WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — With the New York Giants enjoying their first off day of training camp, let’s assess the first four days in our traditional “Kudos & Wet Willies” style.
Kudos
The beautiful setting — This is a gorgeous place. If you love lush green trees, the mountains, open spaces, fresh air with a lack of humidity, crisp evenings and early mornings, and the feel of having stepped back in time to an earlier era this is the kind of place for you.
Kayvon Thibodeaux — Thibodeaux has taken more
reps with the second team than the first team, but no matter. He is a key part of the defense and is being used both on the edge and at times in the old Justin Tuck role as an interior pass rusher. Thibodeaux has made impact plays every day against starters and backups. He seems happy, and could be primed for a big season in his contract year.
Abdul Carter — The second-year edge defender has been impactful throughout the first four practices. Of course, Andrew Thomas and the other offensive linemen are not in pads, making it more difficult to block. Carter might not win Defensive Player of the Year, but he does seem primed to make a big leap in Year 2.
Braxton Berrios — The veteran wide receiver/return man keeps showing up as a receiver. He has made a number of catches each day. It is early in camp, but Berrios is showing he can be a useful player.
Calvin Austin — I don’t know how much the diminutive slot receiver is going to play on offense, but he has been showing the ability to get open and make some plays down the field.
Arvell Reese/Tremaine Edmunds — When the Giants drafted Reese No. 5 overall, they were excited about how the size and athleticism of the duo of inside linebackers could impact the passing game in the middle of the field. We have seen that manifest over the first four practices with interceptions, batted passes, and with Jaxson Dart carefully trying to float passes over them.
The pace of practice — I love the way the Giants are practicing. After special teams and individual work at the beginning of practice, the remainder of the work each day has been 11-on-11 or 7-on-7 at a brisk pace. No walk-through breaks. No special teams periods designed to give frontline players a break. Each 11-on-11 period has a different purpose, or simulates a different situation. Players are shuttled in and out quickly so they don’t get overworked.
“Practice has been at a great pace, but I feel like, again, we’ve done such a good job of mixing and matching guys that it allows for people to be able to play fast and play hard,” Darius Slayton said. “Ultimately, you stack more explosive reps. You don’t get into as many of those, six or seven, eight reps in a row, the reality is by the time you get seven, eight reps in, you’re fried. I definitely think that’s been great.”
The placekicking competition — There is nothing easier to track than a placekicking competition. All you have to do is count the makes and misses, and track distances the best you can. Dominic Zvada and Ben Sauls are alternating days kicking, and they are basically having a “what you can do I can do better” competition. Both have kicked well, and have made kicks from beyond 55 yards.
I believe Zvada has the edge, but I also think both of these guys are going to kick in the NFL for a while. Sauls seems to have fixed whatever issue caused him to struggle in the spring. It’s been fun to watch them compete.
Wet Willies
The Greenbrier Turf Field — The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center is billed as having two grass fields and a turf field. Well, it does have a turf field. Except it isn’t really usable, or accessible. It’s carved into the side of a mountain off to the side and a few hundred feet below the two grass fields. Getting there was described to me as “dangerous”, and I have no idea how to do so. The Giants won’t be using it.
Oh, the only other football-related drawback to being at the Greenbrier. There is no indoor practice bubble. It is supposed to rain for much of the upcoming week in West Virginia. The Giants will have to practice on the grass in the rain. Not ideal.
No tweeting during practice — Honestly, not tweeting during practice — and the strict limits on when photos and videos can be taken — makes my life easier. I can simply focus on what is happening on the field. Still, it stinks for fans who are starving for practice news, highlights, and info. It will also stink in the event something like a big injury happens, and we can’t tell you about it in real-time.
