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.

YOUNG GIANTS PREPARE FOR FIRST EXHIBITION GAME
- WHEN THEY GET TO HIT STRANGERS, NOT TEAMMATES
By DAVE KLEIN

ALBANY, N.Y. -- It was the final practice before the first preseason game, an evening affair on the field on the campus of UAlbany, and the Giants performed a variety of drills for the benefit of a loud and large viewing audience.

The point this time was to get ready for a game, against the Detroit Lions Thursday night (7 p.m., NBC) not quite a real game but the closest thing to one for many of the younger players, all with the same desire in common - to earn a spot on the final roster.

"It is one thing to practice all summer against teammates," said one veteran who no longer plays the game. "After a while, you know, it all gets familiar. You know what the other guy is going to do, how he is going to react, what you can get away with and what you can't. Now it's going to be different. Now you're hitting strangers, in most cases strangers older and more experienced than you are. And the speed of the game, even these exhibitions, is going to be a lot faster than anything they saw in college."

And Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin plans to use as many of those young guys as he can. "Where we have some depth," he said, "I'm going to try to get all of them some time. It's to our benefit. Where we aren't so deep, we might not have much of a choice, but I'm still going to try to see that everybody gets some action."

The regulars won't play much but they will start. Quarterback Eli Manning will get the first quarter, or part of it, at any rate, but Coughlin is committed to playing as many of the rookies - draftees and free agents - as possible. "You want to see these kids in a real game," he said. "You want to see how they translate their practice sessions into game conditions. There are some who have been impressive in practice lately, like [offensive tackle] Na'Shan Goddard, like safety Nehemiah Warrick ... I want to get a good long look at those two running backs, [Danny] Ware and [Kay-Jay] Harris. Obviously, all the young receivers are going to get a ton of plays."

That last is not necessarily because they have all impressed but because there are veterans injured and not available, and that includes Plaxico Burress, rookie Mario Manningham, Steve Smith and David Tyree (still on the PUP list). But the kids have shown flashes of talent, a list that includes Domenic Hixon, Brandon London, J.D. Hall, Michael Jennings, Craphonso Thorpe (pronounced cra-FONZO) and Sinorice Moss. It is interesting that Moss, a second round draft pick in 2006, is on the cusp of becoming a former Giant. There is just too much talent at the position and his speed and moves have not translated into productivity despite numerous chances.

NIGHT PRACTICE NOTES - The quarterbacks were barking out strange play names during the passing drills, such as "Ringo, West Taco, South Taco, Turtle Burst, Omaha, Diamond and West Elvis." ... They've got to mean something to someone - perhaps we should ask the New England Patriots if we can see their tape of the session to see what names morphed into what plays. ... Thorpe made a great catch on the sideline and drew a loud cheer from the crowd. ... Tight end Kevin Boss made two or three short-medium catches, showing an effortless stride that was missing last year when he was a nervous rookie.

Those riding the bikes at the start of practice, and hence not participating, included cornerback Sam Madison, Manningham, wide receiver Amani Toomer, Burress, Smith and London, as well as Tyree, of course. ... But Coughlin indicated that Toomer will see action Thursday night. ... Starting right guard Chris Snee ("thankfully," said Coughlin) was found to have only a touch of tendinitis in his shoulder and he expects to play Thursday night. ... Perhaps not so for new tackle Shane Olivea, but his back injury appears to have healed and he might miss just a few more days.

Goddard, the 6-5, 315-pounder signed last year as an undrafted free agent, spent last season on the practice squad and now appears to have caught Coughlin's eye. "He has a chance to be a good player," said the coach. "He has had a couple of days here of late which have been very good in terms of putting together his assignments and his responsibilities and playing with a little power as well. We are trying like heck to see his advancement. Hopefully it will continue."

The Giants will return from Detroit after the game Thursday night, will have Friday off and then will practice - just once - on Saturday. ... Camp ends next week on Aug. 17, one day before the second preseason game, a Monday nighter against Cleveland at Giants Stadium. ... This first exhibition was originally intended to be played in Carolina against the Panthers but there was a scheduling conflict with NBC, something to do with the Summer Olympics. ... Clearly, it wasn't something planned for Detroit viewers.

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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