New York Giants rookie safety looking to make an impression on receivers

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Kenny Phillips sized up Sinorice Moss and got ready to whack him. Then he remembered: He's not supposed to.

All this in a matter of about a second, during which Phillips decided to throw his hands up and show the coaches he wasn't trying to hit anybody -- an act he later found out was also a safety hazard for the oncoming wide receivers. The coaches didn't want anyone getting poked in the eye inadvertently either.

Good thing for the Giants' offensive players these rules are in place during training camp because they might be missing teeth or have worse marks on their body than the cut on Brandon London's arm after he was hit by Phillips on Monday.

Bad thing for Phillips these rules are in place because the rookie safety keeps getting in trouble.

"I hate when that stuff happens because Coach (Tom) Coughlin calls me over every few minutes. Every time I do something, I know he's coming (and saying), 'Try not to do ...'" Phillips, the team's first-round pick, said Tuesday. " 'All right, coach. I'm sorry.' And I'm really trying not to do it, but it's part of the game."

It is now for Phillips, who spent the better part of three years "in the box" for the Miami Hurricanes in college. The "box" is the area almost immediately in front of the offensive line that includes the defensive line, the linebackers and any run-stopping safeties. Phillips was often asked to play six or seven yards off the ball and help out down low.

Now, though, he's roaming freely through the Giants' defensive backfield as a second-team safety in Cover-2 and Cover-3 formations. And that's been a dangerous problem for the Giants' receivers through the first couple of days of training camp. Phillips has been making contact with them -- in non-contact drills -- and establishing himself as a potential big hitter.

Phillips has been putting himself in perfect position to dislodge the ball from the receiver's hands (or perhaps the receiver's head from his shoulders) on many plays.

And the scary part is he's doing it solely on speed, not smarts.

"Right now, I don't know where the ball's going to be just because I'm just trying to learn my position," Phillips said. "I don't really have time to watch what the offense is doing and scheme them. It's basically just reacting to the ball right now."

When asked if it excites him to think what will happen once he improves his awareness, Phillips said, "It does and that's why I feel like I'll be successful once the preseason starts, even if I'm not a starter. When I get in, I feel I'll be able to make plays and help the team."

Phillips' closing speed has been somewhat of a surprise so far for the Giants' coaching staff. They knew he could run well (he ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine), but they weren't quite sure how fast he could be on the field until he made a terrific play in minicamp when he came from one side of the field to intercept a pass on the other side. The diving play was one the coaches were still gushing over when they arrived here last week.

The 6-2, 208-pound Phillips is now using his speed to put himself in perfect position for a big hit.

"He has both (long-striding speed and quick patter speed)," safeties coach Dave Merritt said. "And the thing is that his size ... he has the height, he has the long arms, the long wingspan. This kid has a bunch of potential and that's what it is right now."

Phillips clearly has the potential to develop a reputation as a big hitter, which could be his way into the starting lineup in place of either James Butler or Michael Johnson, who have been working with the first team to this point.

"That's why he's here," Coughlin said.

Said Phillips, "When I go out there in the preseason, I'm definitely going to try to do what I've been doing in practice -- getting in position to take someone's head off. I'm not trying to hurt them intentionally, but I'm just doing my job.

"If that reputation comes, then cool. I'll take it."

But he'd better be careful because that reputation also comes with potential fines for an illegal hit.

"I'm going to try not to get any of those," Phillips said. "But if it happens, I'll pay for it."

Perhaps not as much as the player who feels the hit.

(nj.com)