D.J. Johnson dishes on his old team

Monday November 23, 2009 10:47 PM By Tom Rock

Had an interesting chat with D.J. Johnson today. He’s the cornerback/safety who was brought it to take the place of Gerris Wilkinson when he went on IR during the bye week. But he was also brought in because he was a member of the Broncos’ practice squad and the Giants are playing the Broncos this week.

The Giants have had him watching film and talking about what he had been taught in Denver since May. And Johnson has not been holding back.

“It’s to be expected,” he said of the questions he’s been asked by the Giants. “But they didn’t have to corner me into it. I’m kind of snitching this week. I’m going to volunteer it. After all, they pay my checks now.”

Johnson said he’s been analyzing film since he came to the Giants.

“All I’ve really been doing is watching film and trying to give them my best analysis of what the corners and secondary is doing,” he said. “If you can figure out what they’re doing just by watching film, you’ll know how to run your routes and design your concepts against it."

Johnson wasn’t just spilling the beans on the Xs and Os, at least not when he spoke with a few reporters. He also spoke about the mental state of the team he left. It was a team that won six straight to start the season but has now lost four in a row.

“It was a real fun atmosphere at the very beginning of the season,” he said. “The preseason wasn’t real fun when we were losing, but once we started winning and it got going it was a fun atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed themselves. After one loss, the atmosphere kind of changed and you could have sworn that they were on a 1-15 team. It’s probably most likely the same way.”

And how about the claims by Chargers linebackers that Broncos coach Josh McDaniels was taunting them before this week’s game, telling him “We own you”? Does that fit the coach he knew in Denver?

“He’s a good guy, but he’s a confident guy too,” Johnson said. “He’s been in a winning situation (in New England), that’s all he really knows. I’m guessing this (losing) is a hard situation for him to be in, especially to be the head guy of that situation. It’s new for him and he’s just trying to keep that same swagger.”

The Giants have said they like Johnson as a player and they were interested in him at draft time. But the reality is that often times players are brought to a team just so they can be squeezed for information. Once their usefulness for game prep is over, they’re cut and tossed aside. Johnson knows that could happen to him.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know about my future here and I’m fully aware of the possibility,” he said. “I’m just being open-minded, doing what I’m told to do, and if it’s not here then hopefully it’s somewhere.”

In some ways, every practice he participates in for the Giants is a chance to stay with the team past the Broncos game.

“It is a tryout,” he said. “Everyday of this business is a tryout. And I look at it like every little piece of tape I can get, no matter if it’s on the practice field or not, I’m trying out for 32 teams.”

(Photo: AP)

Brandon Jacobs is just fine

Monday November 23, 2009 4:46 PM By Tom Rock

Or at least that's the message he and the Giants sent by not appearing on the pre-practice injury report and participating in this evening's jog-through practice.

He came out of the game late in the third quarter after taking a hit on his knee, and although he said he would have been able to return to the game, he didn't.

It kinda makes you wonder: Why? If he was healthy enough to play in a game in which the Giants were holding onto a lead and trying to milk the clock in that late-in-the-fourth-quarter drive between the Falcons' touchdowns, how come he remained on the sideline?

Hmmm.

UPDATE: As for the official injury report, it just came out. Pierce is already listed as "out" for the game. Ahmad Bradshaw did not practice and Eli Manning participated fully. Those are the only players on the list for the Giants. No Nicks or Seubert of Tuck.

On the Broncos' side, Kyle Orton (ankle) practiced fully, but three players did not work for them: Brian Dawkins (neck), Ryan Harris (toe) and LaMont Jordan (back).

(Photo: Getty Images)

Giants' playoff picture is, well, still blurry

Monday November 23, 2009 11:54 AM By Tom Rock

And not just because of the defense's inability to keep teams from scoring game-winning or game-tying touchdowns. I'm talking about the standings in the NFC which say that, were the season to end today (my favorite phrase in all of sports, second only to "at that rate ...") the Giants would be left out.

The NFC playoff teams would be:

1. Saints (10-0); 2. Vikings (9-1); 3. Cowboys (7-3); 4. Cardinals (7-3); 5. Eagles (6-4); 6. Packers (6-4).

The Giants have the same record as the Eagles and Packers, but lose out on tie-breakers.

