Phillips, Thomas stepping up for Giants

The Giants hit big on their rookies in 2007 during the Super Bowl season. They now are starting to reap the benefits of their ’08 crop. Although this class hasn’t had nearly the impact that the prior season’s did in Year One, rookie DBs Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas have been the standouts of what appears to be a class with depth and promise. Phillips has stepped into a larger role and had a big play in the Week 12 win over the Cardinals, knocking loose a potential TD from WR Larry Fitzgerald. Thomas, who has moved into the nickel-back role, came up with an interception that was the result of good coaching and a tip from LB Antonio Pierce, who alerted Thomas to jump into a spot based on the formation and a play the Cardinals had run previously in the game. The Giants’ other rookies — most notably WR Mario Manningham and LBs Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff — are victims of the Giants’ great depth, but the team likes what it has seen from each.

(profootballweekly.com)