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October 12, 2005 -- COREY WEBSTER came to the Giants through the front door, welcomed in with open arms, presented with a cash prize for merely showing up. Curtis Deloatch barely caused a ripple when he arrived, slipping in, barely noticed, given nothing but a practice jersey.
A rookie, Webster is a second-round draft pick out of mighty LSU, a veteran of high-stakes games featured on national television. It's common knowledge that Webster was a first-round talent who slid a bit because of an injury-laden senior year. The entire 2004 NFL Draft came and went without Deloatch hearing his name called, and he latched on with the Giants out of North Carolina A&T, no one's idea of a football factory.
Together, these two young cornerbacks represent the Giants' best hopes of solidifying a porous pass defense that's been further depleted by the loss of Will Peterson. Either Webster or Deloatch replaces Peterson on a full-time basis as the starting right cornerback, just in time for Sunday's NFC East game in Dallas featuring Drew Bledsoe and a rejuvenated Cowboys passing attack.
The Giants did not update Peterson's status yesterday. The team's back specialist, Dr. Frank Cammisa, will confer with Dr. Robert Watkins, whom Peterson consulted this past Monday in California for a second opinion of the troublesome "hot spots" in his lower back.
No one is anticipating a return by Peterson any time soon. The changing of the guard started two weeks ago when Deloatch started in place of Peterson in a 44-24 victory over the Rams. Peterson is acknowledged to be the team's best cornerback, but he's had trouble staying on the field. He missed four games in 2002 and the last 11 games when his back problem arose in 2003. He made it through the entire year last season, but his career may be clouded by this latest setback.
Enter Webster. Or Deloatch.
"We all know how things work: he's a second-round draft pick, so people want to see him play," Deloatch said of Webster. "He will get some playing time or he will start, you never know. I just take it a day at a time. I don't look at it as a disadvantage or an advantage. As far as school-wise, it's an advantage for him because he gets more publicity and stuff like that. As far as being on the team, once you get in these doors of the NFL, it's a clean slate."
Both players move up in the pecking order. Whoever doesn't start inherits the nickel back role — a key spot, as the Giants use their nickel defense at least 40 percent of the time. Deloatch, at a rangy 6-2, has a sense for the ball but has often played softly in coverage, allowing passes to be completed in front of him.
Webster has a big-play reputation but he's yet to intercept a pass in the NFL. He's coming off a thigh bruise, but the bye week has given him time to heal.
Webster will be a starter, either now or later, as he was drafted to play, immediately in certain situations and on a full-time basis by next season.
Will Allen, a starter since his 2001 rookie year, is in the final year of his contract and the Giants are not expected to extend themselves to keep him.
"I wouldn't say pressure; it's just a lot of players are going to have to step up," Webster said of the loss of Peterson. "You hate to lose a starter. A lot of the younger guys are going to have to step up, kind of take ownership toward his role, contribute the way he did.
"That's what we practice for during the week: be ready for whatever trials come in front of us. I'm ready."
http://www.nypost.com/sports/giants/29387.htm
A rookie, Webster is a second-round draft pick out of mighty LSU, a veteran of high-stakes games featured on national television. It's common knowledge that Webster was a first-round talent who slid a bit because of an injury-laden senior year. The entire 2004 NFL Draft came and went without Deloatch hearing his name called, and he latched on with the Giants out of North Carolina A&T, no one's idea of a football factory.
Together, these two young cornerbacks represent the Giants' best hopes of solidifying a porous pass defense that's been further depleted by the loss of Will Peterson. Either Webster or Deloatch replaces Peterson on a full-time basis as the starting right cornerback, just in time for Sunday's NFC East game in Dallas featuring Drew Bledsoe and a rejuvenated Cowboys passing attack.
The Giants did not update Peterson's status yesterday. The team's back specialist, Dr. Frank Cammisa, will confer with Dr. Robert Watkins, whom Peterson consulted this past Monday in California for a second opinion of the troublesome "hot spots" in his lower back.
No one is anticipating a return by Peterson any time soon. The changing of the guard started two weeks ago when Deloatch started in place of Peterson in a 44-24 victory over the Rams. Peterson is acknowledged to be the team's best cornerback, but he's had trouble staying on the field. He missed four games in 2002 and the last 11 games when his back problem arose in 2003. He made it through the entire year last season, but his career may be clouded by this latest setback.
Enter Webster. Or Deloatch.
"We all know how things work: he's a second-round draft pick, so people want to see him play," Deloatch said of Webster. "He will get some playing time or he will start, you never know. I just take it a day at a time. I don't look at it as a disadvantage or an advantage. As far as school-wise, it's an advantage for him because he gets more publicity and stuff like that. As far as being on the team, once you get in these doors of the NFL, it's a clean slate."
Both players move up in the pecking order. Whoever doesn't start inherits the nickel back role — a key spot, as the Giants use their nickel defense at least 40 percent of the time. Deloatch, at a rangy 6-2, has a sense for the ball but has often played softly in coverage, allowing passes to be completed in front of him.
Webster has a big-play reputation but he's yet to intercept a pass in the NFL. He's coming off a thigh bruise, but the bye week has given him time to heal.
Webster will be a starter, either now or later, as he was drafted to play, immediately in certain situations and on a full-time basis by next season.
Will Allen, a starter since his 2001 rookie year, is in the final year of his contract and the Giants are not expected to extend themselves to keep him.
"I wouldn't say pressure; it's just a lot of players are going to have to step up," Webster said of the loss of Peterson. "You hate to lose a starter. A lot of the younger guys are going to have to step up, kind of take ownership toward his role, contribute the way he did.
"That's what we practice for during the week: be ready for whatever trials come in front of us. I'm ready."
http://www.nypost.com/sports/giants/29387.htm
