Kiwi on special teams possibilities: "Let's do it!"
New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (94) reacts after sacking Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young during the first quarter of an NFL football game. (Sept. 26, 2010) Credit: AP
Tom Coughlin more-than-hinted that he might be moving more every-down players onto special teams this week. To which one of the every-down players said:
“Let’s go! Let’s do it! Line up. If it’s going to help us win, let’s do it!”
That was Mathias Kiwanuka, one of the best athletes on the team. I asked him what his reaction would be if the coaching staff wanted him to run under kickoffs or punts, and he said he – and he spoke for others – would have no problem.
“I think we have a pretty good group of veteran guys who don’t mind taking on responsibility, even if it is on special teams,” Kiwanuka said,
Now, he wasn’t lobbying for the job. But clearly he knows it’s a possibility.
“We trust the coaches to come up with a gameplan and put people in the right positions,” he said of special teams play that has been lacking all season. “The bottom line is whoever is out there needs to execute and they need to make the plays when they come their way.”
By the way, special teams captaion Chase Blackburn was in the locker room today making the rounds and stopping by the stalls of several key special teams players. He was handing out hand-written notes about their play on his unit. Having Blackburn back on the field will certainly help the unit.
Arthur Staple was out here today talking with special teamers. He'll have more on that later in the day.
