In no particular order:
- Giants spent a lot of time in individual and team drills working on and running screen plays to Jennings, Williams, and of course Vereen.
- Jerome Cunningham was getting a lot of reps with the first team offense. He was often used in an H-back/"move TE" role, splitting out wide, lining up in the backfield, and motioning across the formation.
- The defense showed a couple of interesting looks, including a front with the two DTs down in 3-point stances and the DE's standing up like outside linebackers (I saw Moore and Kennard being used in this DE/OLD hybrid role). I saw Kennard also lining up with his hand in the dirt at DE, presumably for a passing situation (Kennard was an excelled pass rusher at USC and showed his ability to get to the QB last year so this could be a great role for him on 3rd downs). Cullen Jenkins was working at traditional DE as well.
- I watched the Giants working on a Special Teams drill that involved one player running about 5-10 yards in one direction then pealing back to block another player running behind him in that same direction (simulating blocking on a kickoff return)and Geremy Davis did an excellent job picking up and walling off his man. Herzlich and Kerry Wynn also excelled in this drill. Double-O seemed to struggle and afterwards was pulled aside by Larry Izzo who was coaching him up on technique.
- Julian Talley quietly having a very strong camp. Still a longshot to make the team but he has shown great hands and ability to get open. Corey Washington has shown great ability to locate and catch the ball but seems to have trouble getting separation with DBs.
- Aside from Prince and DRC, the CB that has stood out the most is Mike Harris. He is undersized but is great in coverage and always seems to be in good position to make a play on the ball.
- I noticed John Jerry was working at Right Tackle with the 2nd group. Not sure whether to read into this too much but the Giants are clearly looking for guys to be versatile on that right side, be it Schwartz (who's worked at Tackle as well), and Moseley who has been working at RG and RT.
- 2nd Team Left Guard Adam Gettis absolutely buried Kendrick Ellis on a run play. Ellis pounded the ground in frustration.
- 2nd Team Left Tackle Emmett Cleary has looked vert good as a pass protector. Haven't seen enough of him to evaluate him as a run blocker but don't count him out to make this team to back up Flowers on the blind side.
- I am not a big Markus Kuhn fan (never have been), and while he is clearly on the bubble at this point, it is clear what the Giants see in him. In some of the defensive linemen agility drills he by far had the best footwork and was the quickest, most nimble/agile guy of the bunch. He is clearly a gifted athlete for a man of his size, just not a very good football player.
Thanks for posting.
To clarify, it was not a 3-4 front I was referring to. It was still a 4-3 look but the "Ends" we standing up.
But yes, I did see some 3-4 being used late in the game last week as well.
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He was a bright spot on defense down the stretch as the nickel/slot CB. He made plays in coverage (INT against the Eagles) as well as a blitzer (sack against the Titans).
If it were up to me, my 5 CBs would be DRC, Prince, Brown, Harris, and Wade.
Jerry may be better suited to RT than RG. Seems to me his biggest problem is lack of strength in the running game. He get blown up into the backfield too often. Not as big an issue at RT, the H Back role could be to help the weaker Tackle.
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Let's hope that Gettis is a find. When the Giants signed Shaun O'Hara nobody expected him to become the player he became for the Giants. He was a backup for Cleveland, after going undrafted, and I believe he mostly played guard for them. BTW O'Hara was only about 303lbs IIRC.
I am going to try to get out to camp on Tuesday and if I can will follow up with another write-up.
- The defense showed a couple of interesting looks, including a front with the two DTs down in 3-point stances and the DE's standing up like outside linebackers (I saw Moore and Kennard being used in this DE/OLD hybrid role). I saw Kennard also lining up with his hand in the dirt at DE, presumably for a passing situation (Kennard was an excelled pass rusher at USC and showed his ability to get to the QB last year so this could be a great role for him on 3rd downs). Cullen Jenkins was working at traditional DE as well.
- Julian Talley quietly having a very strong camp. Still a longshot to make the team but he has shown great hands and ability to get open. Corey Washington has shown great ability to locate and catch the ball but seems to have trouble getting separation with DBs.
- 2nd Team Left Guard Adam Gettis absolutely buried Kendrick Ellis on a run play. Ellis pounded the ground in frustration.
- 2nd Team Left Tackle Emmett Cleary has looked vert good as a pass protector. Haven't seen enough of him to evaluate him as a run blocker but don't count him out to make this team to back up Flowers on the blind side.
- I am not a big Markus Kuhn fan (never have been), and while he is clearly on the bubble at this point, it is clear what the Giants see in him. In some of the defensive linemen agility drills he by far had the best footwork and was the quickest, most nimble/agile guy of the bunch. He is clearly a gifted athlete for a man of his size, just not a very good football player.
We have had the worst screen game for several years. With the issues our OL has, seems like the screen and draw tactics will be able to help, if we can get them right.
Not sure if a castoff OL plowing a DT we had hopes for as run-plugger is good or bad. Everyone gets beaten sometimes, though. Except for Sapp. Just ask him, lol.
Kennard reminds me of Lavar Arrington. Great rushing the passer, great at the POA on running plays. Not so great in coverage. Keep him near the LOS. Could see him in a four aces package for sure.
Maybe Kuhn is played out of position, then. I was 155 lbs. in college and they stuck me at LB (was like a Division infinity school, lol). I was the most agile through the drills too, but no way was I going to be able to take on a big FB in the hole or a big TE at the POA. I kept telling them I wanted to play DB ... Anyway, if he consistently dazzles in drills, but consistently fizzles on the field, the drills don't mean much. Play him somewhere else or send him to Ninja Warrior.
Good news on Cleary. We really need a few guys to step up on the OL, and we are due for some diamond-in-the-rough luck.
Flowers, Gettis, Richburg, Schwartz, Pugh.