But maybe the biggest reason for optimism is Kawika Mitchell

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/ny-spgiants0803,0,4950005.story

ALBANY - The Giants and quality linebackers haven't exactly gone together the last decade or so. The draft has been a relative wasteland for them at the position, and aside from Antonio Pierce, the free-agent talent brought in hasn't had enough of an impact.

There's a good chance that could change this season. Mathias Kiwanuka is learning the strong-side position slowly, but his natural skills are promising. Pierce is entrenched in the middle as the defensive leader. Reggie Torbor, Chase Blackburn and Gerris Wilkinson, along with rookie Zak DeOssie, could give the Giants real depth.

But maybe the biggest reason for optimism is Kawika Mitchell, who slipped in quietly as a free agent after four solid seasons with the Chiefs. Mitchell has started 42 consecutive games at middle linebacker but found the free-agent market so dry that he readily took the Giants' one-year, $1-million offer.

And now the coaching staff is wondering how he fell into their laps.

"I don't think he makes many errors out there," Tom Coughlin said Thursday between two practices in stifling heat. "He's fast, he's very athletic and he appears to be very smart."

The smarts could be a huge help to the linebacking corps. Pierce has few equals around the NFL in his knowledge of the game, but there was concern that he would be so busy trying to coach both outside linebackers that his play would suffer. Wilkinson, in his second year, is showing improvement, but the Giants would have been vulnerable with a Kiwanuka-Pierce-Wilkinson starting alignment.

Good thing Mitchell came in and hit the ground running.

"I did catch on pretty fast," he said. "I played outside linebacker [at South Florida], so it's a comfortable position. And [with the new defense], we're all on the same communication level. That helps, because if everyone's speaking a different language, that's tough to catch up."

Mitchell's instincts and nose for the ball have gotten him noticed through the first week of camp. He talks a little trash among the linebackers and to opposing tight ends about his ability in pass coverage, but Kiwanuka says it's warranted.

"He has a right to brag," Kiwanuka said. "And hearing his and AP's conversations on the field, their knowledge of the game and the schemes, it's definitely where I want to be. In a sense, it's like having two defensive captains on the field."

If the current groups stay aligned, the Giants have reason to think the position will be a strength for a change. No spot has been hit harder by injuries the last two seasons. Only Nick Greisen in 2005 and Pierce last year made it through without missing significant time among starters, but now there's a chance even an injury or two might not hurt them too badly.

"I've been hearing it ever since I got here that we're a weak point," said Torbor, who has been very good in camp, as have nearly all seven linebackers who figure to make the final roster. "And maybe in the past that was true, because we were young or didn't have the depth. Now we've got veterans, we've got playmakers, role players, depth guys. We're ready to play football."

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.sportsfeatures.com/index.php?section=pp&action=show&id=41404

Coach Tom Coughlin, Aug. 2, 2007

Have you been surprised with what Kawika Mitchell is showing you? 

Not really. I was really excited about Kawika in the spring.  Nothing has changed. 

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10274762

NEWCOMERS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT

Kawika Mitchell, LB, free agent: Reese described Mitchell as a guy playing with a big chip on his shoulder. In the new defense, he is going to produce more plays than he has in the past as a Chief. The Giants stole a player when they got this guy.