would be no ordinary day was delivered as the Giants rolled through the parking lot outside Arrowhead Stadium Sunday morning. Usually the sight of their team busses approaching an enemy stadium prompts fans to boo, scream obscenities and display other antisocial behavior.
But a funny thing happened on the final lap before the Giants entered the stadium. The fans began cheering. And clapping. And flashing the visitors from the big city a hearty thumbs up.
Across America, people were still coming to grips with and trying to recover from the heinous terrorist acts of September 11. The NFL did its part to aid the healing process by getting back to the business of playing football. The Giants, witnesses to the terrible destruction, were welcomed to the nation's heartland like members of the family. Signs saying "KC Loves NY" (with a heart replacing the word love) were hung throughout the stadium. The Giants were applauded as they headed to their locker room following pre-game warm-ups. They received a standing ovation from the crowd of 77,666 as they ran onto the field prior to the game, an entrance that was followed by a moving ceremony that was largely Kansas City's tribute to New York.
Of course, goodwill can extend only so far. The Giants defeated the Chiefs, 13-3, for their first victory of the season. Ron Dayne scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run and Morten Andersen kicked two field goals for the Giants, who held the Chiefs without a touchdown despite three Kerry Collins interceptions.

HEAD COACH NOTES

* Tom Coughlin is 1-1 against Dick Vermeil.
* The Giants are 8-2 against the Chiefs, and have not lost to them since 1995.
* Dick Vermeil has defeated the New York Giants more times (13) than any other NFL team.
* Tom Coughlin is 3-1 in his career against the Chiefs.
* Giants CB Will Allen and Chiefs DT Eric Downing played in college together at Syracuse University.
* Former Giants OL Chris Bober (2000-03) signed with the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2004.
* Kansas City’s strength and conditioning coach, Jeff Hurd was an assistant strength and conditioning coach under Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville from 1995-1998.
* Chiefs kicker Morten Andersen was a member of the New York Giants in 2001 and hit 21 of 23 field goal attempts.

POSITION ANALYSIS

Quarterback: Kurt Warner (7 years NFL experience), Eli Manning (R), Jesse Palmer (4), Ryan Van Dyke (1)
Warner and Manning are waging the team’s first high-stakes training camp shootout for the starting quarterback job since 1991, when the contestants were Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler. Warner, who was signed on June 2, was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1999 and 2001, the years in which he led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in January of 2000. Warner’s 97.2 passer rating is the best in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts. Manning was the first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and was acquired by the Giants in a draft-day trade with the San Diego Chargers. Manning set 47 school records at the University of Mississippi. As a collegian, he completed 829 of 1,363 passes for 10,119 yards and 81 touchdowns. Palmer started the final three games of the 2003 season. Van Dyke led NFL Europe this spring in passes (280), completions (174), completion percentage (61.2), passing yards (2,003) and touchdown passes (16).

Running Back: Tiki Barber (8), Ron Dayne (5), Delvin Joyce (3), Derrick Knight (R), Chris Douglas (R).
Barber is one of the finest running backs in team history and in the NFL. He is the franchise’s total yardage leader with 10,746, and is first in team history with 422 receptions and second with 5,409 rushing yards. Dayne was on the inactive list for all 16 games last season, but rushed for 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first three seasons and could be a major contributor this year. Joyce contributed each of the last two seasons. Knight is the career rushing leader at Boston College, while Douglas holds the same distinction at Duke. They were signed on August 2.

Fullback: Jim Finn (5), Charles Stackhouse (3).
Finn is a solid blocker and receiver. Stackhouse is in his third training camp with the team after being signed on August 5, 2004.

Wide Receiver: Amani Toomer (9), Ike Hilliard (8), Tim Carter (3), James McKnight (11), JaJuan Dawson (5), Willie Ponder (2), David Tyree (2), Ataveus Cash (1), Jamaar Taylor (R), Chris Davis (R).
Toomer has established himself as the best wide receiver in Giants history. He is the franchise leader in receiving yards with 6,366 and is second with 418 catches, just four behind Barber. He has 19 career 100-yard games and at least one catch in a team-record 83 consecutive games. Hilliard is seventh in Giants history with 319 receptions and 10th with 4,193 yards. Carter has great speed and athleticism, but was plagued by injuries his first two seasons. McKnight, who was signed on May 20, has 222 career receptions for 3,595 yards and 18 touchdowns. Dawson had 52 receptions with Cleveland and Houston from 2000-2002. Tyree and Ponder were 2003 Giants draft choices who have exciting potential. Cash was with the Giants late last season. Taylor, a sixth-round draft choice this season, has rebounded well from ACL surgery last year. Davis had 56 catches for Southern University in 2003.

