Now that the New York Giants’ three-day minicamp has concluded, it’s time to take a look at all the important things we learned from it as roles on the roster continue to be fleshed out in what will undoubtedly be a fluid situation.
We are still very early in the process and a lot can happen between now and the start of the season, but minicamp was a great glimpse into what Big Blue is thinking. We also got a great look at some of the new faces competing for jobs with the Giants.
So, what were the biggest takeaways from Giants minicamp?
Daniel Jones is rapidly improving
After the Giants were almost universally slaughtered by fans and the media for their selection of Jones with the No. 6 overall pick, things are turning around quickly. That’s because Jones is showing vast improvements on a daily basis.
“I see improvement from (Jones) every day,” Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He displays to me that he gets it and he’s becoming more comfortable with what we’re doing offensively. He’s making plays in every practice. And in our view, he’s getting better every practice.”
Not only has Jones showed an ability to quickly pickup the offense, he’s destroying the narratives that he has a weak arm and a lack of accuracy on his deep throws. The rookie quarterback is also reminding people he has the athleticism to make plays with his legs.
Some have even argued that Jones is making a case to be the G-Men’s starter right away. As the Jones hype train continues on, full-steam ahead, we still expect Manning to be this team’s starter when the season opens.
Rod Smith carving out a role
The signing of Smith didn’t seem like a significant move at first. The Giants already had workhorse Saquon Barkley and backup Wayne Gallman on the roster, making Smith no better than a No. 3 option at running back.
So far in his short time with the Giants, Smith is making a case to have a role on the team in 2019.
“I think he is a pro. He came in and he has learned our offense pretty quickly,” Shurmur told reporters. “There is less and less mistakes in each practice setting. He does a good job with the ball in his hands. He is a big presence and we all know a lot of what he does is on special teams.”
With Smith having impressed his coaches thus far, the former Dallas Cowboys back could be earning a spot on the roster. Not only would he be a valuable contributor on special teams, but Smith is also a solid insurance policy behind Barkley and Gallman, as well as a strong locker room presence.
Nate Solder’s training camp return up in the air
When Solder had his ankle scoped earlier this spring, it seemed like it was a minor procedure and one that wouldn’t cut into his time at training camp. As time has passed, we are quickly finding out that Solder’s status is nowhere near certain.
When asked about his potential availability for the start of training camp on July 22nd, which he was expected to be ready for, Solder didn’t commit one way or the other.
Solder could just be playing it safe in order to keep expectations low, but this situation should have been seen as troublesome from the get-go. Solder’s procedure is one that normally takes weeks to recover from, yet the veteran left tackle will have been out for months when he does finally return to the field.
Lorenzo Carter was always the solution
From the outside looking in, it appears the Giants didn’t do enough to address their need for a pass-rusher this offseason.
General manager Dave Gettleman passed-up on Josh Allen with the No. 6 pick to take Jones and didn’t attempt to take a pass-rusher until the third round with Oshane Ximines out of Old Dominion. Before that, Gettleman signed edge rusher Markus Golden in free agency.
But if you listen to the Giants’ coaches, Lorenzo Carter is making great strides in his development and might be just what the doctor ordered to fix the team’s pass-rush.
“He is rushing with a plan. When you see him rush, a year ago he was trying to get off the ball as quick as he could and use his hands when he could. Now, you see a guy that is aware of how he wants to rush, aware of techniques that he wants to rush with,” defensive coordinator James Bettcher said. “Guys that get in there as pass rushers, I have been in there and have coached them before personally, you see their best growth in the two and three years. You start to figure out what they are as rushers. Whether you are Chandler Jones and a really bloody rusher or a speed counter guy. He is really starting to figure that out. He is building his pass rush toolbox right now.”
Along with his improving technique, Carter is also impressing his coaches with his work ethic. As he continues to shine, it’s becoming more and more clear why the Giants didn’t make a big move to add a pass-rusher from outside the organization.
Jabrill Peppers is showing leadership qualities
When the Giants acquired Peppers in a deal with the Cleveland Browns, the team was hoping the talented safety could improve its ailing secondary, which had gained yet another hole after Big Blue allowed Landon Collins to walk in free agency.
While Peppers is already flashing his talent, he’s also taking on a leadership role.
“His leadership was felt immediately,” Shurmur said of Peppers. “He has a very charismatic personality and he loves to play the game. He picked up quickly what we were doing on defense well and he is extremely smart. He is very tough and very competitive. When you see guys like that on the field, you feel their presence immediately. He got to it quickly.”
The void left by Collins’ departure as both a player and leader was a major concern at the time, but Peppers is quickly erasing that memory. Clearly the Giants have more than just a talented safety in the former first-round pick.
Giants starting center situation is a competition
After giving Spencer Pulley reps at center with the first-team offense last week, the Giants decided to rotate Pulley out of that spot this week, opting for Jon Halapio instead during minicamp.