Of course there are six weeks left. And the Giants aren't really competing with the Saints, Vikings or Cardinals for playoff spots. There are three ways for them to get in: Win the division or win one of two wild cards.

So how are the Giants' chances? There are four other teams vying for the same seats on the playoff game of musical chairs as the Giants: The Cowboys, Eagles, Packers and Falcons (we'll disregard the three teams at 4-6, the 49ers, Panthers and Bears, for now). Of those teams, the one with perhaps the best chance is the Falcons. Yes, the team the Giants just beat yesterday.

Why?

Because of the remaining schedule. All of the teams have six games left, but only the Falcons play a team that is 1-9 twice in the Bucs. The combined record of their remaining opponents is 25-35 -- 10 of those wins represented by the Saints -- and have four below-.500 teams. They also have four home games.

The second best chances on the same criteria? The Packers, who have already played the Vikings twice. The combined record of their remaining opponents is 27-33 and they face three sub-.500 teams.

Next comes the Eagles, with a combined record of future opponents at 31-29 and two below-.500 teams.

The Giants and the Cowboys have pretty similar roads remaining. Both have a schedule with a combined record of 35-25. Both face two teams with losing records. And of course, both face each other with 10 days' rest next weekend in New York. The Cowboys have a one-game lead on the Giants, but the Giants have already beaten the Cowboys. The Cowboys still have to travel to play the 10-0 Saints, but the Giants have to travel to play the 9-1 Vikings.

That game in Minnesota is the last game of the regular season, so things should be a lot clearer by then than they are now. Right?

(Newsday Photo / Joe Rogate)

Gameday Live 10: Falcons at Giants

Sunday November 22, 2009 1:37 PM By Kimberley A. Martin

Post Game Thoughts:

Can you believe this was the Giants' first win in 42 days?

No, seriously, it's true.

But it's a stat Eli Manning will surely soon forget...

"It has been a long time," the quarterback said. "Someone said it had been 42 days since our last win. It has felt like it, too. There are not many better feelings than being in a locker room after a win, seeing the high-fives and teh smiles, especially when you haven't had that feeling in a while."

***

The other good news is Brandon Jacobs appears to be OK, despite suffering a leg injury...some concern was raised when he didn't return and Coughlin didn't seem too sure what Jacob's status would be during the postgame press conference...

"I really don't know," the coach said. "I thought they said he could have gone back in the game but we'll have to see."

***

In other news, Kevin Boss caught a season-high five passes for 76 yards. It was his first career-multiple-touchdown game.

But he wasn't the only Giant that had a career day...Manning had a career-high 384 yards, completing 25-of-39 passes. His previous best was 371 yards.

***

Final: Giants 34, Atlanta 31

That was close, huh?

Atlanta tried to ice Lawrence Tynes with a timeout, but he hit the 36-yard FG anyway.

***

End of 4Q: Giants 31, Atlanta 31

I definitely don't think the Giants saw this coming...

After going up 31-17 on an Eli TD-pass to Madison Hedgecock with 12:08 to play, the Falcons responded with a four-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan to WR Eric Weems six minutes later...

And Atlanta tied the score on an 11-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzalez with just 35 second left...

***

End 3rd quarter -- Giants 24, Falcons 17

Giants take the lead into the final 15 minutes, but they're dropping like flies.

David Diehl, the iron man of the O-line, hobbled off with a left foot/ankle injury just before the end of the quarter. Rookie William Beatty took his left tackle spot.

Brandon Jacobs took a helmet to his right knee a minute earlier, but he seems to be OK.

And Corey Webster went off after breaking up a sure TD catch by Michael Jenkins -- actually, Jenkins broke it up himself, letting the ball bounce off his helmet, but Webster extended for the play and went off.

Eli Manning's solid day continued on the Giants' TD drive, which ended with a 2-yard TD run by Jacobs. Manning is 17 for 26 for 271 yards.

The defense gave up an easy TD drive on Atlanta's opening possession, with Jason Snelling powering in for his second TD run of the day. But Jenkins' missed catch late in the quarter left the Falcons kicking a 31-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7 entering the fourth.

 ***

Halftime - Giants 17, Falcons 7.

The Giants' defense finally showed up...

