Shake-up for Giants' offensive line

David Diehl most likely will move one stride to his left Monday night, switching from guard to tackle to replace injured Will Beatty. It's a minor adjustment, really, and for Diehl, it's a return to a familiar position. He played left tackle the previous four seasons and even went to a Pro Bowl at that spot.

"This is nothing new for me," Diehl said. "Obviously in my career, I've been a guy who has moved. If they call upon me to play left tackle, I'll be 100 percent ready to go."

But what might not be a big deal for Diehl is indicative of the unsettled nature of this year's offensive line, a unit that has come under intense scrutiny since pushing for only 29 rushing yards and allowing a critical late sack Sunday against the Eagles. Whoever plays left tackle -- whether it be Diehl, with Kevin Boothe moving in at guard, or Stacy Andrews, with Diehl remaining at guard -- it won't be Beatty.

That means it will be the fifth different permutation of a starting offensive line that the Giants will use in 11 games. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie returned to practice after missing Thursday's workout with a toe injury. If he plays and Diehl moves outside, as expected, right tackle will be the only position on the line to have the same starter throughout the season.

For a team that had the same group start together for nearly three years' worth of games, that's relative chaos. No wonder the Giants' running game has been so disappointing. "It's tough having injuries along the line and different people in and out," Diehl said. "It's hard to have that continuity."

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said he has "concern" whenever he has to change personnel in the offense. "Obviously up there, it can have an impact on everything," he said. "Not just the passing game but everything: run game, pass game, protection of the quarterback, what have you. You're concerned and you just hope that whoever you put in there is going to rise up and play the way you think he can."

Gilbride said he is glad to have veterans such as Boothe and Andrews and a versatile player such as Diehl at the ready. "[They are] guys that are . . . experienced and you believe are physically good enough that you can go out and plug them in and [have them] perform and not be overwhelmed or outmanned physically," he said. "We think we have that."

It's unclear how long Beatty will be out after surgery on a detached right retina Thursday. Coach Tom Coughlin called it "a very serious situation." Until then, Diehl likely will be back at tackle.

The members of the offensive line would have been under a microscope this week anyway, considering their performance against the Eagles and the label of "pathetic" dropped on them by Coughlin (although he also said that in the two previous games, they played better). Now, as the Giants once again are forced to shake up their starting five like dice in a game of Boggle, there will be extra eyeballs on them. Diehl said they are ready.

"Everybody was disappointed and hurt by the way [the Eagles] game went," he said. "Guys are excited and I think all of us are taking this as a personal challenge."