Ron Corcillo asks: I’m curious about a somewhat overlooked aspect of this year’s placekicking battle: kickoffs. In particular, it occurs to me that Zvada, as a rookie, might struggle to adjust to the NFL kickoff rules, which could be a big factor considering the kind of field position you give up if you don’t place the ball in the landing zone. Have you seen any kickoff drills? Any intel on how the kickers are performing in that regard?
Ed says: Ron, we really don’t see a whole lot of kickoff practice.
When they do kickoff return/kickoff coverage they usually use the JUGS machine. I wouldn’t doubt that Dominic Zvada and Ben Sauls are practicing that skill during the early walk-through media does not see.
Francis Castros asks: My number one concern on this team is the offensive line. I think there is depth but the two guys that concern me the most are JMS and Jon Runyan. Should I be concerned that the starting unit is Thomas, Runyan, JMS, Sisi and Eluemunor?
Ed says: Francis, did you not notice that the offensive line, with four of those players you mentioned starting, played well last season? Runyan and John Michael Schmitz are not star players, but they are average NFL starters.
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Brian Misdom asks: Hi Ed, as BBV and others have noted, the Giants have not allowed live updates during practice this training camp. How has this affected your approach to providing coverage compared to previous years where you could? Anything meaningfully different? If so, what are the pros and cons of the current set up?
Ed says: Brian, the honest answer is that the policy is making my life easier. I’m not a young guy. I’m proficient with the technology, but not nearly as quick and capable as many of my younger cohorts. I have never liked tweeting during practice, though I understand the benefit for fans and the need to pass along injury information quickly.
Why does the policy make it easier? Because my phone stays in my pocket. I don’t worry about firing off a tweet about the play I just saw, or something that comes to mind. When you are tweeting, your focus is not on the action taking place, and you miss things.
Without having to tweet, I focus solely on what is happening on the field. It improves the quality of my notes, and, hopefully, the completeness of my practice reports and my understanding of what is going on.
Bob Donnelly asks: Now that the trip to White Sulphur Springs is concluded I’d love to hear your thoughts on the overall experience. From the sports journalist perspective, other than being away from home for an extended period of time, was there any difference from the camps you covered at Quest Diagnostics Center? Did you get any sense of what the veteran players thought about camp being held at such a remote location?
Ed says: Bob, this is a beautiful place. It is a different pace of life than what we are used to in the Northeast, but I can’t say it bothers me. It just takes getting used to. As for camp, players have enjoyed it. I know some of them wish there was more to do when they have time off. The flip side of that is it’s pretty hard to get into trouble.
There will be an ‘Ed’s excellent West Virginia adventure’ post coming. So, look for that.
Mike Winterode asks: Glad you are enjoying the beauty of West Virginia, it gets a bad rap that it doesn’t deserve. Question about Kayvon Thibodeaux. If he can stay healthy and has a good year, any chance the Giants re-sign him? He is a solid pass rusher and our best run defender on the edge. He was also on his way to having his best all around season last year before getting hurt, which to me, is the biggest knock against him. What do you think?
Ed says: Mike, never say never. If Thibodeaux has a good year, he is going to get PAID by someone. The question is whether or not the Giants will be willing to get into an expensive bidding war. They are paying Brian Burns big money. They are going to have to do the same with Abdul Carter. How much money is too much at one position? It also won’t be long before they will be trying to get Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers signed to long-term extensions.
Lawrence Kenney asks: Very disappointed in this wasted, so far, Evan Neal draft pick. I was surprised they brought him back, but my question is if he’s playing on the third team and not spending time on the first team how will the Giants know if he’s worth keeping around. Unless he sees action against our best how can you determine his capabilities?
Ed says: Lawrence, the coaching staff has watched Neal — and the other players — at every practice since early spring. They have evaluated the tape after each workout. If they felt Neal was deserving of more than third-team reps based on what they are seeing, he would be getting them.
It is clear that the Giants are settled on their starting guards — Sisi Mauigoa and Jon Runyan. They have been with the first team since the spring. Reps as a unit are critical for an offensive line. We have seen, with disastrous consequences, what happens when an offensive line is unsettled and does not get to work together enough.
The Giants do mix and match on occasion, with the first team working against the second or third team. So, backups do get occasional reps vs. starters. On padded practice days, there are also 1-on-1 blocking/pass rushing drills for players to try and impress coaches.
Casey Sybrandy asks: How has Bobby Jamison-Travis looked in camp? Considering he may be the backup NT behind DJ Reader, I’d love to know if he’s flashed at all.
Ed says: Casey, it has been a quiet camp for Jamison-Travis. That said, he is playing nose tackle and it is hard to focus on him from our vantage point during an 11-on-11 melee. We don’t have the luxury of being able to watch practice film, and it is impossible to focus on everything.
Murray Krugman asks: Do you share my worry that Dart’s tone deaf foray into politics and sought-after pre-results celebrity as well as Skattaboo’s post-op WWE and not quite backflip suggest a possibly non teachable immaturity?
Ed says: Murray, I do not. First, we were all young once. We all did dumb stuff. We all thought we already knew everything, until the world actually taught us that we didn’t.
John Harbaugh has been around this block a few times. We already heard Cam Skattebo say he knows he has done dumb things at times, and that there won’t be any more back flips until he scores a touchdown in a game that counts.
Dart works hard at his craft, and wants to win. That’s what matters. Do I wish he would tone it down sometimes? Sure. But, for better or worse the world has changed. He’s young. He has money. He has opportunities. He is living his best life. As for the political stuff, he is entitled to his views. I will be surprised, though, if we see that front and center again.
Joe Gesell asks: After reading all the positive things about Greenbrier the last couple of weeks, I was wondering if there’s been any talk from the organization about returning there for future training camps? It sounds like it’s been a big hit with everyone from the coaches to the players. Of course that means you’d be forced to go too, you know, to cover camp & all.
Ed says: Joe, I would not anticipate that. Renovations at the Giants’ facility will be continuing, so perhaps it is possible. The Giants, though, have everything they need at their own facility. If they can stay home, they will.
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