WR Clayton more comfortable with offense, Eli
With injuries to starting wide receivers Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, replacements Michael Clayton (above) and Devin Thomas will have to step up. (Aug. 21, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
With injured starting wide receivers Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks still on the shelf, free agent Michael Clayton hopes to find a niche in the Giants' passing game against the Redskins on Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium. Clayton had only three days to familiarize himself with the Giants' playbook after signing last week, but another week of study has him up to speed.
"It's night and day," Clayton said Friday. "Just understanding where to line up and where to be is the biggest thing."
Quarterback Eli Manning targeted Clayton once in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars, and it appeared there was a miscommunication when the ball sailed long on a sideline pattern, but Clayton said he actually ran the correct route.
The wide receivers met with Manning after practice Friday to go over the patterns they're going to use in various down-and-distance situations and adjusted them according to what Manning has seen on video.
"There's a lot of 'read' routes in this offense," Clayton said. "There's a lot of decisions that need to be made by receivers at a depth of 10 or 15 yards down the field. There's ways we can take advantage if everybody is on the same page."
After the Redskins saw Manning find veterans Mario Manningham and Kevin Boss for touchdowns last week, it might seem natural for them to shift their coverage that way to take away Manning's primary targets. But Clayton said it would be a mistake to disregard Manning's other options.
"I think Eli has earned his respect by finding the open guy," Clayton said. "I wouldn't anticipate a defense because they'll be vulnerable by getting out of something they're used to doing. They'll basically stay with what they know because if you give Eli stuff like that, he's going to take it every time. He's a very smart quarterback, very alert to what's going on, and can really find the weaknesses in defenses."
Clayton sees an opportunity to make a more permanent place for himself in the Giants' locker room not just because of his pass-catching ability but because he's a big receiver who can block downfield.
"A lot of people don't see it, but you go back in the meeting rooms and you see that running back made a long run because of the receiver blocking the safety or a back-side cutoff, some things a lot of receivers in this league don't do," Clayton said. "I really made it a point to be a standout in blocking because that was the only thing I could control away from the football. I do it very well, and with this running game, it could be something very special for me."
Notes & quotes: Wide receiver Smith (pectoral muscle) and tackle David Diehl (hip, hamstring) are doubtful.
