Tuesday Reading

Giants

Rank NFL.com: State of the Franchise: Pick a lane, Giants!

“Members of the Giants organization, fans of the team around the world and those who realize that their torso is probably smaller than one of Saquon Barkley's thighs:
Change is not always easy. It's hard to let go. And this offseason, the Giants traded away one of the most beloved players on the team. An actual New York icon. And of course, I'm talking about Olivier Vernon.
Oh, the Giants also traded away Odell Beckham Jr. Yeah, change is afoot.
How the Giants got here

Let's take a quick look back at the highs and lows of the 2018 season.
The highs:
-- The arrival of Saquon Barkley. Barkley's 1-yard run against the Cowboys in Week 17 might have been just a 1-yard run on the stat sheet, but it took multiple tackle attempts and several defenders to stop the rookie sensation. To me, it was the play that kind of defined the Giants' season.
-- An impressive road win over the Texans in Week 3. That made you think, Hey, this team might not be so bad.
-- Beating the Bears in Week 13. No big deal, but the Giants were the only team to defeat Chicago in the second half of the regular season. So you did have that. In fact, the Giants won four of their first five games out of a Week 9 bye to keep themselves alive in the playoff race into mid-December.
The lows:
-- A 1-7 start to the season. The Giants had the aforementioned win over the Texans in Week 3, but then the team dropped a home game to the Saints and fell to Carolina the next week on a 63-yard field goal in the final seconds. They took a five-game losing streak into the bye.
-- Trading away Snacks Harrison and Eli Apple and waiving Ereck Flowers in October. I guess that was just a precursor of things to come.
-- Being shut out by the Titans in Week 15. As I mentioned, the Giants won four of their first five games coming out of the bye, but a 17-0 loss to Tennessee ended any hope of a playoff appearance.
2019 VIPs

