Jacobs feeling strong entering season
Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants runs the ball against the Chicago Bears during a preseason game at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford. (Aug. 22, 2011) Credit: Getty
Looking for someone who actually feels pretty good after the Giants' injury-ravaged preseason? Brandon Jacobs is your guy.
The running back said he is feeling strong mentally and physically heading into the regular season. "I've never felt this good after training camp," he said. "Never, ever, ever."
Part of it is because he worked on hip strength and flexibility this offseason, which he said will allow him to break "the little slap on the foot or a trip up" that brought him down last season. But part of it is because he knows his role in the offense, which wasn't the case at this time last year when he had lost his starting job to Ahmad Bradshaw.
"Things are solidified," Jacobs said of this season. "People know things, and it never would have been what it was if people had known beforehand."
By "people," he means himself. And by "what it was," he means the cauldron of anger he had become, which manifested itself when he flung his helmet into the stands in Indianapolis in Week 2.
"I'm good in my place right now," Jacobs said. "I'm confident in my ability, I'm confident in my teammates, and I'm confident in my coaches . . . I'm in a great place right now and I plan to stay there."
Jones for long haul?
The Giants will not bring in a veteran linebacker to replace rookie Greg Jones this week. They might not do that at all.
Although Tom Coughlin was happy to see two currently unemployed members of the 2007 Super Bowl-winning team, Chase Blackburn and Kawika Mitchell, at the facility for a workout this week, he said a veteran linebacker might not be the direction the team goes when Jonathan Goff eventually is put on injured reserve.
"Hopefully, we'll do it by our choice and not by some other reason," Coughlin said.
Giant steps
The Giants elected their season-long captains, and there was no surprise who won: Justin Tuck on defense, Eli Manning on offense and Zak DeOssie on special teams . . . G Chris Snee restructured his contract to create more room under the salary cap . . . Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said Jake Ballard will be the starting tight end in the base scheme.
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