This seriously impacts the team's defensive strength, its pass-rush, and has forced the return to DE of Mathias Kiwanuka, the first round draft pick in 2006 who was a standout DE at Boston College. He had been moved to SLB last year and did well until suffering a broken leg Nov. 18.

The resulting domino effect has put Danny Clark at SLB and Gerris Wilkinson at WLB and will adversely affect coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unique and creative pass-rush schemes.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Danny Ware - From the practice squad to a serious position in the offense seems to be the story for this undrafted FA from Georgia, via the New York Jets' practice squad, from where he was claimed. Ware is 6-0 and 234 but has unexpected speed. He will be used as a change-of-pace behind Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, and will probably cost Reuben Droughns a roster spot.

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK

Rd. 1/31, FS Kenny Phillips, Miami (Fla.) -- Hits with ferocious authority and seems to have picked up the assignments quickly; most likely will start in place of Gibril Wilson (UFA, Oakland).

Rd. 2/63, CB Terrell Thomas, USC -- Has the size and quickness to earn a starting job eventually; right now appears to be in line for a nickel back job as well as a key special teams player, perhaps replacing David Tyree (reserve-PUP).

Rd. 3/95, WR Mario Manningham, Michigan -- Not exactly a raving success in training camp and saddled with a long-lasting quad strain, but it's too early to give up on the speed and big-school experience.

Rd. 4/123, OLB Brian Kehl, BYU -- Shows versatility and speed-plus-size; should make the team for special teams abilities now and challenge for a job in a year or two.

Rd. 5/165, OLB Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt -- Suffered a fracture of the transverse process in the opening preseason game and is likely to go on IR; showed great potential.

Rd. 6/198, QB Andre Woodson, Kentucky -- Good size, strong arm and elusive when chased, Woodson will probably make the team as the designated clipboard holder at the expense of one of the two veteran backups, Anthony Wright or David Carr.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Eli Manning; Backups -- David Carr, Anthony Wright, Andre Woodson.

Manning is the unquestioned starter and a star on the rise. He will lead the team to whatever offensive success it enjoys. He is a long and lanky athlete and as such needs more protection from his front line, but more on that later. Carr, like Manning a former first-overall draft pick (2002, Houston), appears to have beaten out Wright for the backup position, while the rookie Woodson has enough of a skills-set to perhaps earn the designated clipboard job ahead of the journeyman Wright. The Giants will keep only three and Wright appears to be the odd man out.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB Brandon Jacobs, FB Madison Hedgecock. Backups -- RB Derrick Ward, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Danny Ware, RB Reuben Droughns, FB Robert Douglas.

Jacobs, who gained 1,009 yards in slightly more than 10 games last year, will start every game in which he's healthy. But the other three - Ward, Bradshaw and Ware - will get lots of carries, and Jacobs doesn't seem pleased with that. His contract expires after this season and he is convinced he'll get a mega-contract in the UFA market. Maybe not. Ward is a power runner, Bradshaw adds slash and speed and Ware combines both. Hedgecock was a super bargain last year, acquired on waivers from St. Louis. He's 263 pounds, Jacobs is 260.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer. Backups -- Steve Smith, Domenic Hixon, Brandon London, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Marcus Monk.

Burress caught 70 passes for 1,025 yards and 12 TDs last season and at 6-6 and 225 he's a formidable target with outstanding speed. He has an aversion to practicing, however, but the team has found a middle-ground with that. Toomer is the reliable veteran with great moves and sure hands. If his age (he's 34) doesn't catch up quickly he's got another good year. Smith was a rookie last year and when he got healthy he starred. Hixon was another waiver pickup (from Denver) and he can be explosive. London spent the season on the practice squad but has looked close to spectacular this summer. Moss is a disappointing second round pick (2006) but great skills but no consistency. Manningham was the third round pick this year and may be a year away. Monk, a rookie, was just acquired on waivers from Chicago and has some size to serve as a possession receiver; he was Chicago's seventh round pick.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Kevin Boss. Backups -- Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson, Jerome Collins, Eric Butler.

Boss took over when Jeremy Shockey was injured with two games left in the regular season and became invaluable with his speed and size. He is working on his blocking. Matthews was a FA rookie and has blocking skills but not receiver's hands. Johnson missed the entire season with a training camp knee in 2007 and should hold on as the second or third at the position. Collins and Butler appeared to be training camp fodder.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT David Diehl, LG Rich Seubert, C Shaun O'Hara, RG Chris Snee, RT Kareem McKenzie. Backups -- G/T Grey Ruegamer, T Guy Whimper, G Adam Koets, G Kevin Boothe, G Na'Shan Goddard, T Cliff Louis, G Digger Bujnoch.