Head coach: Pat Shurmur. The Giants hired Shurmur in January 2018 despite his 10-23 record as a head coach. To put that in context, all of those losses came when he was coaching the Browns (2011-2012). When you compare Shurmur's stint with the Browns to Hue Jackson's, Shurmur ends up looking like Bill Belichick. And speaking of Belichick, that was a familiar refrain from Giants fans, to be all, "Hey, look -- Belichick failed in Cleveland and look what he's done." (Which is wrong, because Belichick didn't really fail in Cleveland, but that's for another post.)
Anyway, Shurmur was hired because of his excellent record as an offensive coordinator. Most recently, he had worked a miracle season out of Case Keenum as the Vikings went all the way to the 2017 NFC Championship Game. And you'd think you would hire a coach like this to develop a quarterback. Instead, he got Eli Manning. Which is weird. But the team does have Eli's heir apparent -- 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones -- on the roster now, and we'll eventually see how Shurmur progresses in his second stint as an HC (not counting his one game as interim coach of the Eagles).
Quarterback: Eli Manning. Well, at least he's the QB1 for now. The G-Men used the sixth overall selection in the draft on Jones. The Duke product is the quarterback of the future, but when does he get the baton? Manning is the oldest player on the Giants' roster (38) and he's entering his 16th NFL season. How about that? Manning's career is old enough to drive a car. He's missed only one start over his last 14 seasons. (Seriously, that benching in 2017 was stupid.) He holds just about every major passing record for the Giants. He's beaten Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl. He's accomplished a lot. But at some point, he's going to the bench. And it might need to happen sooner rather than later. See, Manning is 8-23 since 2017 (that's the worst record in the league among QBs with at least 30 starts over that span). Manning has won nine games or fewer in eight of his last 10 seasons. But the upshot is that Manning is coming off one of the most efficient seasons of his career and even set a career high in completion percentage (66.0). But the job is going be Jones' at some point soon.
Projected 2019 MVP: Saquon Barkley, running back. As the Giants figure out which QB they should play and who is going to catch the ball with OBJ no longer around, Barkley will be the one constant in this offense. Barkley averaged 5.0 yards per carry last year as he rushed for 1,307 yards. He also caught 91 passes for 721 yards. This year, he could push to become the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. I know some of you might be skeptical because OBJ is gone -- sorry to bring that up again -- but how dynamic did you think the Giants' offense was last year? NFL history is filled with running backs who were the only option in their offense and went on to have monster years. For instance, Adrian Peterson led the NFL in rushing during his second NFL season. His quarterbacks that year? Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson. So how about we don't sweat the one thing Giants fans have to look forward to, OK?
Remind me again, who is gone? Odell Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins, you say? Yeah, I hope you still have that receipt for those jerseys you bought last year. The worst is when one of those guys goes on to have a Hall of Fame career elsewhere. Trust me on this. I have a Greg Olsen Bears jersey. It hurts.
2019 breakout star: Lorenzo Carter, outside linebacker. One of the reasons the Giants might have felt comfortable moving Vernon was the presence of Carter, who did show some promise during his rookie season. Now the 2018 third-round pick is not only going to increase his workload, but he's going to need to replace Vernon's production, too. The Giants did sign Markus Golden and draft Oshane Ximines in the third round to boost the pass rush this offseason, but I'm expecting Carter to take a huge step in 2019.
New face to know: Jabrill Peppers, safety. Well, he's going to forever be known as "Not OBJ" to a lot of Giants fans, since he was acquired from Cleveland in the OBJ trade, but this could end up being a nice get. Peppers, a first-round pick in 2017, never really lived up to his promise during his two seasons in Cleveland. Which is fine. That happens. It's like when you find out that Ben Stiller was on one season of "Saturday Night Live." And you look at it now, and you're like, How did that not work? We'll probably be saying the same thing about Peppers when we look back at his time with the Browns in a few years. He was Pro Football Focus' 19th-rated safety last season, so it's not like he's some major underachiever, even if he hasn't quite generated the buzz some expected from him when he first entered the league. And he's kind of a special teams ace, too. I get that it's not fun to lose a three-time Pro Bowl selectee like Collins, but you're getting a younger and much cheaper player in Peppers, so in a way, this might be an upgrade. He could end up having a Zoolander-like season. Does that make sense? Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Another new face to know (because there will be many): Antoine Bethea. General manager Dave Gettleman is rolling the dice that Bethea, who last made the Pro Bowl in 2014, can recapture the magic. As an older presence who played for defensive coordinator James Bettcher in Arizona in 2017, this move makes a lot of sense. Bethea and Peppers in the secondary could end up being a buddy-cop situation like Stiller and Owen Wilson in, damn, "Starsky and Hutch"? Dang it. I wish there was a better Stiller movie comp. Nonetheless, I still like this safety tandem.
2019 roadmap

