T-Rock's Take: Inside the Giants

No surprise, really, that the morning's round of 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills featured many more positive moments for the first-unit offense than the defense -- Eli Manning has all 10 starters back, while yesterday's first-unit D had four returning starters from January's playoff loss.

Eli Manning looked very good from the first play, a deep post pass to Amani Toomer that went for a TD -- Toomer burned past Sam Madison in single coverage. Manning followed that with a nice rollout to his left and completion to TE Visanthe Shiancoe and a dump-off to RB Brandon Jacobs. Manning went 4-for-6 in the first wave of 7-on-7 plays, only missing connection with Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey. Shockey did catch another thrown to him though.

Even the second-, third- and fourth-unit offenses were humming. Tim Carter, who needs a strong camp now that rookie Sinorice Moss is here to provide speed (and health), had a very good morning. He shook off the patella tendonitis he's been battling since the spring to make a couple of a good catches, including one from Tim Hasselbeck while DB Curtis DeLoatch hung on Carter.

As for that first-unit defense, it is veteran-heavy. Fred Robbins, who was the 3-gap tackle (not the nose tackle) during his time as a Giant, materialized yesterday as the new nose tackle alongside William Joseph. Guess Tom Coughlin decided an experienced tackle like Robbins, who has dropped 15 pounds to 315, can pick up the nose spot better to start than any of the young, untested candidates.

That first unit -- Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora at the ends; Robbins and Joseph at the tackles; LaVar Arrington, Antonio Pierce and Carlos Emmons at LB; Corey Webster and Madison at corner and Will Demps and Gibril Wilson at safety -- has the kind of experience that should offset the unfamiliarity.

And now for what will be a regular blog feature... The Michael Jennings Moment of the Day.

MJ gave us the quick rundown on the morning's workout: "Overall, it was pretty good," he said. "I think for the team and for me, it's about getting the kinks out." He had two balls thrown his way and didn't catch either of them, but he has been nursing a sore hamstring.

He also told me that the t-shirt he had printed up -- the one that says, "Put me in, Coach" -- was a big hit with Coughlin.

"I showed it to him and he loved it," MJ said. "But I also had a serious message. I wanted him to know I am ready to be a full member of the Giants. There's no more practice squad for me."

And he walked back to his souped-up Chevy, flashing the No. 15 shaved into the back of his head. I also noticed another of my favorite things about him -- he didn't just shave the "15" into his head, he shaved a number sign (#) too.