Chase Column

[Captain Kangaroo]

Giants Rookie LB Handling the Pressure

By DAVID PORTER

Associated Press Writer

Posted December 20 2005, 5:28 PM EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With a division title one tantalizing victory away, Chase Blackburn is the man in the middle for the New York Giants.

Injuries to Antonio Pierce and Carlos Emmons thrust the undrafted rookie from Akron into the starting lineup last weekend against Kansas City. Filling in for Pierce at middle linebacker in his first career start, Blackburn finished with nine tackles in the 27-17 victory.

The trial by fire continues Saturday at Washington for a player who came to training camp 4 1/2 months ago with no guarantees. A victory will clinch the Giants' first NFC East title since 2000 although they can do that with a win at Oakland in the finale even if they lose to the Skins.

"I've given myself a little confidence boost knowing that now I am able to perform in the NFL," Blackburn said Tuesday. "Now I just need to continue to do so."

At least this week Blackburn has some advance notice about his assignment.

That wasn't the case last Saturday when he didn't find out he was starting until an hour before the game. That's when Emmons told coaches he had aggravated his strained pectoral muscle, so Nick Greisen, who had been moved from the outside to the middle, had to go back outside..

That development necessitated some last-minute cramming in the film room next to the Giants locker room with linebackers coach Bill Sheridan. Then it was out the tunnel and onto the field in front of 78,000 fans and across the line of scrimmage from one of the NFL's better offenses.

Blackburn acknowledged to being a bit lost at first, but gradually found his footing and was in on six tackles on the Chiefs' second-quarter drive that stalled at the Giants' 1-yard line. He and Greisen combined to stop Larry Johnson on third down, forcing Kansas City to settle for a field goal in one of the game's crucial sequences.

"I watched the film a couple of times and it was an average performance," Blackburn said. "I thought I was a little tentative at first. I think I was more nervous about being in the right spot instead of making something happen. There were a lot of things I could have done better: filling my gaps properly, taking a little more physical approach to the game."

Blackburn's play caught the eye of coach Tom Coughlin in the first preseason game against Cleveland, a team featuring Blackburn's college teammate and friend Charlie Frye, currently the Browns' starting quarterback.

After making the final cut, Blackburn began to make a name for himself on special teams and through 15 weeks was second on the team in special-teams tackles with 15, one behind James Butler, another free-agent rookie.

His big moment before last Saturday came when he recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff against New Orleans on Sept. 19, a play that jump-started the Giants' 27-10 win.

"I've definitely come a long way," he said. "I've worked hard over this past year to get myself ready to play at this level. It's a joy to be where I'm at and it's exciting to have the opportunity to play."

Coughlin said Pierce, whose sprained ankle is still in a cast, would not practice this week and that Emmons and DT William Joseph (ankle) were doubtful. He said offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, who dressed but did not play against Kansas City after suffering back spasms the previous week, would practice