The competitive urgency index is: LOW. You traded away one of your franchise players. Then you drafted the quarterback of the future. Congratulations -- you've bought yourself a few extra years for this remodel!
Will the Giants be able to ...
Get production from the WR corps? Beckham was targeted 119 times last season in 12 games. That workload will have to be spread around. Sterling Shepard, who signed a four-year extension with the Giants this offseason, had 102 targets last year and caught 66 passes for 872 yards and four touchdowns. He lined up in the slot for 55% of his routes last season, but he could end up getting kicked outside more because free-agent addition Golden Tate is one of the top slot receivers in the game. And he ran more than 70% of his routes from the slot last year, too. And then you have tight end Evan Engram, who figures into the mix, as well. That might be one of the problems. You have two slot receivers and a tight end who is probably best suited to line up in the slot. I wouldn't be so critical of moving Beckham if the team seemed to have a plan for replacing him. I like Tate, but you already had a budding stud in the slot with Shepard. It's like if your oven broke, but instead of replacing it, you added a second microwave oven. You already had one of those. What good is another one? Perhaps rookie Darius Slayton or Broncos castoff Cody Latimer can step up on the outside.
Improve the defense? The Giants have finished in the bottom 10 in both scoring defense and yards allowed in each of the last two seasons. They were absolutely dreadful at getting to the quarterback last season, when they tied for 30th in the league with 30 sacks. Vernon was the team leader in sacks with seven, so maybe it makes sense that he's now in Cleveland. It's like if you're hungry but don't want to eat, and you end up giving away your lunch to somebody, because I guess you won't be tempted to eat food if you don't have it. I don't know what I'm trying to say, but maybe it's not that big a deal to get rid of Collins and Vernon, because things weren't working with them on the defense anyway. If Peppers, Bethea, Ximines and Golden can come in and make some noise, then you're in good shape.
The team also spent first-round picks on DT Dexter Lawrence and CB Deandre Baker. Lawrence was an interesting choice at No. 17 overall. If the team hadn't been so maligned for taking Jones at the No. 6 spot, maybe more people would have been enraged with the overdrafting of Lawrence. But since everyone had already made jokes about Jones, it just seemed like it would be piling on to also kick them for taking Lawrence that early.
But I do like Baker, who had seven picks and 23 passes defensed over his last three seasons at Georgia. He might actually be my breakout pick.
Do better at running the football? I know, I had Barkley as the team MVP and everything. But did you know that despite how awesome Barkley was last year, the Giants still finished 24th in rushing offense? They tied for 21st in third-down conversion rate, which is not great when you have a stud like Barkley. So they need to get better in this area. Some of these issues stem from an offensive line that, while benefitting from the additions of Nate Solder and Will Hernandez, still struggled to protect the passer. Manning was sacked nearly 50 times last year. And I know he's not vintage Fran Tarkenton or anything, but that's still a lot. What's funny is, as I make that joke, Manning had the second-highest passer rating on the run last season (114.5), per Next Gen Stats. And I might need to commission a study to figure out how that happened.
Three key dates
-- Week 2 vs. the Bills. The Giants are opening on the road in Dallas. That's a loss. I don't mean to be so blunt. But this game against the Bills is a perfect barometer to see how this season is going to go. If the Giants start off 0-2, we might be looking at the dawn of the Daniel Jones era.
-- Week 4 vs. the Redskins. Well, the Giants are going to need to find victories where they can get them. This seems like one of those opportunities.
-- Week 7 vs. the Cardinals. I'm guessing this will be when Jones gets his first crack at starting for the Giants. This game comes 10 days after a Thursday-nighter in New England. So this seems like the perfect time for Manning to pass the torch, like Kurt Warner did for Manning 15 years ago.
One storyline people are overlooking: Eli Manning's numbers without OBJ. I know it's easy for fans to be dismissive when a player leaves via free agency or is traded, and to be all, "He wasn't that good anyway." I don't believe a lot of Giants fans feel that way about Beckham, though you do see some hot-take artists who go down that road. But let's take a quick look at Manning's numbers with and without OBJ since the WR entered the league in 2014. Eli saw declines in completion percentage (64.3 to 60), passing yards per game (277.8 to 225.7), TD-to-INT ratio (77:35 to 17:12) and passer rating (92.9 to 79.1) in his 15 games without OBJ during that stretch. Listen, I might not be a genius, but that is significant. Of all the numbers I'm throwing around here, these really stand out to me.
One storyline people are overthinking: The Giants drafted Daniel Jones too early. This is always one of my pet peeves. If you don't think Jones is that good, does it matter if the Giants drafted him sixth or 17th? "Hey, I know Jones didn't work out. But at least we used our second draft pick on him instead of our first." I don't get that line of thinking. It's weird. Like when people haggle to save a few hundred bucks on their car. All it really does is save you, like, an extra $3 a month or something. People always try to get too cute with their draft picks. To me, if you believe he can be your QB1, you draft him the first chance you get.
For 2019 to be a successful season, the Giants MUST ...

-- Figure out the quarterback situation.
-- At least be competitive in the NFC East.
Again, you can't realistically expect the Giants to win the division over the Eagles and Cowboys. But you might want to avoid finishing in the cellar for the third year in a row. The Giants have finished last in the NFC East in three consecutive seasons only once in franchise history (1976-78). They will have some competition for the bottom rung this year because Washington is also in the NFC East.
But the Giants have not won the NFC East since 2011 and have the worst record among the division's teams since 2016 (19-29). The good news is, based on their opponents' records from 2018, they have the second-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL this year.
In closing

The Giants are in an interesting spot. In light of the decisions to trade away players like OBJ, Harrison, Apple and Vernon and to let Collins walk, you would assume this is a team in the middle of a rebuild. But then you have one of the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL as your QB1. At some point, the Giants need to decide what they are before they can truly move forward.”

https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001035262/article/state-of-the-franchise-qb-question-lingers-over-retooled-giants?

