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'SKINS ARE TOUGH - IMPORTANT TO START FAST WITH ROAD TRIO NEXT - REDSKINS AT GIANTS
by PAUL SCHWARTZ , The New York Post
The Giants this afternoon face the Redskins to kick off the final season at Giants Stadium before they move across the parking lot to their stillunnamed, brand-new luxury home. "Hopefully we are playing that last game in January as well," Pierce said of the old stadium.
To get there, the Giants need to pile up a load of victories, something they did last season before getting derailed late and ousted early from the playoffs.
A look inside the season opener:
LOAD RUNNER
Brandon Jacobs set an immediate and punishing tone in 2008 as the Giants also opened up against the 'Skins with several bruising early runs, capped by a shoulderlowering demolition of safety LeRon Landry that lives on in Internet video posterity.
"We were watching the game from last year, some of the runs he had," center Shaun O'Hara said. "If you don't remember, I recommend you go back and see some of the things he did. It's pretty awesome."
ANDRE THE (FORMER) GIANT
Just how much help can quarterback Andre Woodson be to the Redskins? He signed on to the practice squad this week after he was cut by the Giants , the team that drafted him last year. If Woodson gets jettisoned soon after this game, we'll know he was brought in exclusively to provide expert scouting reports on the inner workings of the Giants offense.
"I don't know what he's told them or what they already knew," Eli Manning said. "I don't think it's something where we got to freak out and change our whole offense."
NO OFFENSE TAKEN
The Redskins averaged only 16.6 points a game last season, Jim Zorn's first as a head coach. Nearly the identical cast of characters returns, led by four Pro Bowl players: TE Chris Cooley, RB Clinton Portis, LT Chris Samuels and FB Mike Sellers. One new wrinkle is the promotion of second-year man Malcolm Kelly into the starting lineup at receiver. The big concern in D.C., once again, is quarterback Jason Campbell, who in 2008 managed only 14 points in two losses to the Giants .
CORNERED
Hamstring injuries to starter Aaron Ross and reserve Kevin Dockery leave the Giants dangerously thin at cornerback. Terrell Thomas makes his second career start and rookie free agent Bruce Johnson makes his NFL debut. Look for the Redskins to test them both.
NEW BACK ATTACK
As Jacobs crashed the 1,000yard rushing club the past two seasons, he had a sidekick with him every step of the way. Derrick Ward in that span rushed for 1,627 yards. Ward signed with the Buccaneers, and moving up the running back ladder is Ahmad Bradshaw, who has averaged 6.1 yards in his two seasons and is an incredibly intriguing runner. The No. 3 back, Danny Ware, also looks as if he has the goods.
"There's no reason why we should drop off half a notch from where we were last year," Jacobs said. "We should be up higher than we were because we are a bit younger. I love Derrick like a brother from another mother, but we know what those guys can do in this locker room."
BETTER TO RECEIVE
Since 1994, the Giants 10 times drafted a receiver in the first three rounds. The only time one of those rookies scored a touchdown in their first season was back in 2000, when Ron Dixon had one. That's it. Hakeem Nicks, this year's first-round pick, makes his NFL debut amid great expectations and even greater skepticism surrounding the G i a n t s about the ability of their receiving corps to provide enough options for Manning. Is this too much, too soon for Nicks, fellow rookie Ramses Barden and secondyear man Mario Manningham? We'll soon see.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Points won't be easy to come by on a day likely dominated by defense. Figure Eli Manning makes more plays than Jason Campbell to make the difference.
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