Giants' 'D' won't use injuries as excuses

LANDOVER, Md. -- Under normal circumstances, the Giants' defensive performance Sunday could not be considered good.

Not when the unit allowed three touchdowns, 21 first downs and 332 yards to an offense quarterbacked by Rex Grossman.

But let's be fair here and grade on a curve in the wake of a season-opening 28-14 loss to the Redskins.

The defense was missing four injured starters -- including game-day scratch Justin Tuck -- and had a rookie sixth-round draft pick starting at middle linebacker in Greg Jones.

Jones held his own, and the run defense generally was effective, keeping the Redskins to an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

But on a number of occasions the pass defense seemed to give receivers overly comfy cushions. The Redskins took advantage with several long, damaging completions, and Grossman threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns.

"There were a couple of double moves that made us look bad, and then we recovered and made a few plays on the deeper balls,'' coach Tom Coughlin said. "We did have quite a bit of a cushion on a couple of plays.''

Coughlin and his players were adamant, though, in not being drawn by reporters into using injuries to excuse the breakdowns.

"We weren't shorthanded,'' tackle Chris Canty said. "On the defensive line, are you kidding me? Listen, we didn't have all of our guys, but that doesn't mean we were shorthanded.

"We have a great group of guys to get the job done. The job didn't get done today. It is what it is.''

Safety Antrel Rolle said, "We're not going to blame it on that. If the outside is going to blame it on that, they can, but we're a football team . . . We can't worry about who's here and who isn't here.''

Coughlin was upset with an unnecessary roughness call against Rolle that extended the Redskins' final scoring drive. Rolle was called for hitting Fred Davis after the tight end was down, and for leading with his helmet.

"I thought he was trying to get up,'' Rolle said. "I don't think I led with my head at all.''

Said Coughlin: "That's a very difficult call for me.''

The fact the foul was committed by one of the defense's key (and healthy) veterans added to the hurt. The Giants have to reserve such mistakes for their fill-ins.

The defense's finest moment came early in the fourth quarter, when Jason Pierre-Paul sacked Grossman, forcing a fumble that Michael Boley recovered at the Washington 27.

The offense moved the ball 7 yards in three plays, then had a field-goal attempt blocked.

"As a defensive guy we can't really worry about what happens on the other side of the ball,'' Boley said. "For us, it's going back out and playing our game.''

Tuck hopes to return next week against the Rams.

"We are resilient,'' he said. "We will bounce back. What better way than at home Monday night? We are looking forward to it. If we can get some guys back, we will be close to full strength.''

Well, not quite. But at this point, every little bit will help.