Giants.com: Cover 3: X-factor for 2019 season
https://www.giants.com/news/cover-3-x-factor-for-2019-season

Solak The Draft Network: HOW THE NEW YORK GIANTS WON SUPER BOWL 54
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/how-the-new-york-giants-won-super-bowl-54

Traina Locked on Giants Podcast: We have more opponent previews on the LockedOn Giants podcast. This week we start with a preview of the Bears.
http://dcs.megaphone.fm/LKN8772543360.mp3?key=76752075cf83379df27049c35cc9fea1

QB

Benton Giantswire USA Today: 2019 Giants training camp preview: Quarterbacks
https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/08/2019-new-york-giants-training-camp-preview-quarterbacks/amp/

C

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: James O'Hagan
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-james-o-hagan-buwrdfcZsEucFj0RJ21UFw/

LT

Moy PFF: Examining Nate Solder's first season with the New York Giants
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-examining-nate-solders-first-season-with-the-new-york-giants

LB

Stapleton The Record: NY Giants training camp preview: Breaking down the linebackers
https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2019/07/09/ny-giants-training-camp-preview-breaking-down-linebackers/1566637001/

ILB

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: Alec Ogletree
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-alec-ogletree-kTCdBxbaOE60bx-h-Hw8yQ/

PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants)
7/8/19, 11:19 AM
Ryan Connelly ranked 5th in pass-rush productivity out of linebackers in the draft class with at least 48 pass-rush snaps.
He only gave up 46 yards after the catch, 1st in draft class and 0.38 yards per cover snap, T-6th in draft class, among LB’s with a minimum of 300 snaps!

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
7/8/19, 11:32 AM
From the moment the 2019 NFL Draft ended, Connelly was my sleeper to make an unexpected impact for the Giants and eventually finish No. 2 in snaps among the inside linebackers as a rookie. His skill set fits the scheme and what his role will be to a tee. Check his 10-yard split

On ILB Competition:

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
7/8/19, 11:41 AM
I think it will be decided in training camp. Having said that, I'm not sold there will really be a "starter" because the Giants will be in so many different subpackages. Having said that, I think he's got a shot to take the most snaps outside of Ogletree at ILB

LS

Esposito Greater Babylon Blog: The 495 Podcast: Jake Carlock's journey to the New York Giants (Audio)
https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com/2019/07/08/the-495-podcast-jake-carlocks-journey-to-the-new-york-giants/

NFL

Orr MMQB: The NFL’s Five Most Combustible Teams

“New York Giants
The franchise’s constant lean toward one last Super Bowl run has created an offensive line that is formidable but expensive; Nate Solder just turned 31 and has the second-highest cap number on the team. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins will turn 31 mid-season and is making almost $15 million. There’s going to be a mad rush to not only finalize Eli Manning’s career, but elevate Saquon Barkley’s while he’s still in his (much earlier and much shorter) prime.”

https://amp.si.com/nfl/2019/07/09/most-combustible-roster-teams-jets-giants-cowboys-raiders-browns

Bergman NFL.com: NFC East camp primer: Three keys for each team

“New York Giants

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 22) and veterans (July 24).
Location: Quest Diagnostics Training Facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Most important position battle: center. Sure, Giants coach Pat Shurmur has hinted at a quarterback competition between Eli Manning and Mini Manning, but it's unclear if Daniel Jones has a real shot to unseat the aging Elisha (more on that below). More interesting perhaps is figuring out who will be snapping that QB the ball. Jon Halapio entered last season as Big Blue's starting center, but he broke his ankle in Week 2. He was replaced by Spencer Pulley, who started nine games last season and signed a three-year extension this offseason. Both are healthy as we head into camp, but early indications are the job is Halapio's to lose. Given New York's general woes along the offensive line in years past, though, the Giants can't afford to settle on the wrong scrap-heap pickup.

