Untested Beatty likely to start at LT for Giants
Giants lineman Will Beatty talks with a teammate prior to the start of morning practice during training camp at the University at Albany. (Aug. 3, 2010) Credit: Jon Winslow
When the Giants spent a second-round pick on Will Beatty last spring, they saw him as an athletic left tackle who could protect Eli Manning's blind side. On Sunday, they'll take the first step toward seeing if they were right.
Beatty almost certainly will be starting at left tackle against the Jaguars, with start-of-the-season starter David Diehl sidelined by a hamstring injury and recent starter Shawn Andrews relegated to a hospital bed the last two days to deal with soreness in a back that has required two previous surgeries.
That leaves Beatty, who has had four starts in the NFL, all at right tackle, and has played in only three games this year while recovering from a broken bone in his foot.
A player the Giants hoped would push for a starting job during the summer now is very nearly their last resort at one of the most important positions on the field.
"It's your chance, it's your opportunity, you've been clamoring for it and you wanted an opportunity. We've wanted to give it, and now here it is," offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said to Beatty through a news conference Friday. "We didn't want it to happen under these circumstances, but it's happened. It's a chance to step up and contribute and play the way that we believe he has the potential to do."
For Beatty, this is a chance to not only play but also show that he can continue to play.
"I know that they recruited me for that left spot," Beatty said Friday. "I feel like as long as I'm not starting, they still want something else from me; they're looking for something that I'm not giving them. So I'm just trying to every week keep my head up and do what I can to show them that I'm ready. I want this position. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get it."
Beatty had a bit of a false start last week. While Andrews was missing a week of practices with his balky back, Beatty worked with the first unit and expected to start against the Eagles. Andrews, after several days of rest, rehab and the miracles of modern pharmaceuticals, was able to start and play well.
This week, though, Andrews is as doubtful as a guy in a hospital gown with an IV dripping painkillers into his arm can be. So Beatty once again is preparing to be the starter and knows he very likely will be.
"Every game, I'm supposed to prepare myself to start," Beatty said. "I'm looking at it as I'm going to go out there and I'm going to be the one starting at left tackle. That's just how I get my mind set. Whatever they say in the office, whatever they do, that's up to them. But if they call me, I want to be ready."
Notes & quotes: CB Aaron Ross (illness) did not practice but CB Will Blackmon (chest) returned to practice for the Giants . . . WR Devin Thomas, picked up off waivers Wednesday, said he likely won't play this week but is looking forward to getting on the field next week against his former team, the Redskins . . . Jaguars starting LT Eugene Monroe failed a baseline concussion test Friday and has been ruled out for the game. His replacement could be former Giant Guy Whimper . . . RB Brandon Jacobs was fined $20,000 for "unsportsmanlike conduct toward fans" in Sunday's loss in Philadelphia, according to the NFL.
More Giants
