What can you tell us about Brandon Meriweather and how he can help the depleted secondary?**
Dear Michael:
Meriweather is an instinctive and aggressive safety with a nose for the ball who has a well-earned reputation as a player who will deliver crushing hits – some of which have gotten him suspended. He's a former first-round draft choice who Jon Beason – who played with Meriweather at the University of Miami – believes will quickly become a leader in the back of the defense. With injuries to Landon Collins, Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor and Mykkele Thompson (who is out for the season) the Giants needed help at safety. If Meriweather is close to being the player who played in two Pro Bowls, he can provide it.
Why don't teams go for two after every touchdown in the preseason? Even with the longer PAT's this year, is a 30-yard field goal something a team really needs to practice rather than take advantage of a chance to practice a goal-line play against real defense?
Dear Jason:
A 33-yard field goal/extra point is not among the most difficult plays in football. But it's not automatic and needs to be practiced. It is important for any team, including the Giants, to get their kicking game in sync, particularly the snapper-holder-kicker battery. They need to work in the preseason just as the offense and defense does. Also, the coaches want to identify the best players to put on the lines and the wings for blocking purposes. Extra points are longer this season, but there will be many more of them kicked than there will be 2-point conversions attempted. The Giants will continue to work on their placekicks. The last thing they want to do is lose a game by one point because they missed an extra point attempt.