Things began to look questionable for Halapio’s prospects of starting at center after the Giants inked Pulley to a three-year extension this offseason. Now that the two are rotating at the position this spring, it’s a full-on competition for the job.
Halapio missed all of last season after fracturing his ankle and leg, opening the door for Pulley to take the starting job. Pulley performed well in Halapio’s absence and has done enough to ensure that the starter at center is not a foregone conclusion. Don’t expect this situation to be fleshed out until well into the summer.
Eli Manning and Golden Tate are building a strong bond
One of the biggest knocks on the Odell Beckham Jr.-Manning relationship was the apparent lack of bonding and chemistry between the two. Well, that doesn’t seem to be a concern between Manning and Tate, as the pair are getting along just fine.
Not only has Tate praised Manning numerous times since joining Big Blue, he has also spent time with the veteran quarterback away from the field.
“I really enjoy being around Eli,” Tate said, according to the New York Daily News. “We spent time — obviously in the building — but also outside of here playing golf. And I love his sense of humor.”
As long as Manning doesn’t let Tate’s seemingly superior golf skill get to him, it looks like these two are building a relationship. Sure, it might seem like a minor thing to most, but this would have been a big deal if you replaced Tate with Beckham in the same situation. Chemistry off the field usually translates to chemistry on it.
While Giants rebuild the locker room, the exes go off the rails
One of the biggest differences between this offseason and in years past is just how quiet things are for the Giants. No distractions, no shots being taken at teammates through the media.
Instead, it’s just a group of football players working together to form chemistry, improve the locker room, and get ready for the upcoming season. Even Barkley admitted to the Giants’ growth since last season.
“Obviously Odell’s gone, but that trade happened so long ago. We’ve been in the locker room for a really long time without him,” Barkley told For The Win. “We’re still doing the same things that we need to do, and I think we’ve even grown more as a team, just going out more, whether it’s getting dinner or doing things like Top Golf and other team activities. I think the locker room is really great, and I think it’s showing on the field.”
Meanwhile, ex-Giants like Beckham, Collins, Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison all sound like angry significant others who were left at the alter after the Giants parted ways with each this offseason.
Collins’ numerous shots at the Giants are well-documented, Vernon took a swipe at Big Blue, and most recently Beckham tried to burn his old quarterback by praising the arm of his new quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
“I have to get adjusted to the speed because he’s got an arm. He’s throwing that ball hard,” Beckham said, per Cleveland.com. “So just catching it from the first day I was like wow, this is completely different. It just takes time.”
The petty nature of the shots being taken by these former Giants is a blunt reminder of why the team went in the direction it did this offseason. It’s nice to see the Giants finally getting back to business without all the garbage taking place off the field.
Deandre Baker has moved up the depth chart
One of the bigger questions coming out of the Giants’ secondary this offseason was, who is going to be lining up across from No. 1 cornerback, Janoris Jenkins?
While it is still early in the process, it appears Deandre Baker might have the inside track to getting the job. It was Baker who was running with the first-team defense during minicamp after he only mixed-in with the group during OTAs.
Baker was impressive with his first-team reps and drew praise from his head coach.
“It was fast out there, so it was hard to see who was making the plays sometimes, but he has been doing that on a pretty steady basis,” Shurmur said. “I think he has made a play or two at each practice. Again, just learning how to compete at this level.”
The Giants gave themselves no shortage of options for their No. 2 corner, but for now Baker is doing everything he can to emerge from the crowd and secure his spot as a starter.
C.J. Conrad is turning heads
Undrafted rookie C.J. Conrad is beginning to show why the Giants decided to take a chance on him. The Kentucky product has shown great hands, an ability to make big plays and has a knack for getting into the end zone.
The 6-foot-4, 248-pound tight end has been apart of some big plays from the arm of Alex Tanney, including an impressive one-handed catch. He has also found the end zone multiple times after connecting with Jones during red zone drills.
The Giants spoke to a slew of tight ends prior to the draft, so clearly there is a need there. Conrad is doing everything right at the moment and could end up making the Giants’ roster in 2019.
Corey Coleman staking claim to No. 3 receiver role
There is quite the pecking order in front of Corey Coleman when it comes to catching passes, but as far as the wide receiver position is concerned, Coleman is cementing himself as the No. 3 guy.
During minicamp, Coleman was lining up as the No. 3 receiver in sets with Tate and Sterling Shepard. Shurmur even alluded to the fact that there is an opening for that role and Coleman seems to be the top candidate for it.
Coleman will have to fight for receptions behind Tate, Shepard, Barkley and Evan Engram, making him quite the fifth option in the passing game considering the flashes he has shown in his three NFL seasons.
Even if Coleman doesn’t contribute a ton in the passing game, his presence as a returner will be felt. The Baylor product is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward player for Big Blue, adding even more depth to a passing game that has a ton of options.
