The revamped front seven of the New York Giants lost some of its depth on Friday as head coach Ton Coughlin announced that reserve defensive tackle Jay Alford would be placed on the injured reserve list after partially tearing the ACL in his knee during a preseason game against the Bears on Aug. 22.
"That's a blow to our team," Coughlin told Giants.com. "That's a guy that had played well and had given evidence that he would play well. It's a shame a young guy who has worked his tail off would have his season taken away."
After welcoming back defensive end Osi Umenyiora from his 2008 knee injury and signing defensive end Chris Canty and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard in free agency, the Giants haven't been able to see all of these pieces work together and Alford's injury is just the icing on the cake. Canty and Bernard have had hamstring injuries that plagued them for most of training camp and the preseason. In addition, defensive tackle Fred Robbins has battled a knee injury.
The Giants did have 42 sacks as a team last year, but the pressure declined as the season wore on. These moves were expected to bolster the depth. Now, that depth is being severely tested and the season hasn't even kicked off yet.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 5:29 p.m., September 4
