New York Giants Official Website

  Making a change
   By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -The Giants aren't relying solely on an improved performance in their quest to stop surrendering so many big plays. They're also making a lineup change.

Coach Tom Coughlin announced today that Aaron Rouse will start at safety in place of C.C. Brown when the Giants host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. Rouse joined the Giants on Sept. 24, the day safety Kenny Phillips was placed on injured reserve with a knee condition that required surgery. He started the first two games of the season for Green Bay before the Packers put him on waivers.

Rouse was the third safety in the previous six games. He will be the third NFL player to start games for two different teams this year, joining wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Cleveland and the Jets) and linebacker Will Witherspoon (St. Louis and Philadelphia).

"This is the NFL, pressure comes week-in and week-out," Rouse said. "As a team and as a member of this team, everybody has to be prepared to play, whether you are a starter or not. We look at it as if you are first or second string, you are going to be a starter, because it only takes one play for you to come up in that starting 11. Whether or not I was starting this week, that is how I practice. I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Rouse has six tackles (three solo) in six games, plus two special teams tackles.

"He has done okay," Coughlin said. "He is still trying to fully understand what is expected and what the new language is - the new language of our defense and what his responsibilities are. But I see a tall, fast athlete that can certainly contribute."

Rouse played one defense last year in Green Bay, another this summer when Dom Capers took over the Packers' defense, and a third scheme when he arrived here.

"You go from three different coordinators in three years it is going to be different," he said. "(Secondary/safeties) coach Dave Merritt brought me along smoothly. My teammates, (Antonio) Pierce, Michael Johnson, C.C. Brown, Corey Webster have been talking to me constantly, making sure that we are on the same page. When you have teammates out there that constantly talk to you and making sure that you are on the same page, it works out well."

Brown, who was signed by the Giants as a free agent on March 4, has played in all eight games with six starts this season. He has started 53 of the 58 games in which he's played in his five-year career.

"I pretty much knew at the end of the game (last week) that there was going to be a switch somewhere," Brown said. "If you are not on your 'A' game all the time, things like this can happen. Only thing I can do is to try to keep pushing forward and try and get better.

"It happened to me before in Houston. They sat me on the bench before, I just kept fighting hard and eventually I got another shot at it. There is nothing for me to get mad about or try and blame anybody but myself. It's my own fault, whenever I get back out there, I need to play harder and be more aware of the deep balls."

Brown will still get an opportunity to contribute against San Diego.

"C.C. can play both sides and (free safety) Michael Johnson has played," Coughlin said. "We have three guys, they all play a lot. The third safety played 26 snaps the other day (in Philadelphia). So we are just going to try to maneuver around a little bit and defend the deep ball better - that's all."

The Giants clearly must reduce the number of big plays they've allowed recently. Against the Eagles, the Giants gave up touchdown runs of 41 and 66 yards and four passes of 20 or more yards, increasing the total of such passes to 14 in the last three weeks. One of those was a 54-yard touchdown to DeSean Jackson that Brown later said was his responsibility to stop.

"People are going to get plays on you, but the sheer volume of big plays, that has been our biggest nemesis," defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. "Even from when we were 5-0, we still, a couple times in a game, there are a couple breakout plays and you are always trying to coach against that. The players are trying to defend that stuff. But, it has stockpiled on us the past couple weeks and consequently we lose three games in a row and get 40 points scored on us."

Sheridan was asked if the breakdowns in that and previous games were mental or physical.

"To me, it has been more physical," Sheridan said. "It isn't like the guys are busting the defense, we're just turning guys loose. Some of them have been outstanding plays by the offense. I'd say it is just more on individual plays, maybe an individual guy either not able or executing particularly well on that particular play. It isn't like guys are not executing the defense (where) one guy is running one defense and some guy is running something else. That has not been the norm, no."

On Sunday, the Giants must contend with a San Diego offense that features quick and dangerous running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles and a trio of 6-5 receiving targets in tight end Antonio Gates and wideouts Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd.

Rouse won't be the only new defensive contributor as the Giants try to end their three-game losing streak. Linebacker Michael Boley (knee surgery) and defensive lineman Chris Canty (calf) made it through the practice week unscathed and are on track to return after missing four and seven games, respectively. Both players are officially listed as questionable.

"I have been moving around pretty good over these last couple of days, haven't really had any pain," Boley said. "Basically, I am just trying to get a feel back and trying to get the strength back in my knee and hope for the best."

"I feel great, (my) body feels great," Canty said. "I'm trying to make sure that I go over the assignments again in my mind and head and make sure that I am ready to contribute on Sunday.

"I am looking forward to it. I think that is going to provide me a whole lot more energy. I have been anticipating this moment for so long, it has been tough sitting at home week after week watching the football team go out and compete and not being a part of it. I am definitely excited about it."

The reinforcements have arrived just in time, because the Giants have been very blunt this week when discussing the importance of this game. They've been outscored, 112-61, in the losing streak that dropped them to second place in the NFC East behind Dallas and Philadelphia, two teams that square off Sunday night. Another loss would leave the Giants 1½ games back entering their bye week and with seven to play.

"It's a big game," middle linebacker and team captain Antonio Pierce said. "We are going into the second half of the season and we need to change things. We need to get back on the wining track, the winning ways that we are used to. Get back our confidence, get back our swagger, and get back everything. Get back to how we play ball."

"You don't always like to put too much pressure on one game, but I think in this scenario, that is kind of what you have to do," said quarterback Eli Manning, the offensive captain. "We need to get a win going into the bye week and get back to playing our style of football and winning games (and) performing better than what we have been."

No less an authority than Coughlin, not one generally prone to overstatement, said, "The message really is that this is a one-game season for us." Coughlin said that in part because it's the Giants' final game before their bye, but his message is clear - it's a critical game.

The good news is that the deficiencies are correctable and faith and confidence remains high among the players and coaches. But as Coughlin has said many times, talk is cheap. It's time to play - and win - a game.

This week, Coughlin challenged the team leaders to be what he called "lifters," to guide the team back to the plateau it stood on earlier this season.

"Honestly, our star players, the guys that people consider stars, need to play like stars," said Pierce, who put himself at the head of that group. "The guys that are solid and contribute need to contribute even more. Everybody needs to do a little more right now because obviously what we are doing isn't working.

"It has nothing to do with Xs and Os. Sometimes it does. But for the most part sometimes you have to go above Xs and Os. Play a little harder, do little extra things, run to the ball more, have energy, show some kind of spirit that you really enjoy playing this game and are passionate about this game. Because it passes you by really quick and we don't want to see our season pass us by."

NOTES

*Cornerback Aaron Ross is the only player that has been declared out of the game. The Giants listed five players as probable: tight end Kevin Boss (ankle), running back Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle/foot), wide receivers Mario Manningham (shoulder) and Sinorice Moss (foot) and Manning (foot). All were limited in practice except Manning.

*The Giants lead the series with San Diego, 5-4, including 3-2 at home and 2-1 in Giants Stadium. The teams will face each other in New Jersey for the first time since Dec. 23, 1995, a 27-17 Chargers victory. The Giants last defeated the Chargers in Giants Stadium on Sept. 14, 1986. The 1995 game was the only other meeting here since then. The Giants and Chargers most recently played on Sept. 25, 2005 in San Diego, where the home team won, 45-23.

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