FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It’s the Backup Bowl tonight as the Giants play their second preseason game in 72 hours and they won’t put many — and perhaps not any starters — on the field against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
The usual course of action for Tom Coughlin is to use his front-line players for no more than one quarter in the preseason finale but not this time, not after his starters went more than two quarters as recently as Monday night in a 17-3 loss to the Jets. That means it’s the reserve brigade searching to cling or claw its way onto the roster.
Here’s a rundown of what’s at stake for those who would be Giants:
Receivers: Rookie Jerrel Jernigan (a ghastly four muffed punts vs. the Jets) is coming off a performance that gets guys cut, but he’s a third-round draft pick and the Giants aren’t giving up on him. He’ll stick but will almost definitely start the season as a game-day inactive. Devin Thomas can help himself and Victor Cruz, despite all the pub, isn’t assured of anything just yet.
Running backs: Coughlin likes the way Andre Brown is practicing but it hasn’t amounted to much in the games. Even with his 97-yard touchdown run vs. the Bears, rookie Da’Rel Scott still seems more like a practice squad option.
Quarterbacks: Hard to believe David Carr doesn’t have the backup job all but locked up, especially since he costs ($810,000) less than one-third of what Sage Rosenfels does. It wasn’t helpful that Rosenfels got sick and then came up with a bad back.
Fullback: Has anyone seen many crunching blocks from rookie Henry Hynoski? He’ll have to do something eye-catching in order to convince the coaches they should move aside Bear Pascoe.
Tight end: Jake Ballard got down the field for a 21-yard reception the other night, but if he’s going to hang it’s got to be for his blocking, which for a 275-pound guy isn’t what it should be. The Giants wouldn’t dare cut Travis Beckum because they’re desperate at this position and he’s a former third-round draft pick, but he hasn’t exactly won himself a job.
Offensive line: Not a lot of spots up for grabs. Does Jim Cordle stick as a backup center with Adam Koets on PUP and out at least the first six games? If not, the Giants go with guard Kevin Boothe as their emergency center.
Defensive line: Osi Umenyiora continues to rehab from arthroscopic knee surgery and isn’t expected back for the opener, possibly leaving a space for Alex Hall, a fourth-year player who on occasion shows flashes. Two recent veteran additions at tackle, Gabe Watson and Jimmy Kennedy, are likely battling for one spot.
Linebackers: Great fight to the finish among a bunch of youngsters. Looks as if rookie sixth-round pick Greg Jones is a lock and seventh-round pick Jacquian Williams might be worth keeping for special teams value. Is there room for Phillip Dillard or Adrian Tracy, both 2010 draft picks? And what about the battle of undrafted rookies, Spencer Paysinger and Mark Herzlich? If the inspirational Herzlich doesn’t make the roster he’s assured of a practice squad assignment.
Defensive backs: Michael Coe was in doubt, but all the injuries at cornerback mean this fourth-year player gets to stay. Joe Burnett, a first-year player from Central Florida, might also make the cut because so many guys have fallen by the wayside. Rookie safety Tyler Sash will be a special teams fixture in his first year.
Punter: This one will go down to the last kick. When veteran Steve Weatherford was signed just before training camp he seemed like a certainty to supplant Matt Dodge, but the competition has been heated. There is a draft pick (albeit a 2010 seventh-rounder) invested in Dodge and he’s got great potential, but Weatherford is a proven commodity. It’s an interesting call.
Kicker: Lawrence Tynes hasn’t done any kicking since taking a nasty thigh contusion in the first preseason game and he might not be ready for the opener. The staff hasn’t been overly impressed with the leg strength of Rhys Lloyd, who has yet to consistently send the ball flying out of the end zone.