After Justin Tuck sacked Matt Ryan for a loss of one, Osi Umenyiora recovered for the Giants on Atlanta's 34. And it didn't take long for Eli to hook up with Kevin Boss again for a big score. 

Manning's 4-yard touchdown pass to Boss with 14 seconds left on the clock, concluded a 1:05 drive for the Giants, who went 34 yards in six plays.

...The Giants went up 10-7 after Eli threw a 28-yard TD pass to a wide-opoen Boss, who stiff-armed Falcons safety Erik Coleman, before scampering into the end zone. The Giants could've put up more points, but kicker Lawrence Tynes missed a 31-yard  field-goal attempt --  wide left -- with 10:36 left in the quarter.

But I'm sure Tynes is secretly thanking Jason Elam, because the Falcons kicker booted a 35-yard FG attempt wide right with 2:51 remaining.

The Giants appear to be in control now, but the Falcons gave them an early scare...

It took Atlanta nine plays (65 yards) to put up the first touchdown of the game. A nine-yard pass from QB Matt Ryan to WR Roddy White set up back-to-back runs for Jason Snelling, which culminated in a seven-yard -- untouched -- TD run into the endzone, to give the Falcons a 7-3 lead.

***

End of 1Q

Giants have a 3-0 lead after a quarter, but it's a precarious edge to be sure. The Falcons start the second quarter with the ball at the Giants 19.

Eli Manning is 6-for-9 for 67 yards, but he threw a dying quail of an interception on third and 29 to end the Giants' opening drive. Manning has been sacked twice and pressured two other times; right before Lawrence Tynes' 39-yard field goal, Danny Ware saved Manning's life by picking up CB Chris Houston who came in untouched on a blitz off the left side.

The defense had a good three-and-out to start, but the Falcons' excellent run blocking has opened up holes for third-string RB Jason Snelling.

Ross is dressed, Blackburn is starting

Sunday November 22, 2009 11:41 AM By Tom Rock

That's the message as the Giants unveil their inactive list for this game against the Falcons. Ross, who has not played all season after suffering a steady stream of hamstring injuries beginning in training camp, will likely come on in sub packages, although it was hard not to note that during the week he spent a little time playing safety in practices. The Giants said that's just a numbers issue and that he's a cornerback. We'll see how he's used today.

As for Blackburn, he gets the start in the middle in place of Pierce. The Pierce injury probably kept Ramses Barden off the active 45 since special teams is the area he needs to improve in to make the gameday squad. Had Blackburn been his usual backup, they might have been able to push Barden into a spot. But with Blackburn now starting, there's no room for a special teams question mark.

Also, I was asked by a few people if I saw Clint Sintim as a middle linebacker of the future for the Giants. I asked around, and the team does not envision him in that role.

The inactives for the Giants:

Ramses Barden, D.J. Johnson, Gartrell Johnson, Kevin Dockery, Antonio Pierce, Adam Koets, Guy Whimper and Sinorice Moss.

For the Falcons, both Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood are inactive. The others are 3rd QB John Parker Wilson, Spencer Adkins, Garrett Reynolds, Wuinn Ojinnaka, Brian Finneran and Trey Lewis.

(Photo: Getty Images)

The Pierce loss will trickle down

Saturday November 21, 2009 3:03 PM By Tom Rock

The Giants will probably be OK at middle linebacker without Antonio Pierce. They have Chase Blackburn as the backup and they have untested second-year player Jonathan Goff behind him. The Giants are still high on Goff despite his not playing much (although his special teams contributions have been noted). Either can handle the direct responsibilities of the position.

But where they'll really feel the loss of Pierce is at other positions like the defensive front and the other linebackers. I was thinking about this today when I remembered a quote from a story I wrote about Clint Sintim last week. It was Sintim talking about running out onto the field for the first time as a defensive player.

"The cool thing about it is Antonio [Pierce] is out there and he knows I'm in there,'' Sintim said of relying on the veteran middle linebacker to point him in the right direction. "I'm like 'Antonio, I'm in here, let me know where I'm going!' So he'll set the front and work with me and just get me straight. I wasn't too confused about anything out there.''

Gone is that security. I'm sure Blackburn will do fine and Goff will too, but there's a difference between having one of those two guys call out the checks and the signals, and having Pierce devlivering them. They'll hear the other guys. They trusted Pierce.

