Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday
QB ELI MANNING After flirting with history and throwing a career-high six touchdowns last week, Manning will face Tampa Bay for the first time since he threw for a personal-best 510 yards in a 34-7 victory in 2012. Overall, Manning is undefeated in four meetings with the Buccaneers, including a 2007 NFC Wild Card Game en route to winning Super Bowl XLII. "We just have to know each Sunday is different," Manning said. "It's a different day, it's a different game, it's a different team, and so we have to make sure that we're sharp in our preparation this week, that our practices are really good, we're playing fast, have a good game plan, good understanding of the defense and their scheme and their technique, and go out there and make the plays on Sunday."
CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIELike the veteran cornerback said, the only way to bounce back from the 600 yards, seven passing touchdowns and 35 first downs the defense allowed last week is with a win this Sunday. The Giants (4-4) take on No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers (3-4) in Week 9 at Raymond James Stadium. "I think you've got to go out and get this one," said Rodgers-Cromartie, whose defense is tied for first in the NFL with 13 interceptions. "The things that come along with a win, as far as our division, and trying to get back to where we want to be. So I think that's definitely the biggest thing."
WR DWAYNE HARRIS In his first year with the Giants, Harris became only the fourth player in franchise history to account for a kickoff return touchdown and at least two receiving touchdowns in a single season. Harris caught two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Saints after being carted off earlier in the game with knee and ankle injuries. "He's a tough hombre," coach Tom Coughlin said in his exclusive, weekly interview with Giants.com. "He goes right back out on the field. His other roles are diminishing because of what he's had to do as the third receiver. He's a gunner; he's a very good one. If he's in there on the last play, who knows?"
![DT JOHNATHAN HANKINS
Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick out of Florida State and former Heisman Trophy winner, presents enough challenges for the Giants, but running back Doug Martin cannot be overlooked. He's fifth in the NFL in averaging 87.4 yards per game and is tied for second with seven runs of 20 yards or more. The Giants hung their hat on run defense earlier in the season but have slipped to 19th in the league. Run-stuffers like Hankins will be key on Sunday.
"I think you've got to stop the run first, can't focus on [Winston] without focusing on No. 22 [Martin] first," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really good. Like I said before, he's a legit running back in this league. If we can do that and hopefully get a little pass rush, I think we're all talking."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qhngj3naw3m2rgu2sl9u.jpg)
DT JOHNATHAN HANKINS Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick out of Florida State and former Heisman Trophy winner, presents enough challenges for the Giants, but running back Doug Martin cannot be overlooked. He's fifth in the NFL in averaging 87.4 yards per game and is tied for second with seven runs of 20 yards or more. The Giants hung their hat on run defense earlier in the season but have slipped to 19th in the league. Run-stuffers like Hankins will be key on Sunday. "I think you've got to stop the run first, can't focus on [Winston] without focusing on No. 22 [Martin] first," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really good. Like I said before, he's a legit running back in this league. If we can do that and hopefully get a little pass rush, I think we're all talking."
TE WILL TYE With Larry Donnell sidelined because of a neck injury, Stony Brook's Will Tye is the next man up. The undrafted rookie has eight receptions for 77 yards this season, including an 18-yarder and a 17-yarder. Jerome Cunningham was also signed to the roster off the practice squad this week to shore up the tight end position. "The game is not too big for him," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said of Tye. "He seems to play with a calm mind, has some—plays at a good play speed, soft hands, and when there's a lot of moving and shaking going on out there, it doesn't seem to disrupt him much."
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – On Nov. 8, 2014, Will Tye started for the Stony Brook Seawolves in their home game against James Madison. He caught a game-high seven passes for 90 yards, including an 11-yarder for the game's first touchdown. Tye's efforts could not prevent Stony Brook from falling to the Dukes, 27-24. A crowd of 5,115 fans watched the game.
On Nov. 8, 2015, Tye will again play in a football game, one that is more significant and will draw far more attention. With Larry Donnell sidelined with a neck injury, the rookie free agent will be the Giants' No. 1 tight end when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Raymond James Stadium.
"I think he continues to get better," coach Tom Coughlin said today. "He's done a nice job when called upon as a young player. He obviously can handle it, so he's going to have extended time."
Could Tye have imagined that he'd play for a Football Championship Subdivision school one season, and for the NFL's flagship franchise the next?
"No, you can't, but you can just definitely work toward that, because that was definitely a goal," he said this week. "No matter where it was, the Giants or any other team, to be on a roster playing at this moment in time, definitely."
Stony Brook is located on Long Island, about 65 miles from the Giants' offices here. But Tye's journey from the Seawolves to the Giants' lineup was anything but an easy trip. After starring at Salisbury High School in Connecticut, Tye enrolled at Florida State. But after playing in just eight games and catching one pass in two seasons, he transferred to Stony Brook.
Tye was the Seawolves' starting tight end for two years. He caught 75 passes and scored nine touchdowns. Tye was convinced he had earned an opportunity to showcase his skills in an NFL camp.
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"I knew I'd get a shot," he said. "When I got there, I had to basically do everything I could to be noticed every day, no matter if it was catching everything, making every block, or not messing up on any play.
Tye attended the Giants' post-draft rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. He was one of four players signed by the team after the camp, on May 11 – and is the only one still here.
When training camp opened in July, the Giants had five tight ends. And no one disputed that Tye was ranked fifth. After being in a similar situation at Florida State, Tye knew what he had to do to stand out.
"Everything that they weren't doing," he said. "Whether it was extra time meeting with (tight ends) coach (Kevin M. Gilbride) or film. Just trying to learn everything fast, so I can go out there and perform when I got the chance to."
In the preseason, Tye did not catch a pass in three games, and was released prior to the finale at New England. But the Giants signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 7. When Daniel Fells was sidelined with a MRSA staph infection (which subsequently forced him to go on injured reserve), Tye was signed to active roster on Oct. 3. The following day, he made his NFL debut in Buffalo, where he dropped the only pass thrown to him.
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"I stopped and said, 'Where am I? This is not real.'" Tye said. "Even now, I believe sometimes, but I don't believe I'm going to work or I'm going to play this game I love. I don't believe it still sometimes."
It became more real the following week, when the Giants needed to clear a roster spot and waived another tight end, Jerome Cunningham, instead of Tye. In the next game, a victory over San Francisco, Tye caught four passes for 22 yards. His first NFL reception was a 12-yarder and gave the Giants a first down on their initial touchdown drive. Tye also had two catches in Philadelphia, and two last week in New Orleans.
"I think Will has played well," quarterback Eli Manning said. "He's played well for us these past few weeks, getting more comfortable with the offense. I think he's got some ability, catches the ball well, he's made some nice plays for us so far in the past month or so, and so I think he's ready for it (more playing time). I think he should be able and play well."
Because of Donnell's injury, Cunningham was re-signed to the roster this week. Cunningham is from Southern Connecticut State, so the Giants' two tight ends at Tampa Bay will be first-year players from small football schools.
Coughlin said that inexperience will not force the Giants to pare down their game plan.
"They've had a solid week of coaching and preparation," Coughlin said. "It all depends on the opposition. It's not going to be them. Anything you see which is done structurally different will be done because of what we feel is appropriate for the Tampa Bay defense."
Tye is confident he can execute any assignment the Giants give him.
"Even after dropping the one in Buffalo, I wasn't too worried about it because I knew the next week I was going to improve on catching everything," Tye said. "Now being out there, I know I can play now. It feels good, I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the plays every week, the different game plans."
And what about having a larger role with Donnell sidelined?
"I'm ready for it," Tye said. "I'm beyond ready for it."
