Predicting the New York Giants' Final 53-Man Roster After Preseason Week 2

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Big Blue will cut down to a 53-man roster as September approaches.
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After an impressive 26-3 victory over the crosstown Jets on Saturday, the New York Giants continue to chisel away at their roster, looking to find a final group of 53 players to kick off 2012 with next month.

The G-Men have their work cut out for them, with excess talent stuffed into the secondary, defensive line and receiving corp.

Narrowing down the current roster won't be easy.

With the latest updates on injuries and summer performances, let's check out a projected final 53-man roster for the defending Super Bowl champs.

Quarterbacks (2)

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Starter Eli Manning and back-up David Carr are locks, and with Manning's spotless medical history, don't expect the Giants to roll with three QBs.

Dual-threat Ryan Perrilloux is practice-squad eligible this season, and New York will look to stash him away for as long as possible. The LSU product turned in a splendid Saturday, connecting with running back Joe Martinek for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

QBs on Final Roster: Eli Manning; David Carr

Running Backs/Fullbacks (4)

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Ahmad Bradshaw mans the backfield as New York's opening night starter, while David Wilson, the team's first-round pick in April's Draft, should see a healthy workload from the get-go, looking to assuage the Giants' rushing woes from last season.

D.J. Ware has had a rough preseason and notched just 1.4 yards per carry against the Jets on Saturday. Still, his receiving abilities should earn him a spot here.

Both Andre Brown and Da'Rel Scott are familiar faces around Giants camp, but with Ware slated as the third 'back, Brown is the odd-man out. Meanwhile, crowded competition for return specialist leaves Scott on the outside looking in.

Fullback Henry Hynoski is set to reprise his starting role from 2011.

Local favorite and Rutgers alum Joe Martinek will be a tough cut, but with depth concerns at other positions, the G-Men won't take more than four 'backs.

RBs on Final Roster: Ahmad Bradshaw; Henry Hynoski; D.J. Ware; David Wilson

Wide Receivers (6)

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David Douglas and Dan DePalma have enjoyed productive summers, while Isaiah Stanback has seen a fair share of reps in preseason action. Still, they seem to be on the outside looking in with New York's stacked group of receivers.

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks will start, with rookie Rueben Randle and seventh-year player Domenik Hixon seeing plenty of time in Eli Manning's spread offense.

Jerrel Jernigan earns a number in the return game, while Ramses Barden gets one final shot to skirt the looming "bust" label.

WRs on Final Roster: Ramses Barden; Victor Cruz; Domenik Hixon; Jerrel Jernigan; Hakeem Nicks; Rueben Randle

Tight Ends (3)

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Newcomers Martellus Bennett and rookie Adrien Robinson command spots, and Bear Pascoe returns as well. Both Bennett and Pascoe will look to fill the void left by 2011's starting tight end, Jake Ballard.

Still shelved from an ACL tear sustained in the Super Bowl, Travis Beckum should see a cut. Teams rarely keep four tight ends on their active roster.

TEs on Final Roster: Bear Pascoe; Martellus Bennett; Adrien Robinson

Offensive Linemen (11)

May 23, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tackle Sean Locklear (75) during the Giants OTA at the their training facility. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE

Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE

The first-string unit struggled on Saturday, and the offensive line will make-or-break the Giants' campaign as defending champs.

On the edge, Sean Locklear and David Diehl are the expected starting tackles, with incumbent LT Will Beatty succumbing to back problems. Sixth-rounder Matt McCants slithers onto the team for protection on the left side, while 2011 draftee James Brewer backs up an inconsistent Diehl.

At tackle, Kevin Boothe and Brandon Mosley will take the left side, while veteran Chris Snee and second-stringer Mitch Petrus man the right. The Giants will look to improve their interior ground game after a sluggish Saturday.

David Baas will look to stay healthy at center this year, with Jim Cordle providing insurance.

Tackle Joel Reinders and guard Selvish Capers are the only two players really on the edge here.

Going with 11 linemen is a veritable commitment, but Big Blue will need all the help it can get on the front lines this year.

OL on Final Roster: David Baas; Will Beatty; Kevin Boothe; James Brewer; Jim Cordle; David Diehl; Sean Locklear; Matt McCants; Brandon Mosley; Mitch Petrus; Chris Snee

Defensive Linemen (9)

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The Giants boast one of the most formidable pass rushes in all of football, but a slew of injuries to their defensive tackles is certainly cause for concern.

On the edge, the G-Men bring back three stars in Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants will look to take a fourth DE for back up, and with injuries to Justin Trattou and Adrian Tracy, the nod could go to Adewale Ojomo, a Miami product who notched two sacks on Tim Tebow.

In the middle, Linval Joseph and Rocky Bernard are projected Week 1 starters with Chris Canty still on the sidelines. For good measure, New York will bring a few more tackles along, and expect them to look towards 2011 second-rounder Marvin Austin and Dwayne Hendricks, who recorded a pair of sacks in Jacksonville last week.

Markus Kuhn is a toss-up here, but with practice squad eligibility, he may fall a bit short of the final cut for now. Adrian Tracy's run with the Giants may be over, although "Young Osi" could find a spot on the team if his hamstring holds up.

New York will need any remaining roster spots for their banged up secondary.

DL on Final Roster: Marvin Austin; Rocky Bernard; Chris Canty; Dwayne Hendricks; Linval Joseph; Adewale Ojomo; Jason Pierre-Paul; Justin Tuck; Osi Umenyiora

Linebackers (6)

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Nothing too difficult here. Michael Boley, Jacquian Williams, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Keith Rivers line up on the outside, while Chase Blackburn and Mark Herzlich will duke it out for the starting spot in the middle.

OLB Clint Sintim will begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but barring a major set-back on Big Blue's end and a miraculous recovery from Sintim, his days with the Giants are over.

Greg Jones could be added to support the injured Boley and Williams, but the Giants may need to stock up elsewhere.

LBs on Final Roster: Chase Blackburn; Michael Boley; Mark Herzlich; Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers; Jacquian Williams

Cornerbacks (5)

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Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara are your starters, while rookie Jayron Hosley should see time in the nickel. The third-rounder returned a Mark Sanchez interception 77 yards for a score this weekend.

Terrell Thomas continues to rehab his ACL, and former Patriot Antwaun Molden edges out Michael Coe—who missed Saturday's action with a nagging hamstring problem—for the fifth and final cornerback spot.

Bruce Johnson and Justin Tryon appear to be left out in the dust for now, but a lot can still change before September rolls around.

CBs on Final Roster: Prince Amukamara; Jayron Hosley; Antwaun Molden; Terrell Thomas; Corey Webster

Safeties (4)

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Will Hill churned out a standout game against the Jets, and he appears to be set as Antrel Rolle's back-up. Meanwhile, Kenny Phillips and a suspended Tyler Sash line up as strong safeties. Expect Hill to cover Sash's ground for the first quarter of the season.

Things run a little thin here, but no one from JoJo Nicolas, Chris Horton and Stevie Brown seem to warrant a roster spot.

S on Final Roster: Will Hill, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Tyler Sash