Tight End: Jeremy Shockey (3), Marcellus Rivers (4), Visanthe Shianco (2), Joe Dean Davenport (4), Mark Inkrott (1)
Shockey was a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons, when he totaled 122 receptions for 1,429 yards. He has missed the early part of camp while recovering from foot surgery. Rivers has 22 catches and three touchdowns in three seasons with the Giants. Shiancoe had 10 catches as a rookie last season. Davenport was signed just prior to training camp and is competing for a job. Inkrott caught 15 passes for Cologne of NFL Europe this spring.

Offensive Line: Luke Petitgout (6), Barry Stokes (7), Shaun O’Hara (5), David Diehl (2), Ian Allen (3), Wayne Lucier (2), Ed Ellis (7), Omar Smith (3), Scott Peters (2), Travis Scott (2), Michael Saffer (1), Dion Meredith (1), Chris Snee (R), Drew Strojny (R), Greg Walker (R), Rich Seubert (4)
Petitgout begins his third season at left tackle after playing one season at left guard and two at right tackle. Stokes and O’Hara were free agent acquisitions from the Cleveland Browns. Diehl, the right guard, started every game last year, the first Giants rookie to do so since Mark Bavaro in 1985. Allen is trying to secure the right tackle job. Snee was the 34th player taken in the draft and could get an early opportunity to play. Lucier started 11 games for the Giants as a rookie last year. Ellis has played in 54 career games with seven starts. Strojny was a seventh-round draft choice this year. Seubert is on PUP/Active as he attempts to return to the field after fracturing three bones in his leg last Oct. 19.

Defensive Line: Michael Strahan (12), Keith Washington (10), Norman Hand (10), Fred Robbins (5), Martin Chase (7), Lance Legree (4), Delbert Cowsette (4), Mario Monds (3), William Joseph (2), Osi Umenyiora (2), Sean Guthrie (2), Radell Lockhart (1), Isaac Hilton (R), Khaleed Vaughn (R), Lorenzo Bromell (7).
The lone holdover among the front seven is Strahan, who is first among active NFL players – and 12th all-time - with 114.0 career sacks. Strahan has made the Pro Bowl six of the last seven seasons. At right end, veteran Washington and Umenyiora give the Giants a nice blend of experience and youth. Hilton, a seventh-round draft choice, is also in the mix. Bromell, a free agent acquisition, is on PUP/Active recovering from knee surgery. At tackle, free-agent acquisitions Robbins and Hand have been working with the first team, backed by Chase (another newcomer) and Legree (a fourth-year Giant). Joseph, last year’s top draft choice, has been limited as he recovers from a torn pectoral muscle.

Linebacker: Carlos Emmons (9), Barrett Green (5), Nick Greisen (3), Kevin Lewis (5), Wes Mallard (3), Quincy Monk (3), Reggie Torbor (R), James Maxwell (R), Robert Peace (R), T.J. Hollowell (R).
The starting trio of linebackers is all new. Third-year Giant Greisen steps into the middle. Emmons, recognized as one the league’s finest strongside linebackers, has bolstered that position. Green, another offseason addition, brings speed and toughness to the weak side. Lewis, Mallard and Monk are versatile reserves. Torbor, a fourth-round draft choice this year, has shown promise.

Secondary: Will Allen (4), William Peterson (4), Shaun Williams (7), Omar Stoutmire (9), Brent Alexander (11), Terry Cousin (8), Ray Green (5), Jason Doering (4), Jack Brewer (3), Frank Walker (2), Gibril Wilson (R), Jamaine Winborne (R), Dewitt Ellerbe (R), Curtis Deloatch (R).
After an injury-plagued season, the secondary has returned to full strength. Allen and Peterson form one of the NFL’s best young cornerback tandems. Williams is a tough, hard-hitting safety who has stepped up his game in the new defensive scheme. Stoutmire, the incumbent free safety, is being challenged by Alexander, who played in defensive coordinator Tim Lewis’ system the previous four seasons in Pittsburgh. Cousin, who played in last season’s Super Bowl for Carolina, could be the nickelback. Doering is sidelined with a sprained knee. Wilson, a fifth-round draft choice, has added some much-needed speed to the secondary.

Special Teams: Jeff Feagles (17), Bill Gramatica (4), Todd France (1), Ryan Kuehl (8), Carson Dach (2).
Feagles, who has played in 256 consecutive games and has put an NFL-record 407 punts inside the 20, is back to do the punting. Gramatica, who signed with the Giants on May 14 after three seasons with Arizona, appears to have a leg up in the competition for the kicking job. But France has gotten the coach’s attention because of his strong leg. Kuehl, who missed all of last season, is competing with Dach for the long-snapper job. It’s uncertain who will return punts and kickoffs, but Joyce, Barber, Toomer and Carter are in the mix, as Coughlin will use starters on special teams if they fill a need.