Last look ahead to Cardinals

Brandon Jacobs practiced, though he was listed as 'limited', but it appears he will be ready to go. This is his FA year, so he is going to do anything he can to make sure he will play.

Gerris Wilkinson and Kevin Dockery were both practicing Thursday without restrictions, so they should be ready to go. It will be interesting to see if Dockery wins his starting nickel job back from rookie CB Terrel Thomas who has been playing very well in his absence. I would not be shocked if Giants dress extra DBs this week. Cardinals play a lot of 3 and 4 WR formations and are a pass oriented offense. Giants will play a lot of nickel - I even think it should be their base personnel package this week to defense the Cardinals dangerous passing game. The thing that leaves you open to is a power running game, if you are short 1 LB on the field. but the Cardinals RB is Hightower, who is a small speed guy, so the extra DB might not kill the Giants in trying to stop the running game. Of course, it's not only about who the RB is - it's more about having stout guys to take on the opposing OL, but I think it is still worth the risk based on how little the Cardinals run and how well they pass.

Wilkinson will probably not start because Blackburn has been playing well, but I would like to see Wilkinson take a lot of snaps, because he is the fastest OLB on the Giants and will provide the best down field coverage against the passing game.

Speaking of LBs and personnel packages - Antonio Pierce is one of the very few players who almost never comes off the field. Because of personnel packages to combat passing versus running downs as well as getting players a rest during the game so that they will be fresh in the 4th qtr, almost every player sits for several snaps each game. Pierce almost never comes off the field. He is quick enough to get down field to defend the pass, strong enough to take on the run, but most of all, he is very aware of the offensive plays and is masterful at moving the defense around, even after the play call has been sent in by the DC from the sidelines.

Plaxico Burress has a hamstring injury and did not practice. If it is at all close, I would hold him out. Giants have lots of depth at WR and they certainly don't want a lingering hamstring injury to hamper Plax in the stretch run.

Just a follow up on the game plan post from yesterday: in that post, I said that the Cardinals looked like they might be somewhat vulnerable in the passing game and Giants have to be prepared to throw the ball more than they have the past few games. What may argue even more strongly for that point is that the Cardinals appear to be fairly strong in defending the run, allowing an average of about 3.4 yards per carry. I always say that defensive statistics can be very misleading. If the Cardinals score a lot of points, opposing teams may be forced into passing and may stay away from the run. However, we're not looking at total rush yards, we're looking at yards per carry, which should be indicative that they are good against the run. Giants will have to pass the ball.

If that's the case, the loss of Burress might hurt, but I have great confidence in Hixon and the others in the WR corps. Eli's best passing game of the year came with Burress out. Granted it was against the pitiful Seahawks, but Cardinals are not sending many shut down CB's out there either.