Perhaps the Giants are forming their own Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside combo.
Rookie running back David Wilson has brought to the backfield exactly what the Giants envisioned as far as an injection of speed and an ability to run off-tackle. The finer points of running between-the-tackles will be slower to develop for the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Wilson. That’s where the (barely) bigger Ahmad Bradshaw (all 5-foot-10 and 214 pounds of him) comes in.
“What happened the other day was [Wilson] was able to get outside and in so doing helped a whole schematic approach to it,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “If we can get a guy to get outside, maybe that will give us some opportunities up inside and hopefully that’s the direction we’re going. We’ll have a better mixture as we get going in terms of the ability of going inside and outside.’’
Bradshaw, assessing what he saw out of Wilson in last week’s preseason game against the Bears, said he “Saw some good runs with the first group, he started off the game great with those first three plays. That’s what we wanted to see and our expectations were matched.’’
With his right hand still healing from a contusion, Bradshaw is not expected to play Wednesday night against the Patriots.
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WR Hakeem Nicks wants to look at the bright side of all the inactivity as a result of his broken foot. “I’ve got fresh legs and I feel like I can just run,’’ Nicks said. “Hopefully my legs will feel fresh later in the season.’’
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When asked about CB Michael Coe’s performance against the Bears, Coughlin said: “I like the way he covered, he was right up there, he was competitive, he was combative at times.’’ Coe is the fill-in starter in place of Prince Amukamara (high ankle sprain).
Two key Cowboys, WR Miles Austin and LB DeMarcus Ware, have been sidelined with strained hamstrings, but Tuesday both indicated they will be able to play in the Sept. 5 opener against the Giants. The availability of TE Jason Witten (spleen) is less certain.
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CB Terrell Thomas hopes to begin running later this week if doctors clear his surgically reconstructed right ACL, which was aggravated in training camp. If the Giants do not believe Thomas will be available soon, they may opt to put him on injured reserve with the roster deadline coming Thursday.
“I’m very confident in myself and where I stand with this team,’’ Thomas said, “but it’s a business. You see guys get cut left and right on these judgment days.’’