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Giants Turn To Barber
June 16, 2004
By JOHN ALTAVILLA, Courant Staff Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Although he says he's not envious of how the Rams use running back Marshall Faulk, Tiki Barber admits he has visualized himself in the role that has made Faulk a star.
"I have tried to emulate the type of player he is," Barber said. "He's a combination of speed and agility, a player who is able to make defenders miss in the open field as both a running back and receiver. I've tried to fashion myself that way over the last three years, and to a varying degree I've been able to do that."
It appears Barber will get his chance to mimic Faulk in the new Giants offense Tom Coughlin is installing. But it's just a coincidence former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner will be running it when the season starts Sept. 12 in Philadelphia.
"I'm excited about it," Barber said. "My role is changing for the better, for myself and the team. During the last couple of years I've been an every down back, whether I was running it on third or fourth down or taking a swing pass. Now this year it'll be more geared to making me an open field player, which is all right with me. It's come full circle for me, but it's shaping up as being a comfortable situation, one that's great for the offense and, as a tangent, great for Ron Dayne [who will get more carries]."
The Giants coaches have said Barber was at a disadvantage by being asked to carry between the tackles. He led the team with 278 carries while former coach Jim Fassel benched Dayne all season for skipping the voluntary preseason workout program. The new coaches are also convinced Barber's running style was largely responsible for nine fumbles (six lost), more than one quarter of the team's NFC-leading 35. So while Coughlin will give Barber a chance to excel, he will also expect Barber to take better care of the ball.
"He is following instructions about carrying the ball high and tight and keeping the ball from sliding to the side and giving defenders an opportunity to strip it when it's hanging at his side," Coughlin said. "We noticed he appeared very vulnerable to being stripped when he carried it. We're trying to institute that particular style and he's trying to get comfortable. It's certainly something he has to concentrate on. I've been trying to get the defense to take some swings at the ball, even when he's walking back to the huddle with it."
Shockey Uncertain
Jeremy Shockey did not practice but was back with the team Tuesday after missing a flight Monday from Houston, where he attended a wedding over the weekend. The tight end and the team were no closer to deciding the next course of action for his sore right foot while additional medical opinions are collected.
Coughlin said Monday that doctors had found "hot spots" in bone scans of the foot. Hot spots are considered areas of vulnerability that could develop into fractures or breaks if not cared for. Shockey sustained a stress fracture to the foot last season.
Joseph Mending
Defensive tackle William Joseph, the first-round pick in 2003, is recovering from surgery for a torn pectoral muscle sustained while lifting weights during voluntary off-season workouts. He is a probable starter since Keith Hamilton retired and Cornelius Griffin signed with the Redskins.
"He's made good progress," Coughlin said. "He's out of the sling and you can see his arm move when he's running. But surgery like this takes time to heal. He'll be ready at some point in training camp."
Without Joseph, the Giants will take a longer look at the six free agent tackles they signed, most notably Martin Chase, Fred Robbins and Norman Hand, a solid run defender who is trying to lose weight. The Giants wanted him at 336 pounds before camp and he is now 334.
"I'm getting older [31] and want to see my kids grow up," said Hand, who wants to lose much more weight before training camp begins July 29.
June 16, 2004
By JOHN ALTAVILLA, Courant Staff Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Although he says he's not envious of how the Rams use running back Marshall Faulk, Tiki Barber admits he has visualized himself in the role that has made Faulk a star.
"I have tried to emulate the type of player he is," Barber said. "He's a combination of speed and agility, a player who is able to make defenders miss in the open field as both a running back and receiver. I've tried to fashion myself that way over the last three years, and to a varying degree I've been able to do that."
It appears Barber will get his chance to mimic Faulk in the new Giants offense Tom Coughlin is installing. But it's just a coincidence former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner will be running it when the season starts Sept. 12 in Philadelphia.
"I'm excited about it," Barber said. "My role is changing for the better, for myself and the team. During the last couple of years I've been an every down back, whether I was running it on third or fourth down or taking a swing pass. Now this year it'll be more geared to making me an open field player, which is all right with me. It's come full circle for me, but it's shaping up as being a comfortable situation, one that's great for the offense and, as a tangent, great for Ron Dayne [who will get more carries]."
The Giants coaches have said Barber was at a disadvantage by being asked to carry between the tackles. He led the team with 278 carries while former coach Jim Fassel benched Dayne all season for skipping the voluntary preseason workout program. The new coaches are also convinced Barber's running style was largely responsible for nine fumbles (six lost), more than one quarter of the team's NFC-leading 35. So while Coughlin will give Barber a chance to excel, he will also expect Barber to take better care of the ball.
"He is following instructions about carrying the ball high and tight and keeping the ball from sliding to the side and giving defenders an opportunity to strip it when it's hanging at his side," Coughlin said. "We noticed he appeared very vulnerable to being stripped when he carried it. We're trying to institute that particular style and he's trying to get comfortable. It's certainly something he has to concentrate on. I've been trying to get the defense to take some swings at the ball, even when he's walking back to the huddle with it."
Shockey Uncertain
Jeremy Shockey did not practice but was back with the team Tuesday after missing a flight Monday from Houston, where he attended a wedding over the weekend. The tight end and the team were no closer to deciding the next course of action for his sore right foot while additional medical opinions are collected.
Coughlin said Monday that doctors had found "hot spots" in bone scans of the foot. Hot spots are considered areas of vulnerability that could develop into fractures or breaks if not cared for. Shockey sustained a stress fracture to the foot last season.
Joseph Mending
Defensive tackle William Joseph, the first-round pick in 2003, is recovering from surgery for a torn pectoral muscle sustained while lifting weights during voluntary off-season workouts. He is a probable starter since Keith Hamilton retired and Cornelius Griffin signed with the Redskins.
"He's made good progress," Coughlin said. "He's out of the sling and you can see his arm move when he's running. But surgery like this takes time to heal. He'll be ready at some point in training camp."
Without Joseph, the Giants will take a longer look at the six free agent tackles they signed, most notably Martin Chase, Fred Robbins and Norman Hand, a solid run defender who is trying to lose weight. The Giants wanted him at 336 pounds before camp and he is now 334.
"I'm getting older [31] and want to see my kids grow up," said Hand, who wants to lose much more weight before training camp begins July 29.
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