Will Rolle make move back to cornerback?

On Tuesday, the day after the Giants had lost cornerback Terrell Thomas to a season-ending knee injury, Tom Coughlin was asked about the possibility of moving Pro Bowl safety Antrel Rolle back to cornerback, which is the position he came into the league playing. Coughlin said he was aware of Rolle's ability to do that, but said he was "reluctant" to make that switch.

In the face of desperation, reluctance has to take a back seat.

Rolle had been spending some time lining up as a cornerback in the slot in some formations and even participating in some drills with the other players at that position during the week. On Friday at the Manhattan ceremony celebrating the naming of MetLife Stadium, Rolle confirmed that he will, indeed, be the Giants' nickelback. For now, anyway.

"I don't know what to expect for the rest of the season, but as for right now that's the plan, to have me line up at the nickel position," he said. "I have no problem doing that. It's something I've been doing pretty much my entire career. It's just a matter of being on the same page at the same time with my teammates."

This will be different than the three-safety look the Giants employed last season. In that scheme, they moved a safety -- usually either Rolle or Deon Grant -- into a linebacker spot and still had three coverage cornerbacks on the field. In this case, Rolle will be one of the cornerbacks, most likely covering the slot receiver. That would leave starters Corey Webster and Aaron Ross on the outside.

"I plan on maybe moving down from 206 to 200 pounds," Rolle said. "I feel like I play a lot quicker, matching up with the faster, quicker receivers and I feel like it'll give me a better matchup at that point. It's all a process. I haven't thought once about not playing a position. Like I tell my coaches all the time, whatever it takes for us to win, that's what I'm all about."

Rolle talked earlier this preseason about having to handle a lot of "mental gymnastics" in Perry Fewell's defense last year. But he said learning a new position in that scheme won't be like starting over for him. "I pretty much know what to expect," he said.

He also said he's in good enough shape to be on the field for every play. There are many teams that run three-receiver sets almost the entire game. That would likely mean that Rolle, Webster and Ross would be the cornerbacks while Kenny Phillips and either Grant or rookie Tyler Sash are at safety. In the base, Rolle and Phillips would be the starting safeties.

"If they play nickel then I'll be there," Rolle said. "I'm in great shape. I feel like I can take the field all day. I'm in good enough shape to play six quarters. It doesn't matter what it takes as long as we get the job done."

Rolle said it was difficult losing Thomas along with other cornerbacks like Brian Witherspoon and Bruce Johnson this preseason. The Giants are also without first-round pick Prince Amukamara for another two months or so after he had surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. The Giants did add veteran cornerback Brian Williams, but it's unclear how quickly he'll be able to fit in and where that might be. In the meantime, Rolle seems to be the Giants best option -- even if Coughlin was reluctant to use him there.

"It's very unfortunate we lost those guys, they'll always be with us in our heart and in our spirit, but at the same time we can't dwell on that," Rolle said. "We have to move on. We have a hell of a schedule ahead of this year and we have to be on our best game. If that means players stepping up and playing those roles, that's exactly what it's going to take."