Where's the points?
You could say that the Giants have been looking good on the field this preseason, but where are the points? So far they have managed just 21 points in two preseason games. They have moved the ball well, but haven't been able to punch it in.
That's helped the Giants to their 0-2 preseason record, and now they face the Jets who have lost their last two games, and would like to finish what is the last preseason game for them, on a winning note. The Jets are also anxious to redeem themselves for their 41-28 loss to the Giants last December in real season play. The Jets could be more fired up for this game than the Giants.

The Dayne watch and wait continues.
OK, so it's known that he doesn't do well in practice. Rookie RB Dayne is not known as one of those "practice players". Also, he's not blowing them away in preseason. It's because he's a rookie and he's learning, and he needs to get the play right on the field rather than just plow through it. That's why he hesitates, he watches and waits, and his best stuff seems to happen only after they pull the first string opposition. After all, it's preseason and now's the time to do this kind of stuff.
OK, as fans we buy it, and we watch and wait to see if the Heisman Trophy winner is the real deal.

Eyes on Sehorn too
Cornerback Jason Sehorn has had some pretty bad luck playing against the Jets. In the 1998 exhibition game, he tore up his right knee on the opening kickoff, and in last year's regular season game he broke his left fibula on the third defensive play. His comments on what he thinks about the previous matchups, "It's crossed my mind. You don't walk away with a torn knee and a broken leg, and not think about it."
He's mostly focused on returning to his former top form and says, "Last year I was just a corner. I did fine, but I was just a corner. There are 62 of us in the NFL. I don't want to be No. 30. I want to be in the top five. I don't want to be just a guy out there, I want to do things special. I know I have the athletic ability to do it. It's just whether I can get into that comfort zone where I just feel fine."

The offense takes a hit
The Giants had big plans for Sean Bennett this season. They wanted to use his size and speed in a number of formations for their redesigned offense.
Unfortunately, their doctors feel that Sean Bennett needs surgery on his right knee, and that would end his season. Bennett initially hurt his leg while throwing a block on the first play of the first preseason game. It has worsened since then. Sean will seek a second opinion before taking any action.

Keeping talented Ron Dixon on the field.
In the loss to the Jaguars last week, rookie draft pick Ron Dixon fumbled two punts, losing the second one on an aborted fair catch. Instead of falling on the ball, he tried to pick it up and lost it. The Giants love his raw athletic ability and speed, and so this week, Ron's new duty on special teams is to be a "gunner" on the punt coverage team.
Fassel says, "We want a guy to get downfield fast. All he has to do is get down there and tackle the guy."
In practice, Dixon drew wows from his teammates by avoiding the two blockers assigned to hold him up at the line. The trouble might be on the tackle. Ron's only 190 lbs. He comments that he played defense in High school. "I was an All-State safety, but I wasn't a big hitter then, either. But I think I can get down there and grab on to somebody and hold on until help arrives."
If Ron can get downfield fast and force a fair catch, I think the Giants will be more than happy.

Kerry Collins still a bright spot.
He's turned in two good performances so far. In the first game, he was 15-18 for 117 yards, and the second, 10-19 for 110 yards, with a bunch of incompletions due to dropped balls. It's also been nice that the offensive line has provided some great blocking and kept him from being sacked.

Fassel after last week's loss.
"I don't want to go without a win, that's not good. If we're playing poorly and we're 0-4, I'm going to feel really ugly about it. If we're 1-3 or 0-4 and playing well and making progress, I'm not going to feel good, but at least there's hope. But I expect to not end up 0-4."

Fassel before leaving training camp in Albany.
"No more of this 'We played well but lost' stuff. I want to play well, but I want to win, too." Asked about playing the Jets, "Obviously there's more significance to this game, no question about it." He also said, that Ron Dayne "will play early and play a lot" against the Jets. It could be he's also hoping to see a more productive Ron Dayne on the field in Friday's game.

Notes
Jim Fassel plans to play the first unit for three quarters, and watch the rookies in the forth quarter. It's just about their last chance to impress the coaches before they cuts on Sunday. The roster is at 83 and it must be 60 by Monday.

The Giants are finished practicing at Albany. They'll resume practice at Giants Stadium after the game with the Jets.

The Giants lost to the Jets in preseason last year, but beat them, 41-28 in regular season play.

Al Groh, head coach for the Jets, is 6-0 in these preseason matchups. He was a Giants assistant coach from 1989 to 1991 and a Jets assistant the previous three years.

The Giants Jessie Armstead, and Jet's QB Vinnie Testaverde had a big nice run-in last preseason game. They did not face each other in the regular season game.

Giants have lost four straight to the Jets in preseason.

The Giants were 1-3 in preseason 1997, and went on to win the NFC East.

Next Game
Aug 25, Baltimore at Giants 8:00 PM.

For those very organized fans.
If you use a Palm Pilot and want to keep the Giants schedule, and actually, the whole NFL schedule on it, there is a free download available here at PFL.

Last Week's review, Jaguars 16 - Giants 13

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