E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

By DAVE KLEIN
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR GILBRIDE OFFERS UNIQUE INSIGHT TO GIANTS

The trouble with not being allowed to talk to the assistant coaches except on those two or three days a year when the veils are lifted is that so much goes by that needs explaining and there is no one to do that.

The concept is for head coach Tom Coughlin to have the "only voice" from the team to the media. In theory, it might work. In practice, it is useless. In order to properly cover a team a reporter needs daily access to the assistants -- who often know more about their areas of responsibility on a day-to-day basis than the head coach -- and that is lacking.

In any case, last Wednesday was one of those miracle days, the first of this year and perhaps there will be two more such events. Pity, because they are helpful not just to the media but, in direct progression, to the fans.

So there was Kevin Gilbride, the quarterbacks coach from 2004 elevated to offensive coordinator -- a position he has successfully filled with other teams -- when Coughlin saw fit to dismiss the man he had originally put in charge of the offense, John Hufnagel.

Oh, there is this about Hufnagel. In private he might have been a funny, friendly, chatty guy. But when he had to go through those two or three "Meet the Coaches" sessions he did not come across that way at all. Last spring, someone asked him why tight end Jeremy Shockey didn't run as many deep seam routes in 2005 as he had in 2004. "Because somebody has to stay back to block," he snapped.

But coach, why didn't he have to stay back to block last year? "You guys have anything else to ask?" he said.

So Gilbride, who is far too affable to last, was entertaining the assembled media, talking about the offense in general and any player in particular who came up in a question.

"We have to find yardage from other positions, too," he said, when asked how he planned to replace the 2,127 total yards supplied (rushing and receiving) from the retired running back Tiki Barber. "Our physical running backs will be an asset," he continued. "They are really big backs, and it's going to be something different for us."

The backs in question are Brandon Jacobs, the suspected starter at 6-4 and 265, and his backup, Reuben Droughns, somewhat smaller at 5-11 and 225. Both are inside power rushers, although the remarkably talented Jacobs almost seems to prefer bouncing to the outside once he gets the ball and skirting the ends. He does that with unusual speed, too -- he ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash.

The drafting of wide receiver Steve Smith in the second round was warmly acknowledged by Gilbride. "We are confident that Amani [veteran wideout Toomer] is going to come back strong and healthy [from knee surgery], but it's nice to have depth."

Smith, 5-11 and 195, has been likened to Pittsburgh's Hines Ward by some scouts. The Giants should be so lucky. He has also been called "the best receiver on the USC team," which takes into account the more well-known star, Dwayne Jarrett.

If last year's second-round pick, Sinorice Moss, doesn't recover from his quad sprain, he could lose his depth chart position to Smith.

"Amani's loss became apparent as soon as it happened," Gilbride said. "He was experienced and has good size and was a good possession receiver. We struggled without him [especially with Moss perpetually unavailable] and we were not as good an offense without him."

The progress Gilbride made with his star pupil. Eli Manning, has been recorded. Now he's in the hands of veteran quarterback coach Chris Palmer, with whom Gilbride has had experience. "We coached together," he said, "and when you think of the work Chris has done, you know he's the right guy. I thought about doing cut-ups [film splicing] of Eli's full season, to show the things he did right and wrong. But then I decided to let Chris deal with it. Eli is going to be his project and he has to earn Eli's respect. That only comes with daily hands-on coaching."

Gilbride has a few thoughts about that Manning-engineered offense. "I want to throw the ball downfield more," he said, "particularly to Shockey. We can do that. We just have to put it in."

But it was suggested that if the new left tackle, whether it's guard David Diehl or second year Guy Whimper or somebody new, isn't satisfactory, it might be difficult to send the tight end downfield when he will be needed to block.

"We'll see," he said. "I don't think many guys in this league can move from guard to left tackle. I don't think many can do it. Can Diehl? I don't know. And I don't want to pigeon-hole him, either. We'll see."

EXTRA POINTS -- The previous notice that strong safety Gibril Wilson was signed to a one-year extension stated that no terms were disclosed. ... That was inaccurate. ... He signed his tender offer at $1.3 million for the 2007 season. ... Similarly, outside linebacker Reggie Torbor, who also was a Restricted Free Agent, signed his tender offer Thursday and will earn $850,000 for this season. ... It is also for a one-year term.

It seems that every year defensive line coach Mike Waufle is asked about tackle William Joseph and each spring he defends the so-far disappointing first round draft pick of 2003. ... This week was no different. ... "William played defensive end on occasion," he said, "and I was impressed that he was able to play both. He handled both positions mentally, which is a difficult chore because the responsibilities are different and a decision has to be made in a split second."

He indicated that this year Joseph could become a multi-dimensional defensive lineman -- "he could play end for first and second downs and then go inside for third downs," he said. ... Waufle was reminded that in 1983 the Giants drafted Leonard Marshall as a defensive tackle and that he was moved to end in his second season and subsequently made the Pro Bowl team in 1985 and 1986. ... Waufle smiled. ... "Yeah, they are about the same size," he said.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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