Umenyiora part of Giants' lineup shake-up
Photo credit: David Pokress | Osi Umenyiora on the bench during a game against the Chargers. (November 8, 2009)
Osi Umenyiora
Week 12: Broncos 26, Giants 6
It's obvious the Giants are close to their last gasp in the NFC playoff race because it appears coach Tom Coughlin is on the verge of the ol' lineup shake-up to light a fire under his floundering, less-than-physical defense in hopes of beating the 8-3 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Giants Stadium.
Coughlin declined to be specific, but defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora and Fred Robbins were replaced by end Mathias Kiwanuka and tackle Chris Canty on the first team during a portion of Friday's practice.
Coughlin denied an NFL Network report that Umenyiora will play only on passing downs, but he sidestepped when asked if Umenyiora, who leads the Giants with five sacks, will start.
"We'll have to see on that," Coughlin said. "We preach team defense, so we are going to try to get other guys involved as much as we can to see if we can't solve some issues."
Issue No. 1 is the run defense. In their 26-6 loss Thanksgiving night in Denver, the Giants were gashed for 138 yards rushing and failed to control the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys have a far more potent offense with the running of Marion Barber and Felix Jones and a prolific passing attack led by quarterback Tony Romo.
"Run defense has been an issue," Coughlin said, adding that no one player is to blame.
Certainly, the early loss of safety Kenny Phillips and the more recent loss of linebacker Antonio Pierce to injuries has hurt. But Coughlin and defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan have indicated the defense needs to be more physical.
Umenyiora and Robbins are coming back from knee surgery, which often is a two-year process. Coughlin said Umenyiora, who as usual did not talk to the media, probably would say his knee isn't a problem. But the coach said, "If you have been in the game, you know that a majority of the time, that becomes an issue and can be something a player has to fight his way through, although he never complains about it."
Starting defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Barry Cofield disagreed with the notion that the Giants lack physicality. "Denver was running stretch plays," Cofield said. "I don't see myself getting knocked off the ball. We just didn't play good run defense. We've been lacking in a lot of areas, not just physicality."
As for whether changes might light a fire, Tuck said: "I don't see how it will spark. The best players should play. Simple as that."
Would he be surprised by any changes?
"No, I wouldn't be," Tuck said. "At this point, to save our season, Coach is trying anything to get this thing right. If they feel somebody else should be starting, we'll see on Sunday."
One player who is bound to show up ready to hit something is Canty, who is facing his former team for the first time.
"It comes down to us being physical at the point of attack," he said. "This is not one of those games where you stick your toe in the water. You understand the tempo they're going to play at and be ready to match that intensity."
That's the idea, anyway.
