So Long, C.C.

According to my boy Ralph V., the eminent C.C. Brown was running with the second unit at practice today, replaced by Green Bay waiver pickup Aaron Rouse. Now, don't start hooting and hollering just yet. Rouse, though an apparent upgrade simply because Brown set the bar so low, has his own problems. My spies say he's not the greatest cover safety in the league, either, but at least Tom Coughlin may be trying something here.

Don't expect Brown to vanish from the defense entirely, either. The Giants only have three safeties, so it's entirely possible Brown will have to play on the dime or quarter. And that's the way it's going to be until after the bye when, with any luck, Aaron Ross will return to give the secondary the flexibility it now lacks.

While we're waiting for all this to unfold -- Coughlin probably won't say anything until he actually makes the change official on gameday -- here is a video of defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan talking about a variety of things, including how to stop the Chargers' fleet running back Darren Sproles, the perceived communications problems between the sideline and the secondary, and the propensity for the Giants to give up the big play. After that comes Justin Tuck, talking about how the Giants apparently have solved said communication problems during the practice week.

A little background as far as the big-play issue goes. The Giants already have allowed 22 passes of 20 yards or more, and 23 runs of 10 yards or more for a shocking total of 45 big plays. And 13 of those plays (eight passes and five runs) have gone for 30 yards or longer. That's not good for this defense, or any defense for that matter.

Keep in mind that the Chargers are a big-play team, too. They throw deep out to the sidelines, and Sproles is just as adept at snapping off a long run as LeSean McCoy was last week.

A little more good news. My guy Mikey reports that LB Michael Boley worked with the starters today, all but a sure sign he'll play Sunday.

EP