Linval Joseph has to wait his turn as rookie DL

After getting gashed by the Colts' anemic running game last week, the Giants now face the task of containing 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson of Tennessee this week. It's a huge test for a veteran defensive line that was fortified by the drafting of rookies Jason Pierre-Paul and Linval Joseph in the offseason because of concerns over the performance at the end of last season.

Speed rusher Pierre-Paul has been active and involved in the various situation substitution packages employed by new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, but the 6-4, 319-pound Joseph has found himself on the inactive list the first two games with veteran tackles Barry Cofield, Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard ahead of him along with versatile sub Dave Tollefson.

Earlier this week, head coach Tom Coughlin said one problem Joseph faces is that he's not on special teams, which is the best way for a player to make the 45-man active roster. Fewell likes what he's seen from Joseph, but it's tough to make room by sitting a veteran ahead of him.

"He makes progress every day in practice and he’s playing and competing against some guys that have really good experience in Canty and Barry Cofield as well as Rocky Bernard, so I mean, you can only dress 45 and you have to make that decision one way or another," Fewell said of Linval. "I think he just has to keep pressing, keep working. He is getting better as a football player, but that’s always a tough number when you only have 45 guys to dress on game day."

If the Giants have another miserable game trying to stop the run against Tennessee, it's going to bring back unpleasant memories of their horrendous finish last season when they were embarrassed game after game. At that point, the coaching staff is going to have to ask if the right guys are playing or if it's time to give the young guys a chance.