Newcomer/player returning from injury to watch: Deandre Baker, cornerback; Darius Slayton, wide receiver. Sry, I'm cheating. These two SEC prospects were not drafted in the same round (Baker was New York's third first-rounder, Slayton the second fifth-rounder), but they could find themselves in the same starting lineup come Week 1. During minicamp, Baker and Slayton both hopped over incumbents in the depth chart for snaps. Baker is getting time in front of redshirt rookie Sam Beal at corner across from Jackrabbit Jenkins, while Slayton is pushing journeyman Corey Coleman for New York's No. 3 receiver spot next to Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard. For an embattled general manager like Dave Gettleman, having two rookie starters in Week 1 (in addition to Dexter Lawrence and potentially Daniel Jones) would be early proof of a successful draft. (Or evidence of poor roster management, if you want to interpret it that way.)

Looming camp question: Will Daniel Jones push Eli Manning for starting reps? The boos echoing in the general direction of Jones, online and in stands, have subsided by now, as Giants supporters transition from anger to acceptance in their seven stages of (good) grief. Jones, not Dwayne Haskins, Josh Rosen or Drew Lock, is their quarterback of the future. Perhaps the near future. As mentioned above, Shurmur intimated at the end of mandatory minicamp that Jones could be closing in on the Giants' starting gig, saying the rookie is "on track with the goal to be ready to play on Day 1." Now, we media folk ate that up, because Shurmur's statement appeared to offer Jones a sliver, a morsel, a teardrop of hope to steal Manning's gig before the season starts, a post that has been held by the same player since 2004, when Manning was the top-10 rookie overtaking a veteran with Super Bowl pedigree. When Eli replaced Kurt Warner, though, he didn't get his first start until Week 11, well into a lost campaign. A lot has changed since then regarding rookie-QB norms; all four of last year's top-10 QBs were starting for their respective clubs by Week 4. Our first potential sign that New York is actually considering Jones for the Week 1 starting role would come when 11-on-11s roll around in training camp and those reps are divvied up. Will Manning and Jones go 50-50? If they do, does that mean Jones is gaining ground, or that Giants brass just want to test him? I don't have to speculate anymore on this matter, as the Gotham tabloids can take it from here.”

https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001035248/article/nfc-east-training-camp-preview-key-players-battles-to-watch?

Seifert ESPN: The best NFL players at every age

“Age 22:
Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Clay's 2019 projection: 2,060 scrimmage yards, 13 touchdowns
Signed through: 2022
After leading the NFL with 2,028 yards from scrimmage in 2018, Barkley will enter his second season in the MVP discussion. The Giants' decision to move on from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the looming quarterback transition from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones leave Barkley as the every-down anchor of their offense. He touched the ball 352 times last season. Is there any doubt he'll surpass 400 in 2019? (To answer the inevitable question: The NFL's post-merger record for touches in a 16-game season is 492, by the Buccaneers' James Wilder in 1984, as a 26-year-old.)”

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/27103450/the-best-nfl-players-every-age

Zierlein NFL.com: Top 10 NFL OROY candidates for 2019
https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001035241/article/nfl-offensive-rookie-of-the-year-candidates-kyler-murray-on-top?

