What should not be forgotten in the Giants’ kicking derby is that whoever gets the job will have to work with rookie snapper Jay Alford, who was drafted out of Penn State as a defensive tackle prospect and as such cannot devote his full attention to special teams.
Alford was forced into snapping for field goals after Ryan Kuehl – who did not have a single bad snap in his three years with the Giants – went down in training camp with a high ankle sprain that could keep him out the entire season. Kuehl’s lone role was snapping.
Consider this a warning, courtesy of a 41-year old veteran who has seen it all.
“In all reality if you look at most teams around the league there are three specialist positions,” punter Jeff Feagles said, “and it includes one of the snappers.”
There were problems with the snaps and holds in Saturday’s 20-12 preseason loss to the Jets: Lawrence Tynes missed two of three field goals tries and Josh Huston missed his lone attempt.
Tynes, after missing from 40 and 43 yards and hitting from 40, offered no excuses but pointed out that the snaps by Alford and holds by rookie punter Cory Ohnesorge – filling in because Feagles was out with back spasms – were not good enough. There was none of that yesterday.
“You know what, I’m done talking about that,” Tynes said. “That’s a moot issue as of right now.”
Huston has shown the stronger leg and, by his count, has hit 17 of his last 19 field goal attempts in practice and games after going 3-for-3 yesterday. Tynes hit 2 of 3.
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DE Michael Strahan‘s locker remained empty yesterday. A team-issued hotel reservation for the season-opener in Dallas sat on his chair, but it is still a question whether he’ll need it.
Strahan’s teammates have been forced to answer the questions about the missing defensive end.
“It’s definitely a distraction, but I think we’re handling it really well,” WR Amani Toomer said.
“We can only play with the guys who are on the field right now”
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The Giants made a round of cuts yesterday. The team waived TE Rodney Burgess, OT Myniya Smith, LB Karibi Dede, S Richard Yancy, C Nick Jones and WR Will Buchanon. . . . DT Marcus Bell was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. . . . Coughlin said CB E.J. Underwood (jaw) could return to practice next week. . . . LB Kawika Mitchell (groin) and CB Gerrick McPhearson (ankle) were injured in Saturday’s game and sat out yesterday.