With replacement officials again patrolling the field today, Jason Pierre-Paul is bracing for another game without getting the benefit of the doubt on any holding calls he feels he deserves.
“If they’re not going to call holding, you’ve got to find another way to get there,’’ Pierre-Paul said.
The three Giants pass-rushing defensive ends — Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora — weren’t able to muster a single sack or even a quarterback hit in the opener against the Cowboys. They didn’t come out and complain about the lack of holding penalties, but they did mention the novice NFL officials weren’t making many holding calls.
“The replacement refs, you never know what calls you’re going to get, so you just go out there and handle your job,’’ Pierre-Paul said. “Even if they are replacement refs, they are referees, otherwise they wouldn’t be on the football field. They’re not going to call every single thing, they’re looking for the most particular thing. That’s probably what they’ve been taught. You can’t blame them.’’
* With LB Keith Rivers (hamstring) doubtful, Michael Boley moves back into the starting lineup and Jacquian Williams takes a step up on the depth chart. Williams looked to be making strides to fill a major role, but a hip injury cost him the bulk of training camp and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Williams is not yet back to the level he was at the end of his rookie season. … When RG Chris Snee studies the Buccaneers defensive front, he sees a familiar foe the Giants handled in the playoffs last year.
“Their style reminds me a lot of Atlanta, just a lot of movement, very athletic, very quick, linebackers can run,’’ Snee said. “We’ll have to be prepared for a lot of movement, a lot of blitzing.’’
* After five years filling a backup role with the Giants, RB D.J. Ware was waived at the end of this summer’s preseason then signed with the Buccaneers, whose offense is now run by Mike Sullivan, a former Giants assistant coach. With LeGarrette Blount out for the opener with a neck injury, Ware made some contributions in a 16-10 Bucs victory over the Panthers with two rushes for 14 yards, including a key third-down conversion run. Ware facing his former team has not exactly been a front-and-center story, but he did stir the pot a bit by saying, “I just want to go out and prove to them they let me go for no reason.’’
* Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said the Giants have not yet found a suitable replacement for Mario Manningham as a No. 3 receiving threat.
“We’re looking for that guy to make the big plays when they load up on everybody else,” Gilbride said. “We’re waiting. I thought Domenik [Hixon], the few chances we gave him, he made some plays for us.”