When the Giants signed veteran Keith Bulluck the week prior to the start of training camp, they likely envisioned him moving right into the middle linebacker spot, boosting the experience that was lacking at that position.

However, Jonathan Goff, who finished the year as the starting middle linebacker, had other ideas.

Goff has pulled out all the stops to convince the coaches he can handle the spot just fine. His efforts appear to be working, as the coaches have recently taken to the idea of trying Bulluck at the strong-side linebacker spot, where he has shared snaps with projected starter Clint Sintim, who has struggled during the preseason.

Sintim, whose strengths include his explosiveness and power, continues to have issues in space, where he has been hesitant in making his reads. Moreover, he has been beaten at the point of attack far too often for comfort, which certainly hasn't helped his case.

While the starting lineup appears to be unsettled at this position, one thing is for certain, and that is the linebacking unit will continue to be tweaked accordingly, at least through the first few weeks of the season.

PLAYER NOTES

--LB Gerris Wilkinson, who missed the final preseason game with a groin injury, might not be ready to go for the season-opener against Carolina.

Wilkinson, who was injured in the preseason game against Baltimore on August 28, is said to be making progress, but was held out of Monday's workout. It was not known if he would be ready to return to work on Wednesday.

--C Shaun O'Hara (ankle/Achilles), who missed the final two weeks of the preseason with an ankle injury, was back at practice. "He worked today; we'll see what he's like tomorrow," said head coach Tom Coughlin when asked if O'Hara was good to go for the week.

--LB Chase Blackburn, who suffered a knee injury in the preseason game against Baltimore, returned to practice today. Blackburn said last week that his goal had been to get back on the practice field this week as the Giants prepare for their season opener against Carolina this weekend.

The return Blackburn, who can play all three linebacker positions and special teams, is of significant importance to the Giants, who this week could be without Phillip Dillard (hamstring) and Gerris Wilkinson (groin), both of whom did not practice on Monday.

--CB Corey Webster (groin), who missed the preseason finale against New England, did not practice on Monday. Head coach Tom Coughlin was asked if Webster, who first began sporting a wrap around his leg in the second preseason game, has been dealing with the injury for a while. "I think so," the coach said, adding that he was hoping to have Webster back at practice on Wednesday.

--CB Aaron Ross (foot) did not practice today. "He's getting better and the reports are good," said head coach Tom Coughlin, of Ross, who was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. "They have some things they have to try to work out with him in terms of his comfort level with the shoe, but he's getting there."

--LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring) didn't practice today. Dillard, who was injured in the preseason finale against New England, could be in jeopardy of missing the season opener against Carolina, as head coach Tom Coughlin said that there doesn't appear to be any change in the rookie's status from the other night.

--P Matt Dodge will continue to be the primary holder for place kicks, though head coach Tom Coughlin said that new backup QB Sage Rosenfels will also have to be ready to go in that spot, if need be. "He's not the holder, but every one of these positions has to be backed up," Coughlin said, adding, "He's the backup holder."

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK

Round 1/15, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida -- Tall, lean and quick athlete with an explosive first step off the ball. Could still use a little more bulk to his frame and still does too much thinking rather than reacting, but has shown the promise to be a force in the sub packages to which he has been assigned.

Round 2/46, DT Linval Joseph, East Carolina -- Big-bodied, athletic space-eater who does a nice job of creating congestion in the running lanes and collapsing the pocket. He could draw snaps away from incumbent starting nose tackle Barry Cofield.

Round 4/115, LB Phillip Dillard, Nebraska -- Feisty linebacker who is not afraid to make a tackle, but who at times has been too easily fooled by play actions and delayed draws. Will likely see most of his rookie action on special teams.

Round 5/147, G Mitch Petrus, Arkansas -- Hard-nosed offensive lineman who has also been learning the center position. Provides quality depth along the interior of the line, but is likely still a year away from contributing on a regular basis.

Round 7/221, P Matt Dodge, East Carolina -- Big-legged kicker who has struggled with consistency in his quest to replace Jeff Feagles. Has been serving as the holder for placekicks, and has mostly done a good job in quickly getting the ball in place.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS
Starter -- Eli Manning. Backup - Sage Rosenfels.

