Giants licking their chops over QB's first start

The Giants have a six-hour flight to Seattle on Saturday. That should give them enough time to go over every snap that Charlie Whitehurst has taken in his NFL career several times. In super-slow motion. They might even have a chance to go back to his college and high school archives.

"I think we'll be OK with time and getting film study on him," cornerback Corey Webster said with a chuckle when asked about preparing for Seattle's backup quarterback.

Whitehurst, 28, will be making his first NFL start and seeing his first game action since 2006 for the Seahawks on Sunday - and, assuming he gets through the first several plays, throwing his first professional pass.

With veteran Matt Hasselbeck still suffering from a concussion sustained against the Raiders last week, the Seahawks announced the decision to start Whitehurst on Thursday afternoon. Since then, the Giants have been preparing for a quarterback who may be more mobile and have a stronger arm than Hasselbeck but who lacks anything but the smallest drips of experience.

"No matter how long he's been in this league, this is his first NFL start," safety Antrel Rolle said. "In our eyes, he's definitely a rookie. There's going to be a lot of things that we can rattle him with. There are things we can do to rattle any quarterback in this league. Being it's his first start, we're definitely going to try to keep him off balance with a lot of things."

While the Giants are getting acquainted with Whitehurst and trying to pick up his tendencies - other than his tendency to not play, of course - they are mostly concerned about their own game.

This is a defense that is second in the league in yards allowed and second in passing yards allowed. They have knocked five quarterbacks out of games with injuries and are going against a team that, because of injuries, has a patchwork offensive line and could be without two of its top three receivers.

"Hopefully, we can use some of that to our advantage, him not being out there and getting reps with [the starters], and try to throw different things at him, disguises," Webster said. "But we're not going to change too much of what we do."

Asked if he expects the Giants to put more pressure on the quarterback this week, Webster shrugged.

"We try to come after [the quarterback] every down," he said, pointing to the front four of the defensive line. "What's more than that?"

We might find out Sunday. Even before the Seahawks named Whitehurst the starter, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was starting to think about facing the newbie.

"If we stop the run, I want our guys to have that mentality that there's blood in the water and we're going to be sharks," Fewell said. "No doubt. That's my mentality, I know, going in."

Notes & quotes: KR Darius Reynaud injured his hamstring in practice Friday, perhaps opening the door for newcomer Will Blackmon to step in and take over the returning duties for the Giants . . . C Shaun O'Hara (foot), T Will Beatty (foot) and FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), all of whom have been ruled out, will not make the trip . . . TE Kevin Boss, who grew up in Oregon about 31/2 hours from Seattle, expects 80 to 100 friends and family members at the game.