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With Shaun O’Hara still sidelined with a sprained foot, Rich Seubert will likely make another start at center. That means the left guard will be either Kevin Boothe, fresh off the physically-unable-to-perform list, or rookie Mitch Petrus, who has one NFL series under his belt.
Early indications are it’ll be Boothe at left guard, giving the Giants their seventh different offensive-line combination of the season.
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The Giants are in agreement: The Cowboys are more dangerous now that they have made a coaching change.
“Definitely,” linebacker Keith Bulluck said. “It’s like they’re getting new life pumped into that team, pumped into that building. They’re going to come out with a different energy, a more positive energy.”
“I’m sure coach Garrett is going to rejuvenate then and have them coming in fighting like the Cowboys team they’re supposed to be,” Bulluck said.
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The Giants are last in the NFL in kickoff returns and 30th in punt returns, and have lost nominal starter Darius Reynaud to injury. A little more than a week after joining the team, Blackmon was handed both kick- and punt-return duties in last Sunday’s Seattle debut, and could well be handling both for the near-term future.
“He wants to return the ball, he’s vocal, he’s been around the league,” special teams captain Chase Blackburn said. “He’s an aggressive returner that likes to run. If you give him a crease he can hit it, and he runs hard, like last week. He wants to keep running, wants to score touchdowns. It’s nice to have the guy back there.”
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QUARTERBACKS: A-
The numbers say Eli Manning is on his way to a record-setting season with 2,075 yards, 17 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 65.7. His teammates say he’s locked in and giving them an aura of invincibility. The only knock is his 11 interceptions, which would be a big knock if seven of them hadn’t tipped off his receivers’ hands first.
RUNNING BACKS: A-
The new-look backfield got off to a rocky start, with Brandon Jacobs at his helmet-throwing worst. But as soon as Jacobs became a good soldier, things took off. Bradshaw has settled in to his No. 1 role with 512 yards in the last five games (765 overall). He and Jacobs have five fumbles between them, but they’re on pace to combine for more than 2,200 yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS: A-
Hakeem Nicks (51 catches, 653 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Steve Smith (47-517-3) are emerging as one of the most dynamic duos in the league. And Mario Manningham (25-385-3) is a dangerous third receiver. If only they’d stop playing volleyball with some of Manning’s passes.
TIGHT ENDS: B+
The expectations for a breakout year for Kevin Boss keep getting sidetracked by the need to keep him in as a blocker. Still, he’s caught 14 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. Bear Pascoe deserves major points for the way he’s filled in for injured FB Madison Hedgecock. Travis Beckum (8-69-1) has even found a small role in the offense.
OFFENSIVE LINE: A
Weren’t they supposed to be too old? The old gang got a stay of execution and it has thrived, allowing only 12 sacks and punching holes for the running game with authority. The line has found depth, too. Adam Koets filled in well for the injured O’Hara before tearing his ACL, and Shawn Andrews was solid in his first-ever game at left tackle Sunday.