Giants Backup Receivers Used In Practice as ‘Fake Vicks’

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Michael Jennings and David Tyree are giving the Giants defense a show this week.The backup receivers are offering their best impersonations of Michael Vick to get the Giants defense ready for the mobile, strong-armed Falcons quarterback on Sunday in Atlanta.A former track star at Florida State, Jennings is simulating Vick’s speed. Tyree played in an option offense at Syracuse, and he is going to give the defense a look at the option, which the Falcons occasionally run.“All I know is that we are going to have to stop Michael Vick, and if I can help, I am excited about helping,” said Jennings, who has caught three passes in very limited action this season.Jennings laughs when asked if he will throw any passes like Vick. His legs are his tool. He has watched videotapes of Vick, but he said that the he will take his cues from the Giants’ coaches.“I know it’s just hard for a defense with someone that fast who can throw the ball,” Jennings said. “He’s real tough. He’s a great quarterback. I’m excited. I’ll go out there and do my best impersonation. So I’ll be No. 7.”The Falcons lead the league in rushing, averaging 234.3 yards. Warrick Dunn has a team-best 365 yards on 82 carries, but Vick is second with 333 yards on 38 attempts, an 8.8-yard average.“He is running at different speed levels than anybody else,” Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “Everybody else is running in mud and he’s on that fast carpet, running around like he is doing.We are definitely going to keep our eye on him, but you don’t think he can beat you alone. We’re going against a two-headed monster.”Pierce said the one thing working in the Giants’ favor is their team speed.“We have to hit them, get hats on them,” Pierce said. “That will slow anybody down.”A Pro Bowl selection as a special teams player, Tyree didn’t expect to play Vick in practice this week.“I was moving my mouth in a joking manner and the coach took me up on my offer,” Tyree said. “I played against Vick in college. Obviously, everybody has seen what he’s done. Syracuse ran an option. I figure I can give the defense a good look. Michael and I are going to give them a good look and have some fun with it. I’m not trying to be like Michael Vick. I don’t think I possess the wheels or the bank account.”One person very familiar with Vick is weakside linebacker Brandon Short, who had six tackles in his first action of year last weekend. He faced the Atlanta quarterback four times with Carolina over the last two seasons.“The guy is a tremendous athlete,” Short said of Vick. “He looks like he’s moving a lot faster than everybody else out there, even people that run a faster 40 time. He just plays tremendously fast. We have to play fast on defense, swarm to the ball and never leave one guy on him. We have to do our responsibilities and push him back inside for all the help to come.”The Giants have one of the league’s top run defenses, limiting opponents to 86.5 yards.“We know we can stop the run,” Pierce said. “I think the key’s going to come down to our team speed vs. their team speed. That’s what they’re built around, that’s what they want to use. They want to get matchups.“It’s going to come down to us being smart and following our assignments. Everybody has to be where they’re supposed to be. Nobody can take the easy road and try to run up field,” Pierce added

Giants Backup Receivers Used In Practice as ‘Fake Vicks’

Giants Backup Receivers Used In Practice as ‘Fake Vicks’

More from the New York Sun

Billy Idol Still Has Some Rebel Yell To Give

Jaguar Still Can’t Seem To Turn the Corner

‘10 Kilos’ Gets Weighed Down by Familiar Genre Fare

‘The Marching Band’ Plays a Familiar Tune, But With Spirit and Social Awareness

USS Doris Miller

Johnson Warns Kushner Not To ‘Bet Against’ House Republicans After President’s Son-in-Law Meets With Jeffries

As Buc-ee’s Focuses on Dotting Red-State Landscape With Mega-Gas Stations, Consumer Backlash Emerges Over Trademark Lawsuit

Newsom Signs Bill — Dubbed ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ by Opponents — To Curb Public Access to Immigrant Aid Advisers

More from the New York Sun

Billy Idol Still Has Some Rebel Yell To Give

Jaguar Still Can’t Seem To Turn the Corner

‘10 Kilos’ Gets Weighed Down by Familiar Genre Fare

‘The Marching Band’ Plays a Familiar Tune, But With Spirit and Social Awareness

USS Doris Miller

Johnson Warns Kushner Not To ‘Bet Against’ House Republicans After President’s Son-in-Law Meets With Jeffries

As Buc-ee’s Focuses on Dotting Red-State Landscape With Mega-Gas Stations, Consumer Backlash Emerges Over Trademark Lawsuit

Newsom Signs Bill — Dubbed ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ by Opponents — To Curb Public Access to Immigrant Aid Advisers