Tom Coughlin: Giants Have A Long Way To Go To Be Ready
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — With the regular-season opener two weeks ago, Tom Coughlin says the New York Giants have a long way to go to be ready.
Less than 24 hours after a 28-18 loss to the Jets in the annual preseason game between the New York-named teams, Coughlin didn't have a lot of positives to say after the Giants lost for the second time in three preseason contests.
Eli Manning and the first-team offense produced one touchdown in five series in the first half and handed the Jets another score in the closing seconds when Antonio Cromartie returned an interception for a touchdown.
The defense yielded two touchdowns passes, looked lost in a couple of coverages and didn't do a very good job of stopping the run. The positive was the unit did not give up a lot of points.
Special teams also had major mistake, giving up a touchdown on a third-quarter punt return.
"We all have a ways to go," Coughlin said Sunday. "I don't think any of it is exactly where it should be."
The offense is going to be the key for the Giants this season. It was one of the most explosive in football toward the end of last season. It has been a flop in the preseason, scoring 10 points.
Odell Beckham Jr. didn't catch his first pass in a preseason game until Saturday, and Victor Cruz, who is coming off his second knee surgery in as many years, has yet to play in a preseason game.
Cruz has been sidelined recently by a calf injury and Coughlin has not been told that he will be ready to practice this week.
The Giants finish the preseason at New England on Thursday, so it's highly unlikely that Cruz will be in action.
Coughlin said he would be reluctant to use Cruz in the regular-season opener at Dallas under those circumstances, though the former Pro Bowler said last week that he's confident he'll be ready.
Still, Coughlin said Manning has had chances. He missed Beckham on a sideline route after the second-year player got behind cornerback Darrelle Revis. Beckham caught the pass out of bounds.
"I come from a long line, I like the ball thrown down the field, I like taking shots, I like all of those things," Coughlin said. "It's one thing to talk about it, it's another thing to do it. We haven't done it and we haven't had that many opportunities or taken that many opportunities, and it's frustrating because there were opportunities on the field last night."
Coughlin said his offense was inconsistent in providing protection for Manning and the running game averaged 2.6 yards in the first half, leaving the team facing too many second-and-long situations.
Defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. (ankle) and rookie offensive lineman Bobby Hart (knee) had MRIs on Sunday. Coughlin was not immediately aware of the results.
With Nat Berhe having surgery to remove a blood clot in his calf, Coughlin said the team is bringing in veteran Stevie Brown for a physical. He was released by the Texans last week.
The Giants were inexperienced at safety starting the season, and they have lost four safeties to injury since camp opened.
"If there is a player who can come in and help us, then we are interested," Coughlin said of Brown who played with the Giants from 2012-14.
Rookie Landon Collins (knee) and third-year pro Cooper Taylor (foot) both saw action at safety and made plays against the Jets, Coughlin said.
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