Coughlin Wants Arrington To Be Disruptive

[NeMesiS]

BY ARTHUR STAPLE

Newsday Staff Writer

 

May 10, 2006

 

 

Tom Coughlin gave a quick preview of his team's defensive alignment on the second draft day, casually mentioning that LaVar Arrington would be the Giants' starting strong-side linebacker, not weak-side as Arrington played last year with the Redskins.

 

For Arrington, the alignment doesn't matter. He knows his mission is to attack and get into the opposing backfield, just as it is for Pro Bowl defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, and as it will be for whichever other pass-rushers make it onto the field: second-year end Justin Tuck, rookie end Mathias Kiwanuka and anyone else who can fit into defensive coordinator Tim Lewis' scheme.

 

"The type of personnel we have, it allows us to do so many things," Arrington said yesterday. "You're going to see a lot of different looks from us ... Coach Lewis says he wants me closer to the ball. That means closer to the quarterback. The plan is for me to be disruptive."

 

The addition of Kiwanuka, the Giants' first-round pick April 29, may disrupt some things inside the locker room. Tuck, the 2005 third-round pick out of Notre Dame who shined in brief appearances at both end and tackle last season, said all the right things yesterday about the addition of Kiwanuka.

 

"It's competition; I hope we can bring out the best in each other," said Tuck, who added that two coaches called him after the Giants selected Kiwanuka to assuage his fears about being pushed aside. "I can see why they picked him - I played against him. At No. 32, he's a steal."

 

Still, not all the voices were in agreement. "It may stunt someone's growth," Umenyiora said, adding that perhaps Lewis will have a scheme that has "nine pass-rushers on the field at the same time."

 

But all agree there is too much talent on defense now to go to waste, especially in the front seven. "It's going to be as good as we want it to be," Arrington said. "If we push ourselves, we'll meet expectations and hopefully surpass them."

[NeMesiS]

Giants | Tuck to line up inside from time to time

Wed, 10 May 2006 10:07:25 -0700

 

Mike Garafalo, of the Star-Ledger, reports New York Giants DE Justin Tuck could see extensive action at defensive tackle on obvious passing downs. The Giants have four excellent pass-rushing defensive ends and will have to find a way to get them all on the field.

 

 

Giants | Umenyiora discusses Kiwanuka selection

Tue, 9 May 2006 23:21:53 -0700

 

Mike Garafalo, of the Newark Star-Ledger, reports New York Giants DL Osi Umenyiora discussed the team's selection of DL Mathias Kiwanuka in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Umenyiora said, "It's probably going to stunt somebody's growth. I don't know. All I know is, when I was a rookie, I didn't get that much playing time and you really need that. You have to play in order to develop." He added that you need more than teaching from defensive line coach Mike Waufle and defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, but that getting on the football field enables a player to realize their full potential. "(Kiwanuka is) a first-rounder, so obviously they're going to put him on the football field at some point in time. It's just a situation we're going to have to deal with," said Umenyiora.