The role the Giants have waiting for Goff is starting middle linebacker, a key spot Goff moves into with no margin for error. One more setback for the reeling Giants - losers of five of their past six games - will mean the end of legitimate playoff contention. Goff, a second-year player with virtually no NFL snaps other than on special teams, gets thrust into the fray against the first-place Cowboys.

"We have the utmost confidence he knows what he's doing," said Michael Boley, who along with Danny Clark will flank Goff as veteran linebackers.

This is some leap of faith. The gaping void in the heart of the sickly Giants defense was created by the seasonending bulging disk in the neck of Antonio Pierce. For the past two games, the replacement was Chase Blackburn, the versatile fifth-year backup. The Giants were a defensive mess in a 34-31 overtime victory over the Falcons and a step behind in a Thanksgiving night 26-6 loss in Denver.

The coaching staff decided a change was needed. Enter Goff, exit Blackburn. There was no official word announcing the move, but Goff lined up with the starters in the early portion of practice and those involved didn't hide the facts.

"I felt like I played decent, I felt like I played pretty good," Blackburn said. "My grades have been pretty good and my production has been pretty good. Obviously, it's not good enough. . . . I'm finding out that it's not. They want to see where [Goff] is at. We'll find out. He's fine. He knows the defense, he's been around for a couple of years. I feel he has a pretty good grasp of it now."

What we know is the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Goff started 36 games at Vanderbilt, was a fifth-round draft pick, but as a rookie never really got off the ground - injuries to his back and hamstring limited him to five games, exclusively on special teams. He's been activated for all 11 games this season and made some jarring special-teams hits, but his only work with the defense was a handful of snaps on Oct. 11, mopping up in the fourth quarter of a 44-7 rout of the Raiders.

"I've been working hard all season, I've been following along, studying just as much as the other guys," Goff said. "Whatever opportunity may come along I'll be ready to step in."

This is quite an NFL starting debut. The Cowboys are 8-3, winners of five of their last six games, and back in the second game of the season ravaged the Giants for 251 rushing yards before Eli Manning bailed his team out with a late drive for a last-second 33-31 victory to christen the brand new Cowboys Stadium.

Goff has multiple responsibilities. As the man in the middle he must make the defensive calls and make adjustments and signal them to his teammates before the ball is snapped. Then he must flow to the ball, shed blockers and make the play. It is quite a load for a 23-year old starting novice who most of the time barely speaks above a whisper.

"Off the field he definitely doesn't speak a lot," Clark said. "More importantly, he has what it takes to play middle linebacker in this business."

Can he do it?

"Absolutely," Goff responded. "Without hesitation."

* The Giants expect to be without RB Ahmad Bradshaw (two sprained ankles) and will definitely be without backup DJ Ware (concussion) in Sunday's game against the Cowboys. That means, for the moment, the running back situation is Brandon Jacobs as the starter, seldomused Gartrell Johnson (11 career NFL rushing attempts) in reserve and no one after that.

Johnson is a fire hydrant-sized 5-10, 219-pound back from Colorado State, who on Sept. 15 was awarded to the Giants off waivers from the Chargers.

* Safety Michael Johnson, who did not practice because of a strained groin, isn't likely to play. It looks as if CB Aaron Ross is now a full-time safety and he will probably start there alongside Aaron Rouse.

WHO'S NEXT?

TV - Fox; Radio - WFAN (660 AM) Line: Giants +2 O/U: 45 1/2

Sunday, 4:15 p.m.