Editor's note: Newsday's sports interns were at Giants camp today, and Arthur Staple was kind enough to allow them a little space on his blog.
Katie Strang, who went to Michigan State University and has a master's degree from Columbia, shares some of her insights....
BY KATIE STRANG
Although the most pressing topic du jour among reporters at Giants mini-camp today is undoubtedly the Sopranos season finale letdown, another popular talking point has been the transition to outside linebacker by Mathias Kiwanuka, who had 55 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions as a defensive end last season.
Unlike Sopranos writer David Chase, who left loyal watchers livid (That blackout was cheap! That urgent look on Meadow’s face…what the hell was that?), Kiwanuka is doing his best not to disappoint. He is looking at the transition as a challenge and is making improvements every practice.
His footspeed and agility were evident today in drills and his athletic ability is unquestioned, but coach Tom Coughlin said Kiwanuka is "still trying to catch up" with learning the demands of his new position.
Kiwanuka has done extra studying in preparation for his role as OLB, which he describes as a position with "more reads and more responsibilities." Kiwanuka said both positions require a lot of rushing and dropping, but he is getting acclimated to less rushing and more dropping, a skill which will prove especially vital in pass-defense situations this season.
Kiwanuka also has some valuable mentors by his side. Antonio Pierce can answer pretty much any defensive question, according to Kiwanuka, and assuming Strahan is healthy, they make up a pretty formidable opposition to any offense.
Asked if he thinks the Giants linebackers will get worthy attention from the league’s quarterbacks, Kiwanuka laughed and said, "You know someone’s going to get there."