Manning had his best season last year thanks to spending as much time as possible with his receiving weapons before the season. This year, injuries have made that objective difficult, and the timing and chemistry between Manning and his weapons has suffered just a bit. Through three preseason games -- Manning missed the second game due to a forehead laceration -- Manning completed 50 percent of his passes, averaging 5.38 yards per attempt. The good news is that as the Giants entered the final two weeks of the preseason, Manning and his receivers were reunited to work on re-establishing that chemistry. With Jim Sorgi on injured reserve, Rhett Bomar did everything possible to convince the coaches he's capable of backing up Manning. But it wasn't good enough. The Giants acquitted Rosenfels from Minnesota and immediately installed him as Manning's backup. Bomar was waived, and then added to the practice squad.

RUNNING BACKS
Starters -- Brandon Jacobs/Ahmad Bradshaw, FB Madison Hedgecock. Backups -- DJ Ware, Darius Reynaud.

Jacobs, the sixth-year pro, is as healthy as he has been in about three years, but he could be losing his starting job to Bradshaw, whose ability to slash and dash through the offensive scrum has resulted in some electrifying plays. Although the coaches have said they no longer have a starting running back, they could be looking at a philosophy in which they first use Bradshaw's quickness to tire out defenses and then finish them off with Jacobs' power. Ware, who entered training camp as the incumbent third-down back, suffered his second concussion in the last 12 months during the game against Pittsburgh, an injury that has raised some red flags concerning his durability. Reynaud was acquired in the deal that brought Rosenfels to the Giants, and he will be the replacement for Dominik Hixon in the return game. Hedgecock, the team's blocking fullback, recently insisted that his surgically repaired shoulder is fully healed, but his preseason performance through three games has belied his assertion, as his blocks have mostly lacked power. Considering his ineffectiveness in those few opportunities he gets as a receiver out of the backfield, if he can't return to his 2008 form in terms of blocking, the team won't hesitate to search for his replacement.

TIGHT ENDS
Starter -- Kevin Boss. Backups -- H-back Travis Beckum.

It was a tough summer for Boss, who in June underwent a scope to clean out some loose debris from his ankle. Thinking he was fully ready to go, Boss quickly found himself sidelined for most of the first half of training camp after he developed a hamstring strain as a result for trying to compensate for his still-healing ankle. Through three games, he has yet to have a reception, an oddity considering his pass-catching abilities. The good news is that his ankle doesn't seem to be much of an issue any more as he was able to get the leverage necessary in his blocking assignments this preseason. Beckum, the team's H-back, has spent more time being a spectator than a participant, first with a hamstring injury and then more recently with a neck problem. When on the field, Beckum shows just enough talent to leave one wanting more, in particular an improvement in his blocking technique in which he now moves his feet better than last year and has done a fine job with both in-line and space blocking. However, if he can't stay on the field, the team will be forced to move on without him.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters -- Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks. Backups -- Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, Victor Cruz.

Smith, who set a franchise reception record with 107 catches last season, appears recovered from an early summer groin injury. Smith has continued his excellence in finding the soft spots in the defensive coverage. Nicks, who spent part of the time before training camp working with his starting quarterback at the Manning Family's Passing Academy in New Orleans, La., has posted pedestrian numbers in the receiving department with his 7.8-yard average this summer, but that doesn't mean his extra credit work hasn't paid off. Nicks has been the most consistent of the receivers in running the timing routes, and seems to have the best grasp of his quarterback's body language and tendencies during practice, as far as making sure he's in the right spot for the ball. Manningham has been inconsistent, and, at times, has looked uninspired. Dealing with a groin injury earlier in camp, he continues to run sloppy routes and doesn't always make the effort to adjust to the flight of the ball. Barden, the 6-5, 227-pound prospect whose physical attributes have the coaches dreaming of strategic mismatches in their favor, experienced a minor setback when he suffered a fractured transverse process in his back, but he quickly put that behind him to return to the field despite missing the second and third preseason games. Barden has an opportunity to pass Manningham on the depth chart if he shows he can be more consistent with ball security and with running crisper routes. Cruz, the Paterson, N.J., native who won the hearts of Giants fans everywhere after his three-touchdown performance against the Jets, topped the NFL in touchdowns (four) and receiving yards (251) through three preseason games. Although he has struggled to make his mark on special teams as a punt returner, his ability to stay healthy and his sophistication in running and adjusting his routes likely gave him an advantage over the other rookies on the roster.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LT David Diehl, LG Rich Seubert, C Shaun O'Hara, RG Chris Snee, RT Kareem McKenzie. Backups -- T William Beatty, G/T Shawn Andrews, G Mitch Petrus.

