T-Rock's Take on the Giants

OK, back from a very odd lunch in which both Plaxico Burress and Drew Rosenhaus showed up to break some bread, but more on that in a moment. First, the morning practice report with the complete chart of all 11-on-11 plays to follow.

Other than Plaxico not working, things went very smoothly. Even PUPpies David Tyree and Gerris Wilkinson, who are not allowed to practice, spent some time running up and down a hill nearby. The team practiced in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) and did so on the main field here at Albany because the other practice fields are still holding water from the five inches of rain that fell on the area since last Friday.

The offense is clearly focusing on big-plays as Manning unloaded a deep ball to Toomer on the second 11-on-11 snap. That combo seems to be in mid-season form (or, in the case of Toomer and Mannning, they'd better hope late-season form).

One guy who had a lot of trouble was (surprise, surprise) Sinorice Moss. Not only did he fumble the ball on an end-around run, but he also dropped a pass intended for him, both in 11-on-11 situations. That drop was actually broken up by Corey Webster from behind, but Moss could have used his body a little better to seal off the CB. In fact, there was some dialogue on the sidelines whether or not it was a catch and a fumble or a broken up pass. I thought the latter, Glauber thought it was a fumble.

Kevin Boss made a nice catch in 7-on-7s on a ball thrown slightly behind him by Manning with A Pierce in good coverage. It drew some polite applause from the fans in attendance. Like Gilbride said the other day, no one thinks that this kid can't catch the ball in the NFL. Other than that, he was mostly used for blocking in this first practice.

Here's your starting defense on Day 1, by the way: Umenyiora, Cofield, Robbins and Tuck across the front, Kiwanuka, Pierce and Danny Clark at LB, Ross and Webster at CBs and Butler and Michael Johnson at safeties.

The offense started out with a 2WR set with Toomer and Dixon, FB Madison Hedgecock, RB Brandon Jacobs, and Boss at TE.

It was easy to tell the second and third offensive units because the QB for the second unit wore No. 2 and the QB for the third unit wore No. 3. Just one of my little observations that mean nothing. Woodson, in his first full NFL practice, was a bit shaky. His first play he couldn;t find an open receiver and had to pull the ball down and scramble. Then he overthrew Moss on a deep route down the right sideline (though he did so with a flick of his wrist, showing a pretty impressive if slightly inaccurate arm). Then next snap he slipped breaking from center but still managed to get the handoff to Danny Ware. Then he threw a short pass to Darcy Johnson a little too early (or Johnson didn't turn around quick enough) for an incompletion. Later, in the second series of 11-on-11 plays, Woodson and Kay-Jay Harris botched a handoff that landed on the ground for a fumble.

Local boy Shane Olivea started out playing right tackle with the third team.

Don't forget to click below for the chart of the 11-on-11s.