SB Nation - Leger Douzable

Rams add a defensive tackle

VanRam — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:26:14 -0000

In what could be something of a telling move, the St. Louis Rams added another DT yesterday. Leger Douzable was added to the practice squad, after spending the first week of the season on the Giants active roster.

An an undrafted rookie in 2008, he went from the Vikings to the Giants practice squad, before dressing with the team for the last four games of the season.

Here's Spagnuolo on the signing:

I’m obviously familiar with him, from being in New York. I think he’s a character guy. He’s got some talent. I thought it was an opportunity to get him in here, see what he could do, and how he would mix with the guys here.

Let me translate for you: "I'm concerned as Hell about our defensive tackle situation, and want to find as many big, warm bodies as I can just in case."

Chris Canty out of Sunday's game

Ed Valentine — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:35:33 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Browse more photos »

The bad news for the New York Giants comes courtesy of Mike Garafolo.

Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty will be sidelined for the first time in his NFL career this coming Sunday.

Canty, who must have been looking forward to facing the Cowboys after they allowed him to sign with their division rivals this off-season, will be out at least one week with a calf injury suffered in practice on Wednesday, someone informed of the diagnosis confirmed. NFL.com was first to report Canty would be sidelined.

The person informed of Canty's injury said he suffered a strain that won't require surgery. The person said Canty might miss a few games but "he won't be out too long." In fact, the person refused to rule out Canty for the Week 3 game against the Buccaneers. It appears Canty's status is what Tom Coughlin usually calls "week to week."

Since the Giants released Leger Douzable this week that leaves them with three defensive tackles able to play. We'll see if they gamble and stay with three, bring Douzable back or maybe add Anthony Bryant off the practice squad.

Giants do the roster shuffle

Ed Valentine — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:30:24 -0000

Since I know some of you guys are dying to get these, here are your New York Giants' roster moves today. Here is the scoop Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News.

The Giants added a running back today, but it wasn’t the one that was expected.

Rather than promote Allen Patrick from the practice squad, the Giants claimed Gartrell Johnson off waivers from the San Diego Chargers. The 5-11, 218-pound Johnson was the Chargers’ fourth-round draft pick out of Miami. He is considered a powerful inside runner who was could be good in short yardage.

Patrick, meanwhile, didn’t even get to stick around at all. He was cut from the practice squad earlier today.

Johnson, who rushed for 176 yards on 43 preseason carries, clearly must have caught the Giants’ attention because they decided to go with him over a couple of promising players with more experience. The Giants had what one NFL source said was a "sizeable" workout of running backs today, that included Lorenzo Booker and may have included T.J. Duckett, too.

The Giants also cut CB DeAndre Wright and TE Kareem Brown from the practice squad. They replaced them with TE Bear Pascoe (Fresno State) and DB Michael Coe (Alabama State).

To make room for Johnson and linebacker Michael Boley on the active roster, the Giants cut veteran offensive lineman Tutan Reyes and defensive tackle Leger Douzable. Boley was added to the roster after spending opening week on the suspended list.

My take: Typical Jerry Reese to find a player like Johnson, who might have a future, instead of going to a player like Duckett, who has a past. Also, I am very surprised to see Reyes get released. During pre-season I thought of him as the first lineman off the bench. Guess I was wrong!

Where have all the linemen gone?

Ed Valentine — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:33 -0000

Chris Canty (via assets.nydailynews.com)

I was on the radio Saturday morning, as I was invited to talk about our New York Giants on 'GameFace,' (www.espn940.com). I bring this up not to toot my own horn -- though that doesn't hurt -- but, rather, because of one of the questions I was asked.

My answer was that it was way too soon to begin discussing that stuff. Today, barely two days later, that question seems downright silly.

Remember that five-man rotation the Giants were supposed to have at defensive tackle? Well, now Jay Alford's season might be over. Chris Canty has a torn hamstring and there is no word on when he might be able to play. Fred Robbins played a few snaps on Saturday, but he is working his way back from micro-fracture surgery and is nowhere near being ready to be counted on for a large number of snaps. Rocky Bernard has only practiced for a couple of days and is still very limited. The only reasonably healthy member of the defensive line the Giants thought they would have is Barry Cofield, and he also had knee surgery in the off-season.

Heap on top of all that injuries to Antonio Pierce, Kenny Phillips and Aaron Ross, and the injury/suspension of Michael Boley. Of those four only Ross -- in a limited way -- is expected on the field today at UAlbany for the second-last practice of training camp.

Suddenly, the whipping the Giants took up front Saturday against Chicago doesn't really look all that surprising.

"Until we get this thing straightened around with everybody on the field, this rotation and this depth that we are talking about really is a non-factor right now. We need people practicing and we need to be able to accomplish that," coach Tom Coughlin said Sunday. "I just think that for so long we have been (hearing) that we have so much depth. I don’t know what you are watching, but the guys who are supposed to be the depth have hardly even practiced. Some haven’t practiced, some haven’t played. I think you are talking about something that looks good, but hasn’t really materialized."