Throughout the offseason, there was talk that the starting quintet of Diehl, Seubert, O'Hara, Snee and McKenzie might be headed for a renovation, specifically at left tackle. Head coach Tom Coughlin, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and general manager Jerry Reese talked up second-year man Beatty nearly every time they were asked about him. Beatty, however, has not had a strong summer, as his technique has been inconsistent and his awareness, at times, lacking. Although he is likely to be the first off the bench if something happens to either Diehl or McKenzie, the latter of whom has been more susceptible to injury, every game rep Beatty can get will help. While the starting five would appear to be safe for Week 1 of the regular season, one move that could be in the making is the replacement of Seubert with Andrews at left guard. Andrews, who was signed on the day before the team broke camp at Albany, has been force-fed the offense and has done well. Having made his debut against Baltimore -- taking about a dozen or so snaps at left guard -- Andrews is still a little rusty, but more importantly, he showed that he still has that power, quickness and aggressiveness that helped make him a Pro Bowler during his time with the Eagles. Regardless of if or when Andrews moves into the starting lineup -- he can also play tackle in a pinch -- Seubert seems to have emerged as the primary backup center to O'Hara, who is hoping to clear up a nagging ankle injury before the start of the regular season. Petrus, the team's fifth-round draft pick, is probably a year away from being ready to contribute full time, as he's also been learning the center position.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LDE Justin Tuck, NT Barry Cofield, DT Chris Canty, RDE Mathias Kiwanuka/Osi Umenyiora. Backups -- DE Dave Tollefson, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Rocky Bernard, DT Linval Joseph.

Tuck is fully recovered from a shoulder injury and should make the plays from his strong-side spot that he was known for before former Dallas offensive lineman Flozell Adams cut him down in the second regular-season game last year. Of particular interest this year is the coaching staff's use of Tuck, who in the past has had most of his pass-rushing success from the inside. In three games this summer, Tuck has yet to line up at tackle, though that could be coming. Given that he was the team leader in sacks with 2.5 through three preseason games, Tuck is proving that it won't matter where he lines up as long as he's healthy. Cofield has had a somewhat quiet summer, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing as he's mostly come through on his assignments and has done a good job in creating congestion to muck up the inside lanes. Canty, who missed the third preseason game with a groin injury, has made the most noise this summer in the run defense, showing tremendous power and discipline in staying at home to win his battles in the pit. While he has sometimes struggled with his pass rush, in part due to his inability to get the proper leverage, Canty's run defense has proven to be a welcome addition to the defense that last year struggled to stop the run. Umenyiora and Kiwanuka have battled for the starting weak-side defensive end spot, but this battle appears to be headed toward a draw. Despite having a hip ailment, Umenyiora has continued to look as quick as ever coming off the edge, and has incorporated more power in his rushes, which have helped him better fend off blockers. Kiwanuka, meanwhile, is more about power than finesse and speed. Tollefson, who this summer has seen a number of snaps inside at defensive tackle, is a feisty competitor who also is a primary contributor on special teams. Given the numbers on the defensive line, his roster spot isn't as secure as it was in previous years. Pierre-Paul, who missed the third preseason game with a groin strain, has shown his rawness thus far, at times appearing to think too much rather than reacting. Blessed with loads of natural athletic ability, Pierre-Paul's contributions this year will mostly likely be in a limited number of sub packages until he becomes acclimated to NFL-style defenses. Bernard, who played most of last season injured, is another player who quietly has had a good summer. Bernard has physically imposed his will in collapsing the pocket and in opening up lanes for his fellow defensive linemen to exploit.

LINEBACKER
Starters -- SLB Clint Sintim, MLB Jonathan Goff, WLB Michael Boley. Backups -- SLB Keith Bulluck, WLB Gerris Wilkinson, LB Chase Blackburn, MLB Phillip Dillard, WLB Bryan Kehl.