ARIZONA
McManaman AZ Central: Arizona Cardinals position breakdown: A closer look at the defensive backs
https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/1617225001#click=https://t.co/VKHVJQVS9B

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Julio Jones not worried about his contract extension 
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/julio-jones-not-worried-about-his-contract-extension/XGTJTHXY5C8o48JrjUfgIO/

Ledbetter AJC: Falcons preview 2019: Can safeties Allen and Neal make it back from injury? 
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-preview-2019-can-safeties-allen-and-neal-make-back-from-injury/rZots1pUB6U8u53r3mzq0H/

BALTIMORE
Ravens.com: Training Camp Position Breakdown: Tight End
https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/training-camp-position-breakdown-tight-end

BUFFALO
Peterson SJ Mercury News: Ageless Frank Gore bound for Buffalo and 15th NFL season, but intends to retire a 49er
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/07/08/ageless-frank-gore-bound-for-buffalo-and-15th-nfl-season-but-intends-to-retire-a-49er/amp/#click=https://t.co/dxCyjXMb8P

CAROLINA
Marks Charlotte Observer: Panthers’ offseason plan for Cam Newton’s recovery has gone as expected. Now what?
https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article232398597.html

Panthers.com: DJ Moore ready for his exciting new role
https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-dj-moore-ready-for-his-exciting-new-role

CINCINNATI
Hoard Bengals.com: Big Jake Makes Good First Impression
https://www.bengals.com/news/big-jake-makes-good-first-impression

Dragon Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals DE Carl Lawson is targeting a Week 1 return
https://amp.cincinnati.com/amp/1680065001

CLEVELAND
Gribble Browns.com: Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the QBs
https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-2019-training-camp-preview-analyzing-the-qbs

Burns Cleveland Plain Dealer: How Jarvis Landry's ability off the ball brings value to the Cleveland Browns' offense -- Film Room
https://expo.cleveland.com/sports/g66l-2019/07/eb15be9d5c1055/jarvis-landrys-ability-off-the-ball-brings-value-to-the-cleveland-browns-offense-film-room-.html

DALLAS
Dubin CBS Sports.com: NFL 2019: The Cowboys made much-needed additions to the D-Line, which might be the key to their season
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-2019-the-cowboys-made-much-needed-additions-to-the-d-line-which-might-be-the-key-to-their-season/amp/

DENVER
Klis 9News Denver: BRONCOS ROSTER PREVIEW: EVEN WITH ADDITIONS OF MUNCHAK, JAMES AND RISNER, BOLLES IS KEY TO IMPROVED OFFENSIVE LINE
https://www.9news.com/amp/article/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/broncos-roster-preview-even-with-additions-of-munchak-james-and-risner-bolles-is-key-to-improved-offensive-line/73-1ff481f1-7043-4aac-bff6-88eb8b4084f3

DETROIT
Rogers Detroit News: Problem solving, conceptual teaching are roots of Matt Patricia's coaching methods
https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/1675237001

Baldinger Yahoo Sports: What Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow and running back Kerryon Johnson can do for Detroit Lions | Baldy's Breakdowns (Video)
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/detroit-lions-center-frank-ragnow-223100543.html

Rothstein ESPN Detroit: Lions' Quin 'walking away' after 10 NFL seasons
https://global.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27152160

GREEN BAY
Hodkiewicz Packers.com: Raven Greene put in the work this offseason
https://www.packers.com/news/raven-greene-put-in-the-work-this-offseason

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Pivotal contract year looms for Texans' Whitney Mercilus
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/amp/Pivotal-contract-year-looms-for-Texans-Whitney-14079249.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Walker Colts.com: 2019 Colts Burning Questions: Tackle
https://www.colts.com/news/2019-colts-burning-questions-tackle

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Watson Shreveport Times: Tillery says Evangel, Notre Dame prepared him for NFL success
https://amp.shreveporttimes.com/amp/1680186001

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Simmons Rams.com: Countdown to Camp: Elite special teams unit returns for 2019
https://www.therams.com/news/countdown-to-camp-elite-special-teams-unit-returns

MIAMI
Jackson Miami Herald: What Dolphins fans should know as Miami figures out roles for Drake and Ballage
https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article231882443.html

Wolfe ESPN Miami: Meet the fun-loving kindergarten cop: Dolphins rookie Christian Wilkins
https://www.espn.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/29360/meet-the-fun-loving-kindergarten-cop-dolphins-rookie-christian-wilkins?

