Ahmad Bradshaw will be prepared to take over as the featured back

Tuck did, however, say one thing I liked when he was asked if the team had improved the talent level of the defense this season.

"The one thing we have to be careful about is locking into that word "talent." We had the same talent last year, and we all know what happened last year, so I only focus on working and taking that talent and getting some production behind it," Tuck said. "The healthier we can stay this year, the more we can stay on the football field, take reps and the better we'll be."

As was talked about many times during the off-season, the Giants are focused heavily on getting the running game back to where it was in 2007 and 2008, when it was dominant. Head coach Tom Coughlin was asked about that again on Monday.

"I just want to see us run the ball and be productive with the run. Be able to stay with it and play good defense. Stop the run so we can stay with it and stay balanced," Coughlin said. "I don't like the situation we were in last year on occasion where there was no way to stay balanced. We can't win under those circumstances."

A key to the running game, of course, will be the health of Ahmad Bradshaw. Coming off foot and ankle surgeries Bradshaw worked in both practices Monday. Coughlin is watching Bradshaw closely.

"He made some nice cuts and nice runs this morning. He caught the ball in the individual drill. I'd like to see first he have confidence in himself, what he can and can't do. I want to see him extend that and fight his way through some of the tough days and continue out here with his teammates without having to take a step back," Coughlin said. "If you thought you could utilize Ahmad to the full extent, he's a guy who has run kickoffs back and has run punts back. He obviously is an outstanding runner in his own right ... I think that with Ahmad it's just practice, practice, and stay out there and prove to everyone, himself included."

Of all the things that went wrong last season, the lack of a consistent running game might have been the thing that disappointed Coughlin the most.

The Giants went from the No. 1 rushing team in the league in '08 to a No. 17 ranking in '09. They averaged almost a full yard less per carry in '09, which put too much pressure on Eli Manning and the passing game.

Tiki Barber told me early last season that he'd advised Brandon Jacobs to learn how to protect his body more on runs. It may have been solid advice, but Jacobs appeared tentative in '09 and began to doubt himself as the season unfolded. If he looks tentative early in this season, I believe a healthy Ahmad Bradshaw will be prepared to take over as the featured back.

I've been impressed with how quick and decisive he's looked in camp. And Andre Brown appears to have regained his speed after missing last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Brown should be a good change-of-pace back and he has soft hands that could make him a decent option on third down.

When I think about Giants' football, I think about a power running game. We need Brandon Jacobs to put the power back in our power running game. We know what Ahmad Bradshaw can do when he is healthy. Danny Ware has had a good three days; Andre Brown  has had a good three days. So we have the backs. We just have to get the right combination up front to get our power running game back.

When I think about Giants defense, I think about pass-rushers, tough physical fronts. So when people ask me about what do you think about your team, we got to get back to our identity. If we do that, we will be there at the end