The line is intact from last season, when only one player (O'Hara) missed just one game. Snee is near-Pro Bowl quality and should get there this year. McKenzie is a road grader on the run. Seubert is the toughest of the linemen and never quits on a block. O'Hara is a smart, competent veteran who can be thought of as Pro Bowl quality. Diehl is the potential weak spot with feet not quick enough for the position but there are no LTs on the squad; he's the best available. Of the backups, Ruegamer has experience and ability. Whimper and Koets are two young guys with promise. Boothe was helpful near the end of last season. Goddard, Louis and Bujnoch might not make the final roster.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Justin Tuck, LT/NT Barry Cofield, RT Fred Robbins, RE Mathias Kiwanuka. Backups -- E/T Renaldo Wynn, DT Jay Alford, DE Dave Tollefson, NT Rodney Leisle, DE Ogemdi Nwagbuo, DT Jeremy Clark, DE Wallace Gilberry, DE Alex Morrow.

This is where the disaster struck on Aug. 23 when Pro Bowl DE Osi Umenyiora suffered torn knee cartilage and after surgery was placed on IR for the season. That caused the team to move Kiwanuka back to the line from the SLB position where he had been moved in spring of 2007. Cofield is getting better each year and has added strength while taking off a few pounds to check in at 312. Robbins has had a rejuvenation of his career and seems particularly adept at penetrating from the middle. Wynn is useful as a two-position backup; he's a 12-year vet who was Tom Coughlin's first draft pick with Jacksonville in 1997. Alford was a rookie last year and can play well when motivated; he's also the long-snapper. Tollefson is a backup with some experience. Leisle has looked good in camp, as has Nwagbuo. Clark, Wallace and Morrow appear to be on their way to the waiver wire, at least two of the three.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Gerris Wilkinson, MLB Antonio Pierce, SLB Danny Clark. Backups -- MLB Chase Blackburn, SLB Tank Daniels, WLB Bryan Kehl, MLB Jonathan Goff, WLB James Terry.

Clark played for Coughlin in Jacksonville, understands the man and the plan and should be helpful, much as pickup Kawika Mitchell was last year. Pierce is a veteran with Pro Bowl talents who is sometimes injured, sometimes unhappy with his contract, but a player from sideline to sideline. Wilkinson is finally healthy and should be able to blossom; he's the guy who went stride for stride with Randy Moss last year for 45 yards downfield. Blackburn is crying out for a starting position but he can't move Pierce; he might go to SLB, however. Daniels is a useable reserve. Kehl was a highly-touted rookie who has lived up the billing. Goff, too, a rookie draft pick, was doing well until he suffered a fractured transverse process. He might find himself on IR. Terry was a late pickup with virtually no chance.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Aaron Ross, RCB Corey Webster, SS James Butler, FS Michael Johnson or Kenny Phillips. Reserves -- Johnson or Phillips, CB Sam Madison, CB-KR R.W. McQuarters, CB Terrell Thomas, SS Sammy Knight, SS Stuart Schweigert, CB Kevin Dockery, CB Geoffrey Pope.

Ross is a budding superstar and should hold the job for years. Webster was a second-round pick in 2005 who had a difficult time learning the job, then suddenly exploded near the end of last season. Butler is a plodder with speed who seems better than the other SS candidates, although Knight might push him. Phillips is the first round draft pick, Johnson was a rookie last year, and while both have played well it looks as though Phillips will get the call. Madison is in danger of not making the final cut; so, too, is McQuarters. Both are double-digit veterans. Dockery has been helpful in the past and so has Pope. Thomas was the second round draft pick and has looked good. Schweigert was claimed on waivers and may make it because of his four years experience.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Lawrence Tynes/Josh Huston, P Jeff Feagles, LS Jay Alford, KR Domenic Hixon, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, Derrick Ward; PR R.W. McQuarters, Domenic Hixon, Michael Johnson, Sinorice Moss, Ahmad Bradshaw.

Tynes had the job sealed until he suffered a knee injury. He is not likely to open the season, which caused the Giants to re-sign Huston, who waged a tight battle with Tynes in camp in 2007. Feagles is ageless and perhaps the best position punter in NFL history; he's 42 and entering his 21st season. Alford has won both long-snapping jobs (PC and KC) with Zak DeOssie a backup if needed. There is still competition for the return jobs, but it appears Hixon has the KR position and possibly the PR as well, especially if the veteran McQuarters is released.