Giants might call on rookie linebackers

This is sometimes the point in the season when the term "rookie wall" starts to pop up. First-year players feel the mental and physical effects of having played football nonstop for almost four months and they begin to have breakdowns.

But at some point in the coming weeks, that phrase could mean something altogether different for the Giants. There is a chance that in an upcoming game -- perhaps even this Sunday against the Eagles -- the team could have three first-year linebackers stretched out across the field at the same time. With Michael Boley injured and Mathias Kiwanuka switching to defensive end on many schemes, the Giants could very well have Spencer Paysinger, Greg Jones and Jacquian Williams all on the field together, trying to be the bricks and mortar of a rookie wall.

Williams' eyes opened wide and he smiled broadly when he was asked about that scenario Tuesday, perhaps considering it for the first time.

"That'd be good for us to play early with each other, find the chemistry and everything," Williams said while helping hand out meals at Eva's Village, a nonprofit social service organization that helps the homeless in Paterson, N.J.

The Giants have a very bright future at linebacker thanks to their four rookies (Mark Herzlich is included in that group). But while Williams would welcome the challenge, it is unlikely that the coaching staff and front office is looking forward to seeing them all together. At least not yet.

The potential loss of Boley, who is being called "day-to-day" with a hamstring injury when "week-to-week" is probably a more accurate description, would be a costly one to the Giants. It would mark the second time this year that the defense would be losing its voice, its extension of defensive coordinator Perry Fewell on the field. Jonathan Goff tore his ACL in a practice before the season opener, and Boley took over the role. He was on the field for every snap this season until this past Sunday against the 49ers, when he collapsed near the goal line and had to be helped off the field late in the second quarter.

Boley was so productive and versatile, it likely will take all three of the Giants' rookie linebackers to replace him. Jones probably will be the one calling signals and playing in the middle on base looks. Paysinger will play the outside in base and perhaps the middle in sub packages. And Williams, whose speed is his best asset, will have to handle some of the coverage assignments that Boley drew.

The loss of Boley has already cost the Giants. In the second half against the 49ers, it was Jones who missed the coverage against Vernon Davis for the go-ahead touchdown and Paysinger who looked every bit the rookie when he was swallowed up on several running plays.

"When you have younger guys in there, sometimes things are not as crisp," safety Antrel Rolle said Tuesday on his weekly WFAN radio interview. "We all know that this is a game of inches, a game of milliseconds. So you may be just a half a second late and the hole opens or it may cost you a big play as it did. Those guys are young, they'd never been thrown in a situation like that in a game."

The one rookie linebacker who has is Williams. He had a breakout game the last time the Giants faced the Eagles, acting as a spy on Michael Vick and coming away with 10 tackles and a game ball. Williams said the key for rookies is to not be overwhelmed and understand that "we're in the NFL too so we're going to make plays too."

That kind of confidence only comes from experience, and right now the Giants' linebackers have very little of it.