Shurmur has Giants focusing on Jaguars

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » With the preseason behind them, Pat Shurmur has given the New York Giants three days off and told them to start focusing on the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While many players may not be going far from the team’s facility, they have been given film of Jacksonville to study before returning Monday.

New York finished a 2-2 preseason Thursday with a 17-12 loss to the Patriots when all the starters rested.

Players did a little lifting and running Friday before being sent home. The coaches will spend the next day cutting the 90-man roster to 53 for the regular season. A 10-man practice squad will be added once the front office tweaks the final roster with cuts and additions from the waiver wire.

General manager Dave Gettleman has promised the team will work the wire. Coming off a 3-13 season, New York has the second pick on all players waived.

“We’ve got a decent idea of the direction we’re going to go with things, but we still have some conversations,” Shurmur said. “I told that to the players ... Every year, the players want to make it tough on us as to this guy or that guy. I think sometimes, you’re right, you can be in a situation where it’s pretty cut and dry. But I think we’ve had some guys that have played themselves into the mix.”

The Giants’ roster is not deep, so it’s unlikely Shurmur is going to have to shed any major talent. He plans to meet with all players cut and says he will tell them where they need to improve and to be ready in case a roster spot opens.