The Giants brought in the veteran Bulluck with visions of him moving to the middle; the only problem is that Goff, the incumbent, wasn't ready to concede the spot without a fight, in which he has delivered mixed results. Goff has been very good against the run, but his pass coverage skills remain a work in progress. So with Goff trying to hang onto the starting middle linebacker job, the coaches have experimented with Bulluck on the outside, where he played most of his career in Tennessee. Bulluck, who has yet to show that speed and quickness he had in Tennessee, has been competing with second-year man Sintim, who has had a quiet summer in terms of him showing marked improvement from a year ago. Sintim is as physical as any linebacker the team has, but he appears to be at his best when limited to playing between the tackles. Dillard, who competed for the middle linebacker job, will need another year of seasoning as his coverage skills were spotty, especially in closing up the middle of the field where tight ends have had success against the Giants this preseason. Wilkinson is probably the second-most athletic linebacker on this team, but a late-summer groin injury must have the coaches saying, "Oh no, here we go again." Officially removed from consideration for the middle linebacker spot, it was not known how long Wilkinson might be sidelined. Blackburn, the utility man who can play all three spots, is recovering from a MCL sprain in his knee. Although he began running two weeks after suffering the sprain, his status for the season opener was in doubt, though he recently expressed optimism that he would be cleared to return to practice. Kehl, whose roster spot might have been in jeopardy given the numbers at the position, will likely get a reprieve in part due to the season-ending injury suffered by Adrian Tracy, this year's sixth-round draft pick. Kehl's contributions will most likely be on special teams, where last year he had some memorable games covering punts.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters -- LCB Corey Webster, SS Antrel Rolle, FS Kenny Phillips, RCB Terrell Thomas. Backups -- CB Aaron Ross, CB Bruce Johnson, S Deon Grant, S Michael Johnson, DB DJ Johnson.

Webster has taken to the new zone-heavy defense like a fish takes to water. Through three preseason games, he leads the team with two interceptions (he was inactive for one of those three games), and has kept opposing receivers from making big plays. On the opposite side, Thomas, who last year had a breakout season playing in place of the injured Ross, has had a quiet camp as far as turnovers go, but what he has shown is aggressiveness in disrupting receivers as they come off the line, resulting in numerous incomplete passes thrown to his side of the field. The Giants slowly began to peel away the layers of bubble wrap from Phillips, their talented playmaking safety who through three games has taken about 30 snaps and who has flown around to the ball to make plays. Phillips' return from microfracture surgery remains right on schedule. Rolle, one of the teams hardest hitters, had some issues in the third preseason game that included an illegal hit of WR Mark Clayton, an incident that head coach Tom Coughlin said will warrant some additional coaching to make sure that the safety puts himself in the best possible position to make a legal hit. Ross, who is trying to recover from plantar fasciitis, might not be immediately available to the team; if and when he does return this year, he will be the team's starting nickel. Bruce Johnson had his shares of ups and downs -- the downs mostly a result of his failure to trust what he sees. If Ross does end up missing a lot of time, Johnson will likely fill in at nickel. DJ Johnson is an intriguing prospect who offers versatility at cornerback and safety, a combination that should earn him a place on the 53-man roster. Grant, the veteran who has been an iron man throughout his career, had some early preseason issues playing in a loose zone, but he quickly adjusted and did a much better job in staying with receivers.

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Lawrence Tynes, P Matt Dodge, LS Zak DeOssie, KR Darius Reynaud.

Tynes has had his best camp since being traded to the Giants in 2007. He's not only been healthy for the first time, he hasn't tinkered as much with his mechanics as he did in previous year. Although he's only had three field-goal attempts, all of which he's hit, his kickoffs have been exceptional considering that area is not one of his strengths. Dodge, the team's seventh-round draft pick whose job is to replace the consistency that future Hall of Famer Jeff Feagles brought for so many years, focused on making his kicking motion more compact, with a particular emphasis on his catch and drop of the ball. While he's shown he has a strong leg, the consistency hasn't been there, though his showing against Baltimore in the third preseason game was his strongest outing.

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