Antrel Could Have New Rolle in Giants’ Secondary

I know what you’re going to ask…..why would the Giants’ move Antrel Rolle, who made the Pro Bowl at safety last year, to cornerback?

Well, many reasons. They don’t have enough depth at corner right now and may need Rolle to fill in at some point. He currently is taking reps at corner as well as safety in practice and – you never know – they may need him there at some juncture this season.

The way cornerbacks are dropping on this roster, the Giants need to explore all options and that appears to be what they are doing. The signing of Brian Williams will help depth-wise, but the 32-year-old cannot be expected to face-off against the Dez Bryants, Santana Mosses and DeSean Jacksons of the world. The Giants need a better player to do that and Rolle may be the one they call on.

The Giants do not feel comfortable even after signing Williams.  Their depth chart at CB after Aaron Ross and Corey Webster is littered with inexperienced players. Until they get Prince Amukamara back in late October, the Giants will have Webster, Ross, Williams, Michael Coe, Joe Burnett and Darnell Burks as their corners. In this pass-happy league we live in, that is not going to cut it.

Unless the Giants want to bring in another veteran – someone in the line of a Lito Sheppard – who worked out for the Giants along with Williams, or Dre’ Bly who was here last year for a tryout, the Giants will throw Coe or one of the others into the mix.

Coe appears to be ready for the challenge.  He was drafted by the Colts in 2007, but blew out his knee and missed all of 2008. He likes the way DC Perry Fewell uses the corners in the defense and feels he can succeed, especially now that he is getting more reps in game situations.

“We play a lot of man-to-man, which is what I played at Arkansas,” Coe told reporters yesterday. “We do a lot of pressing. When I went to Alabama State for my last year we did the same thing. Me being a taller (6’0″, 185lb), faster corner, those are the things I do well and feel comfortable doing.”

If he can’t, Rolle will be there to pick up the slack. Who will fill in at safety for Rolle in those situations? Deon Grant, for one. Or even rookie Tyler Sash if he is ready. One thing at a time, folks…

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.


(giantsfootballblog.com)