There are areas of concern just like there are on every team. But I think you have to earn that is said about you. What we believe in is that talk is cheap, let’s do it on the field. It has been very spotty on the field, so obviously it is time to get to work and get this the way we want it to be, for people to come to grips with the reality and be serious about making these corrections and then go out against a good football team and accomplish that and see if we can get it done on the field"
I just think that for so long we have been (hearing) that we have so much depth. I don’t know what you are watching, but the guys who are supposed to be the depth have hardly even practiced. Some haven’t practiced, some haven’t played. I think you are talking about something that looks good, but hasn’t really materialized."

Fred Robbins (via blog.nj.com)

Saturday against the New York Jets you will likely be watching guys named Anthony Bryant, Leger Douzable and Jeremy Clark take a lot of snaps.

Yes, there is time before the September 13 opener against Washington. Time for Robbins and Bernard to round into shape. Maybe time for Canty to get healthy. Maybe time for Alford to discover his knee isn't as bad as we think it is.

This is not, however, the start the Giants had in mind when they collected all of this defensive talent.

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Yes, it's back

Ed Valentine — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Carolina Panthers' DeCori Birmingham (24) is stopped by New York Giants' Travonti Johnson (36) late in the third quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday.

Browse more photos »

Veteran members of Big Blue View Nation know the drill. The morning after each game we review the previous day's proceedings 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style. That means we gives 'Kudos' to the best performers and use 'Wet Willies' to heap scorn upon the worst.

So, let's get started with the first 'Kudos & Wet Willies' post of the 2009 season.

Kudos to ...

Tommie Hill: Produced what ESPN termed "the greatest finish in pre-season football history." Hill snagged a ball batted away from Hunter Cantwell by Leger Douzable and ran it about 20 yards for a game-winning score on the final play. Hill probably won't make the team, but he will have a great story to tell.
Ahmad Bradshaw: Watching Bradshaw last night had to bring a smile to the faces of Giants fans. He looked quick. He looked elusive. He looked strong. He looked ready to become the big-time part of the offense many have thought he should have been the past two seasons.
Osi Umenyiora: Flew around right end to strip the ball from a helpless Jake Delhomme, showing that last season's knee injury won't slow him down this season. And, he did not get hurt.

"It felt good. It's great to be back out there. This is a good start," Umenyiora said. "I'm paid to hit the quarterback. That's what I do."

Clint Sintim: Still has much to learn as a stand-up every down linebacker. As a pure pass rusher though, especially from defensive end, Sintim showed Monday night that he can already be a force. Gee, and the Giants sure did need another terrific edge rusher. Now, how do they get him on the field?
Adam Koets: The backup center made it through a whole game without messing up an exchange. Amazing, since I don't think he has made it through an entire practice without leaving a ball on the ground.
Mario Manningham: A nifty 22-yard punt return, and a nice catch on a ball from Eli Manning that was nullified by a penalty.
Travonti Johnson: The backup safety had a team-high seven tackles. I barely noticed him during the game, and that is probably a good thing.
David Carr: Anyone willing to sacrifice his body with a John Elway leap in the first exhibition game gets 'Kudos.' Aside from one play where he bailed out of the pocket too quickly, I thought Carr looked pretty good.
Stoney Woodson: The seventh-round pick had an interception and a fumble recovery.
Jon Gruden: I have never liked the guy. I will give him credit, though. He speaks his mind clearly and thoughtfully, and he seems pretty entertaining in the booth as part of the Monday Night Football crew.

Wet Willies to ...

Lawrence Tynes: Yeah, yeah, pre-season game, he missed a bunch of last week with a minor leg injury, yadda, yadda, yadda. Sorry, not buying. After what John Carney did last season, missing your first effort -- a very makeable 43-yarder with no wind -- is not a good beginning for the Giants' kicker. He made a 46-yarder later, but I was already annoyed with him.
Andre Woodson: The NFL game still looks too fast for the former University of Kentucky star. Woodson has been terrific in camp -- with no pass rushers threatening to decapitate him. In real game conditions last night, however, Woodson threw a bad interception and looked indecisive. He will have to do better than that to hold off Rhett Bomar for a spot on this team.
The punt team: Somebody screwed up a blocking assignment, allowing a Jeff Feagles punt to be blocked. Sadly, I think it was David Tyree. He was the gunner on the play and jumped inside rather than taking the player off the corner, resulting in the kick being blocked. Tyree seems to have little chance to make this team, and special teams mistakes won't help.

Other notables

Danny Ware had a beautiful 36-yard touchdown run on a screen pass. Nice plays from rookie runing back Allen Patrick and defensive end Maurice Evans, as well.

-- Panthers vs Giants coverage
-- Panthers vs Giants box score
-- Cat Scratch Reader
-- Panthers vs Giants recap