Coughlin Sick Of Head-Butts; Whitfield sent to the bench

Tom Coughlin's week of shake-ups continued with the announcement that Bob Whitfield will be replaced at left tackle by David Diehl. Diehl's vacant left guard position will be assumed by Rich Seubert, if healthy. If he can't go, Grey Ruegamer would get the nod. While most Giants fans would like to see Coughlin fired, I must applaud the moves he's making to try and win this weekend. The biggest thing to question is what took Coughlin so long to make these moves. Whether it was purely speculation or had some substance, the shifting on the offensive line has been an issue since mid-November. In an entry from November 16th, I discussed several possibilities, one of which is the lineup Coughlin will be using this weekend. It's clear he is making a last ditch effort to save his job, but if he tried these things earlier, he probably wouldn't be facing the same predicament.

Whitfield has been woefully ineffective and surprisingly stupid. He committed two more personal fouls against the Saints, including his second headbutting penalty in four games. Either it's been such a long time since he's been a full time starter that he has forgotten the rules or headbutting wasn't expressly a penalty when he entered the league 15 years ago. Either way, his replacement is long overdue. It's a shame to interrupt Diehl's progress as an interior lineman, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He's big and quick enough to fend off speed rushers off the edge. If Seubert can play, there really isn't a drop off in production from the left guard position.

Other News and Notes:
Jeremy Shockey has missed practice all week with a sprained ankle and will be a game-time decision. If he has to sit, Vishante Shiancoe would get the start. I expect Shockey will do everything he can to play, but he's had nagging ankle injuries for quite some time. He leads the team in receptions and his absence would be a devastating blow to a struggling offense.

Some good news for Michael Strahan. Doctors have informed the star defensive end that he will not need surgery to repair the Lisfranc sprain in his foot. Strahan confirmed on his weekly WFAN spot that if he needed surgery, retirement would have been a very real possibility.