A year ago, the last body parts Mathias Kiwanuka had to concern himself with were his legs. It was his head that was spinning.
He looked like a tall, rangy defensive end asked to switch positions and play linebacker, which is precisely what he was. The offseason was one gigantic period of adjustment that spilled over into the confusion of the regular season.
Yesterday, Kiwanuka spent his morning on the field along with his Giant teammates, admittedly more excited than most of them to merely be out there running around. He missed the last six games of the regular season with a broken left leg and ankle damage that required surgery, meaning he was a very interested bystander for the entire playoff run and Super Bowl glory.
“This is excellent,” Kiwanuka said after working up a sweat during the Giants’ third and by far most strenuous Organized Team Activity practice.
“I’ll take every rep I can, every snap I can take. … It’s a chance to get oiled up on some of the new things and get back into the old things we used to do.
“I’m looking forward to all of it.”
Why not? Kiwanuka started the first 10 games last season on the strong side and was just beginning to look like a bona fide linebacker when on Nov. 18 his left fibula snapped in Detroit.
It was a heavy blow to the defense, as Kiwanuka served many different roles, including moving in as a defensive tackle in pass-rush situations.
Kiwanuka said he came through yesterday’s first real test with no residual problems. For now, he remains at linebacker, although that could change if Michael Strahan retires.
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The five missing players were a predictable group: DE Michael Strahan, TE Jeremy Shockey, DE Osi Umenyiora, WR Plaxico Burress and LB Antonio Pierce, who is on his honeymoon in Hawaii.
David Tyree, coming off knee surgery, did not participate and won’t do anything until training camp at the earliest.
RB Derrick Ward, coming off a broken leg, took the first handoff in the team period.
Rookie WR Mario Manningham once mistakenly went in with the offense even though there were already 11 men on the field. Later, he lined up in the wrong spot.