Deen Sun Sentinel: Dolphins’ Kendrick Norton breaks silence following car accident, seeks financial help through GoFundMe account
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-kendrick-norton-20190709-h5uy5flur5aitiqdhtwp2ppr3i-story.html

MINNESOTA
Smith Vikings.com: Kubiak Evaluates Cousins, Backup QB Battle Before Training Camp
https://www.vikings.com/news/klint-kubiak-kirk-cousins-qb-battle-vikings-training-camp

NEW ENGLAND
Scalavino Patriots.com: Patriots Position Snapshot: Safeties
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-position-snapshot-safeties

NEW YORK JETS
Allen Jets.com: Jets Camp Preview: Sam Darnold Working on Mastery of the Offense
https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-camp-preview-sam-darnold-working-on-mastery-of-the-offense

Mehta NYDN: Mehta’s Top 20 Jets Countdown: No. 9 DL Henry Anderson
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-henry-anderson-defensive-line-quinnen-williams-20190709-5zrfbal6rrdytacmcqnvtk2tou-story.html

OAKLAND
Williams NBC Bay Area: A Josh Jacobs Holdout Could Be Bad News for Raiders
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/A-Josh-Jacobs-Holdout-Could-be-Bad-News-for-Raiders-512413881.html

Paskal Raiders.com: 2019 Position Battle: Offensive Line
https://www.raiders.com/news/2019-position-battle-offensive-line

PHILADELPHIA
Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles training camp preview: Running back
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-training-camp-preview-running-back-2019/amp/#click=https://t.co/6x4sau4A8j

Gallen Penn Live: ‘Really low-key’ Marken Michel makes a run at Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver spot
https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/2019/07/really-low-key-marken-michel-makes-a-run-at-philadelphia-eagles-wide-receiver-spot.html

PITTSBURGH
Adamski Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Steelers 2-a-days: Team keeps keeping Dan McCullers, taking a look at Henry Mondeaux
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-2-a-days-team-keeps-keeping-dan-mccullers-taking-a-look-at-henry-mondeaux/

Adamski Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Steelers 2-a-days: Talented Travon McMillian seeks role; Donte Moncrief the No. 2, 3 or 4 WR?
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-2-a-days-talented-travon-mcmillian-seeks-role-donte-moncrief-the-no-2-3-or-4-wr/

TAMPA BAY
Fennelly TB Times: Face it, Tampa Bay still looks to Tony Dungy
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/07/08/face-it-tampa-bay-still-looks-to-tony-dungy/?

Stroud TB Times: Sports Day Tampa Bay: Longtime NFL reporter Ed Werder on his days covering the Bucs (Audio)
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/07/08/sports-day-tampa-bay-longtime-nfl-reporter-ed-werder-on-his-days-covering-the-bucs/

Encina TB Times: The hope still invested in Jameis Winston
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/07/08/the-hope-still-invested-in-jameis-winston/?

TENNESSEE
Wyatt Titans.com: OLB Kamalei Correa Focused on Improving, Helping the Titans
https://www.titansonline.com/news/olb-kamalei-correa-focused-on-improving-helping-the-titans

Colleges/Draft

Edholm Yahoo Sports: NFL draft: 2 supplemental draft prospects worth drafting this year
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-two-supplemental-draft-prospects-worth-drafting-this-year-184423990.html

QB
Breer MMQB: The 2020 NFL Draft Conversation Starts With the Quarterbacks
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/07/08/nfl-draft-2020-quarterbacks-tua-tagovailoa-justin-herbert-jake-fromm

Reid The Draft Network: On this weeks edition of "Reiding Between the Lines" a deep dive into the scouting reports of a few notable 2020 QB prospects
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/reiding-between-the-lines--july-8th

WR
Pflum BBV: Should the Giants put in a bid for WVU receiver Marcus Simms?
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/8/20682401/2019-nfl-supplemental-draft-marcus-simms-wr-west-virginia-ny-giants-scouting-report

Kelly The Draft Network: WHO ARE THE WR1 CANDIDATES?
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/who-are-the-wr1-candidates

