T-Rock's Take on the Giants

OK, that's not a complaint, just an observation.

Should be able to answer some questions from you all in my A.M. practice report:

-- Jeremy Shockey sat out with "upper leg soreness," according to TC. He won't practice tonight either. It's Shockey, so there's little cause for concern, but he does go all-out all the time and that has its consequences. Kevin Boss moved up to run with the 1s and made a few nice catches over the middle and the run-blocking didn't seem to suffer without No. 80 -- Brandon Jacobs had some huge gaps to run through and Reuben Droughns looked better as well.

-- Best day yet for the offense, and Eli Manning in particular. Manning was vocal and instructive with his receivers and on target with his throws. His best was a completion to Sinorice Moss on a throw that just scraped Mathias Kiwanuka's fingertips. Eli still would've been sacked twice, once by Osi (again) and once on a blitz by Gibril Wilson, but the offense was definitely more crisp.

Even his worst throw, a bad overthrow of Amani Toomer that James Butler easily picked off, would've been negated by Adrian Awasom jumping offsides. Eli also got Barry Cofield to jump on a hard count that was roundly praised by the coaching staff.

-- Eli got some help from Aaron Ross, who had one of those "rookie days" that everyone probably told him they'd had. Ross played LCB in the nickel, which was used a lot this morning, and he was burned almost beyond recognition. Jared Lorenzen found David Tyree in front of Ross, who had slipped; then Eli's completion to Moss was helped by Ross slipping again. Eli hit Michael Jennings deep down the sideline in 7-on-7 drills when Jennings got a full step on Ross. And finally, Jennings was wide open on Ross but dropped a Manning throw.

Safeties coach Dave Merritt, usually the loudest voice during drills, boomed to Ross: "You're being tested today, Aaron Ross! It's your day!"

-- Antonio Pierce made a nice breakup on a Manning throw for Boss, who didn't fight for the ball the way Shockey would have. Something No. 80, now a self-proclaimed leader, will have to instruct the rookie on.

-- A lot of third-down work this morning, which meant the nickel package and Kiwanuka lining up at LDE, with either William Joseph -- who got some praise from TC the other day and from D-line coach Mike Waufle today -- or Awasom lining up inside, next to Fred Robbins.

Kiwanuka told me that it's not just Pierce that's helping him along, but Kawika Mitchell as well. "He was a MIKE for a few years and he could make the (defensive alignment) calls if he needed to," Kiwanuka said. "Hearing him and AP talk on the field, they just have an incredible knowledge of defenses. It's where I want to be."

-- It's only practice, but no rookie is showing more zip and intensity than Zak DeOssie. He blew up an attemped block by Robert Douglas on a run this morning, the third day in a row he's shown his strength. His Dad, Steve, was back again today, this time sitting with his good friend and former BC teammate Fred Smerlas, a five-time Pro Bowler in his years with the Bills.

OK, more tonight.

I'll have separate entry on the latest Strahan/Rice news.