NFL

Giants’ starting line not finished

Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty made it sound as if starting positions along the offensive line are up for grabs despite the presence of established starters all along the front.

“Going into each season there’s a depth chart you go by, but nothing is in concrete,” Flaherty said yesterday.

The Giants are returning the core of the offensive line that has been together for most of the last three seasons, including a stretch of 38 consecutive starts together. But the Giants allowed 32 sacks last year and their rushing average went from 160.4 after the first five games to a season average of just 114.8.

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Left tackle David Diehl, left guard Rich Seubert, center Shaun O’Hara, right guard Chris Snee and right tackle Kareem McKenzie are all working as the first unit. But second-year player Will Beatty will get a long look at left tackle with Diehl possibly moving to guard. Guy Whimper, a fifth-year backup tackle, is also seeing time at guard.

“We’re going to find the five best guys that can play,” Flaherty said. “That’s what you have to do. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

Flaherty admitted his experienced veterans will head to training camp with the upper hand. But he admitted his line underachieved last year and can’t afford a repeat this year.

“We need to correct some things we didn’t do as well in 2009,” Flaherty said. “But this group will take what’s presented and work their tails off to try to correct it.”

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Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was on the field, but didn’t participate in practice yesterday. Nonetheless, he said he’s “still on progress” to be 100 percent for training camp. Bradshaw said he has been working out with the team about twice a week and reports no complications from his offseason ankle and foot surgeries. “Everything is coming along,” Bradshaw said.

Defensive tackle Barry Cofield was excused from practice to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple’s first child.

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With Kevin Boss out until training camp following ankle surgery, the Giants are hoping Travis Beckum, a second-year tight end from Wisconsin, or Bear Pascoe, a second-year player from Fresno State, will emerge as a capable blocker at the position. “I hope we get some people to take some pressure off (Boss) as a blocker,” said tight end coach Mike Pope.