Giants Offense Needs To Shine

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —  Jim Fassel has made it a priority since he was hired last year to remind the New York Giants’ offensive and defensive players that they are members of the same team, not separate entities that happen to wear the same uniform. That hasn’t always been easy in recent seasons, with defenders often frustrated with the offense’s ineptitude.

Now, though, Fassel’s task has become easier. The loss of cornerback Jason Sehorn to a season-ending knee injury has forced the defense to adjust and to face some doubts, and forced the offense to become a more equal partner.

“Before the season started, the offense was talking about putting more points on the board, trying to help out our defense more,” quarterback Danny Kanell said. “Now, we might not have as much of a choice. We have to pick up our level of play.”

The good news last week against the New York Jets was that the offense looked like it is ready to pull its weight. The starters totaled 209 yards in the first half, and their 156 passing yards in the first 30 minutes were more than the total for eight regular-season games in 1997.

“Last week was the last extensive time we were going to see, and it felt good; everybody looked pretty sharp,” said Kanell, who was 16 for 25 for 156 yards. “We just need to keep doing the things we are doing.”

The most encouraging individual performance last week came from receiver Ike Hilliard, who totaled seven catches for 74 yards, all in the first half. So even as one key player went down for this season, another who missed most of 1997 was proving he is back,giving both the offense and defense an emotional lift.

“I love it,” Hilliard said. “That’s what we want. We want to help out the defense, not be a burden.”

Hilliard still is feeling occasional discomfort in the area of his spinal surgery last September, but he looks as good as ever on the field. Kanell said he is establishing a rapport with Hilliard, as he did with Chris Calloway last season.

“When (Calloway) was supposed to be in a specific place on a route and he improvised a little bit, I’d kind of find him,” Kanell said. “It’s starting to get that way with Ike, where I have a sense that he is going to be open, even if it’s not exactly where he’s supposed to be.”

If the lackluster running game picks up, the offense will enter the season with confidence. Whether the defense does depends largely on how new starting cornerback Conrad Hamilton and new nickel corner Shaun Williams do.

“I like (Hamilton); he’s a feisty player,” Fassel said. “The only way he’s going to get better is jump in the frying pan . . . it’s on-the-job experience.”

Williams said if Sehorn had to go down, better last week than this week. “It will definitely help myself and Conrad to get out there for this game and go against the number ones of the opposing team,” Williams said. “I’m not the type who gets nervous. But I’m sure when I get out there I’ll be a little bit nervous.”