Hotmail
Second-year QB feels pressure with addition of Bomar
by JENNY VRENTAS, STAR-LEDGER STAFF , The Star-Ledger
"I didn't really have a big reaction," Woodson said yesterday. "I know this is the NFL, and you've got to compete for your spot, so that's what I'm doing."
But the pressure is definitely on Woodson, who struggled through the preseason last year and spent the fall on the Giants practice squad. The addition of Bomar means his bid for a roster spot as the third quarterback behind Eli Manning and David Carr will be tighter.
At this weekend's rookie minicamp - which Woodson was eligible for because he doesn't have an accrued NFL season - he had an up-and-down showing. He underthrew or overshot several targets and also threw three interceptions, one on Friday, two yesterday.
But, Woodson also exhibited nice touch on some of his passes and coach Tom Coughlin praised him for taking charge of the drills.
"I think he's worked really hard this offseason," Coughlin said. "Hopefully he's going to have a very good and a very competitive training camp. I think the next few weeks will say a lot as well."
Bomar closed camp with a strong practice that showed off his arm strength on a few deep passes, but he is also a project, because he has a quick, flick-like release that Coughlin said doesn't incorporate enough momentum from his body.
Since he was drafted, Woodson said he has lost 22 pounds - from 242 to 220 - and the team would like him to drop about five more. With the help of quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer, he has also removed the hitch from his release, improved his balance and grown comfortable with the playbook, the last of which he admitted was a main struggle as a rookie.
"I feel I have a great chance," Woodson said. "The way I've been working out and helping them and doing whatever they ask me to do, I think they've seen that and noticed that. I think they feel really pleased about what they've seen so far."
Before safety Derek Pegues came to minicamp as a tryout, he called Giants cornerback Kevin Dockery, who helped him adjust to college football when they overlapped for a season at Mississippi State.
Like Dockery, Pegues wasn't drafted, but he's hoping to catch on the same way Dockery has. His interception of Woodson yesterday morning, after stepping in front of third-round tight end Travis Beckum, put him on the coaches' radar.
"You just want to get noticed," Pegues said. "Try to get a little buzz, try to get the coaches to talk about you a little bit. Really take advantage of every opportunity you get, and hopefully they realize what kind of player you are."
The Giants plan to use second-round draft pick Clint Sintim as a strong-side linebacker, Coughlin said.
"Who knows?" Coughlin said, when asked if he could also be tried inside in the future. "Right now we'd like to see him play on the outside."
Wide receivers Ramses Barden, a third-round pick, and Micah Rucker, who was on the Giants' practice squad last season, both tweaked their hamstrings yesterday. Rucker hurt his during the morning practice, and Barden joined him on the sideline midway through the afternoon session.
Following the final practice of rookie minicamp, the Giants signed six players who had participated in camp on a tryout basis: two rookies, center Alex Derenthal (Temple) and defensive end Tommie Hill (Colorado State), and four veterans - wide receiver Shaun Bodiford (Portland State; most recently with Green Bay), running back Allen Patrick (Oklahoma; a seventh-round draft choice by Baltimore last year), linebacker Kelvin Smith (Syracuse; a seventh-round selection by Miami in 2007) and tight end George Wrighster (Oregon; a 2003 fourth-round draft choice by Jacksonville, where he played in 67 games over the past six seasons).
Jenny Vrentas may be reached at jvrentas@starledger.com
| Copyright 2009 Newark Morning Ledger Co. All Rights Reserved | |
|
Terms & Conditions Privacy
Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Add a comment
advertisement