It'll be interesting to watch this unfold.

(Photo: AP)

Giants won't have Pierce, but they gotta have his heart

Saturday November 21, 2009 12:46 PM By Tom Rock

That's what Tom Coughlin said in a statement issued this morning after learning last night that Antonio Pierce will be unavailable for an "inidefinite" period of time with a bulging disc in his neck. It was a shocking diagnosis for Pierce as well as the team. But Coughlin said that the other 52 players must carry on with the same intensity Pierce brought to games.

Said Coughlin: "We won’t have AP on the field, but we will have him on the sideline, and we’ll have his heart and his leadership there to rally the troops. All the troops. Defense, offense and special teams. He will be there to lend his support to all of them, and, like I said, we are here to support him. Hopefully through treatment and doing what needs to be done, he will get back quicker than anybody expects.”

What everybody expects is for the Giants to give him about six weeks of rest and then re-evaluate the bulging disc. Sometimes through non-surgical treatments the disc can correct itself. If that's the case, Pierce would be back in action. But if it's not, surgery will probably take place.

Coughlin said he feels badly for Pierce.

“Imagine how he feels,” Coughlin said. “In addition to the shock he expressed last night, there is the disappointment. He has been waiting and working for two weeks to get back on the field to get the taste of the last game out of his mouth.”

As for replacing Pierce on the field, Coughlin did not commit to any one player but Chase Blackburn, his backup, will likely go on Sunday against the Falcons. Beyond that the Giants have some other options, including Jonathan Goff and even Danny Clark.

Coughlin doesn't see just one player taking Pierce's place, though.

“We have 52 other good players, and guys have to step forward to fill the void,” Coughlin said. “The other members of the defense have got to reach down and play harder, faster, better.”

Aaron Ross is not a safety, but he played one in practice

Friday November 20, 2009 2:30 PM By Arthur Staple

 Ross has missed the whole season, but it seems he'll make his debut on Sunday. He worked with the second-unit defense today, some at corner, some at safety. TC said Ross " is a corner, that's where he plays." As for playing safety, TC added: "Not at this point in time, but you never know."

Ross, listed as questionable on the Friday injury report, sounded like he just wanted to play, period, no matter where it is. "Everything's on the up right now," he said. "Whatever (Coughlin) has planned for me, I'm all in."

Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) also practiced yesterday, for the second straight day, and is listed as questionable, as is QB Eli Manning.

Ross went through the 2008 season feeling a void, like he didn't want to play football much longer. Watching film of himself in the off-season helped him rediscover his joy for the game, but then his hamstring popped near the end of training camp, and here we are.

Of his fellow DBs, who have struggled mightily without him and Kenny Phillips, Ross said this: "We've been having a tough four weeks. When it rains, it pours. We just have to get our swag back. We'll find out on Sunday."

Jacobs over 100 this week? Wanna bet?

Thursday November 19, 2009 9:28 PM By Tom Rock

Brandon Jacobs has not had a 100-yard rushing game this season. What are the odds that he gets one against the Falcons?

Well, according to Bodog.com, pretty good. The gambling site is paying 5-to-4 odds that Jacobs will have a 100-yard rushing day before Terrell Owens has a 100-yard receiving day (3-to-2) or LaDainian Tomlinson has a 100-yard rushing day (9-for-4).

Another bet you can make is who will be the head coach of the Buffalo Bills for Week 1 of the 2010 NFL Regular Season? Why is this significant to Giants fans? Well, because offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has been floated as a candidate for that job. Judging from the esteem with which some Giants fans hold Gilbride, I don't know if you'll consider this good or bad news, but while his name has been batted around for the job on blogs and in various reports, it doesn't appear on the Bodog.com list of candidates. Their choices (and the odds) are:

Mike Shanahan 5/2
Mike Martz 4/1
Jim Harbaugh 6/1
Mike Holmgren 6/1
Bill Cowher 8/1
Perry Fewell 8/1
Mike Zimmer 10/1
Turk Schonert 100/1

Interestingly, you can also bet on whether or not the Patriots will attempt to convert a fourth down opportunity against the Jets this weekend. Even money says they do, according to the site.

(Newsday Photo / David Pokress)