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.

IS THE GIANTS' DEFENSE REALLY EXEMPT FROM NEW FACES IN STARTING POSITIONS?
By DAVE KLEIN

During this down time, which is pro football's answer to baseball's hot stove league, sufficient time is given to speculate and ponder the immediate future of the team.

So today let's try, at least in part, to determine the relative safety of the starting positions on defense, to speculate on who might lose a job and who might earn the promotion.

The front line, generally (which is how you must define any defense run by Steve Spagnuolo) starts defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, nose tackle Barry Cofield and set tackle Fred Robbins.

Until the defections via the Unrestricted Free Agency route of starting weakside linebacker Kawika Mitchell and backup (then starter) Reggie Torbor on the strongside, that area was reasonably under control. Antonio Pierce was a fixture in the middle, alongside Mitchell and Mathias Kiwanuka (then Torbor when Kiwi and his fibula had a parting of the ways).

Now that's all changed. Kiwi will be back but Mitchell is in Buffalo and Torbor is in Miami (more on that situation in a minute).

The secondary that started the Super Bowl showed rookie Aaron Ross at left corner, surprising Corey Webster at right corner, Gibril Wilson at free safety and James Butler at strong safety.

Wilson went to Oakland for lots of money, opening the job for, in all likelihood, first round draft pick Kenny Phillips.

That was the Super Bowl lineup. Now let's see how it might look on Sept. 4, when the Giants open their season (that's a Thursday night) at home against the Washington Redskins. There is considerable doubt about Strahan at left end, since he hasn't seen fit to inform anyone whether his immediate plans include retirement. From various sources, all of them unreliable, he is leaning toward waving a fond farewell to the game. That would be appropriate; after all, he has given the Giants 15 solid years and will one day be rewarded with a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But he has also earned considerable money and there are those far less kind who insist that this grandstand play is merely an attempt to cash in for one more incredible payday before he moves on to the world of television. He is scheduled to receive in the area of $4 million this season; there are reports that he wants more -- twice as much, in fact -- to play one final season.

Would you give it to him? There are answers from both sides of the aisle. He is a valuable presence on the roster and in the locker room. He played well last season, to the surprise of many. But can he saddle up for one more exceptional season? Will he be happy as a reserve? Will the Giants consider $8 million a bit pricey for a backup defensive end?

Let's not forget that Justin Tuck, the best defensive end in the NFL who doesn't have a starting job, needs and deserves to move up. In a real and valid sense, Strahan's continued presence is retarding Tuck's progress.

Umenyiora is a fixture. He'll start because he is one of the best defensive ends in the league who does start. So if we can settle on Osi and Tuck as the ends, at least two positions are in place.

There were no defensive tackles drafted but a gaggle of rookie free agents were signed. Don't count on them for much. Cofield and Robbins will start with last year's third round rookie pick, Jay Alford, the backup. Another one must be found -- the coaches seem to like a pair of free agent babies, Brian Soi and Nate Robinson.

Pierce will remain in the middle of the three-linebacker set, although he'll face furious opposition from young Chase Blackburn in training camp. It is not inconceivable that Blackburn could win the job later in the season if Pierce comes up with one of his patented ankle sprains; it is also possible that Blackburn could move out to strongside and challenge Kiwanuka (especially if Strahan retires and Kiwanuka is moved up to the line again, which might put Tuck at a tackle spot).

Young Gerris Wilkinson hasn't exactly been handed Mitchell's position but he is being figured as the replacement. He is 6-3 and 230-235 with unusual speed and was challenging Mitchell in training camp before a knee injury put an end to that drama. Additionally, it is hard to forget that final-season game when Wilkinson ran step-for-step with New England wide receiver Randy Moss, which caused the usually taciturn Moss to wonder, after the game, "who was that kid?"

Two draft picks, in rounds four and five (Brian Kehl and Jonathan Goff) are both being flattered by the scouts and coaches. But one splash of cold water -- if they were that desirable why weren't they drafted higher? Just wondering. Strongside Zak DeOssie was a fourth round choice last year and earned his merit points on special teams and as a long snapper. He, too, could fight for playing time, and with a year's experience he will be ahead of the two rookies.

Now for the secondary. Ross is a fixture and barring injury will be for years. Webster was working with the first unit this spring, but whether he stays there depends on a few issues -- can he maintain the late-season level he reached that made him an impact player, and will he have to move back to strong safety?

If he slumps or is moved back, second round draft pick Terrell Thomas will get first crack at the job. Others, such as veterans Kevin Dockery, R.W. McQuarters and last year's free agent Geoffrey Pope will get their chance to win a job.

The free safety position is intriguing. Phillips is the heir apparent to Wilson, but would the Giants actually start two rookies (with Thomas) in the secondary? There is also competition coming from veteran Sammy Knight, signed as a free agent, although it is more likely that Knight will replace Butler at the strong safety position with Phillips will getting the free safety job. In that event, the presence of a veteran such as Knight and another such as Webster (if he starts at right corner) might be a partial solution to the influx of rookie starters.

The way general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin have handled the team, all starting positions must be earned, and the manner in which Spagnuolo orchestrates his dipsy-do defense carries with it complications as to which players start at which positions and how many places will they be moved during the course of a game.

But hey, it resulted in a Super Bowl, and that's hard to criticize.

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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