S
Lindsay GBN: WSU S Thompson works out

“WSU SS Thompson works out prior to supp draft … Washington State junior SS Jalen Thompson, the most attractive prospect available in this week’s NFL supplemental draft, worked out in front of personnel people from 26 teams earlier today in what has been described as a solid, albeit unspectacular session. Thompson measured in at just over 5-10 and 186 pounds, which isn’t overly big at all for a strong safety. Thompson also only managed 11 reps in the bench press, which could have some teams worrying about his core strength. Thompson then ran his two 40s in reported times of 4.47 and 4.56. The first was okay, the second not so good. Thompson also posted a 33.5-inch vertical which would have been middle of the pack at the combine, while his broad jump of 10-4 would have been at least top ten in Indianapolis. Same for his short shuttle tome of 4.16 seconds which would have been 9th among safeties at the combine. Thompson is expected to selected with a mid-round pick at Wednesday’s draft.”

https://gbnreport.com/wsu-s-thompson-workls-out/

History

Judge Football Maven: Handicapping the 2020 contributor class: Make Young, McNally the favorites

“Former New York Giants’ GM George Young is the first off the shelf of the three contributors. He’s been oh-so-close to crossing the finish line the past two years, and, frankly, should’ve been in by now.
Young did for the Giants what former Green Bay GM Ron Wolf did for the Packers – return stability, credibility and success to a storied franchise. He also hired Bill Parcells, and the last time I checked Parcells and Wolf were in the Hall of Fame.
All I know is that Young brought peace to a franchise torn within its ownership, hired Parcells, groomed GM Ernie Accorsi, drafted Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms and presided over the resurrection of a club that had gone 17 consecutive years without making the playoffs – including 15 where they failed to reach .500.

“He’s one of the best GMs in the history of the league,” Accorsi once told Hall-of-Fame voter Bob Glauber of Newsday.”

https://footballmaven.io/talkoffame/nfl/handicapping-the-2020-contributor-class-make-young-mcnally-the-favorites-ReFtnr6o3EWOvX85HlSteQ/

Giants Birthdays 7-9

Bill Johnson P FA-Orlando ACFL 1970 NYG 1970 7-09-1944

West Alabama HOF - “Bill Johnson, a native of Eutaw, Ala., played football for West Alabama from 1963-66. As a senior, Johnson was the number three punter in the nation with a 44.1 yard average per punt, while catching 49 passes for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns and being named Little All-American. Johnson spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. He also played one year in the World Football League in Orlando, Fla.”

NYT: Footloose Bill Johnson Captures Giants’ Fancy (11-20-1970)

“The ball is snapped and seven screaming, arm& #8208;waving men charge toward a player 15 yards away. No one is between this band of seem ingly wild men and their ob jective and Bill Johnson can not be blamed for thinking he is back at the rodeo grounds trying to scramble away from a bucking bronco that has just thrown him jar ringly.
It is not the rodeo grounds somewhere in Alabama, but the football field at Yankee Stadium and the drill is in tended to help turn Johnson into the great punter the Giants think he can be.
“This could be one of the great kickers in our league.” Jim Garrett. the assistant coach in charge of such drills, said yesterday. “He has tremendous talent, but he needs patience from ev eryone in our organization. If we can afford him this, he'll right himself and be okay.”
Whether the Giants can af ford time and patience. though. is the $15.000 (Super Bowl prize per man) ques tion.
Kicking Inconsistent
Although the 26& #8208;year& #8208;old rookie has provided glimpses of the talent that. prompted Now York to end his four& #8208;year tenure with the minor league Orlando Panthers, for the most part he has kicked inconsistently, such as last Sunday, when he averaged 22 yards a punt against Washington.

Thus, punting continues to be a chronic, gnawing prob lem for the Giants, who haven't had a dependable punter since Don Chandler departed six years ago.
Still the Giants are not ready to give up on Johnson, who gave up bronc riding when he, started playing pro football.
“The guy really is fantastic.” Garrett said. “In practice he kicks the ball 50& #8208;85 yards in the air. I fight for him constantly because I feel we would have one of the premier kickers in the league if he would put every thing together.
“It's a mental thing right now. He had his problems and he lost his confidence because he can't believe some of the things that have really happened to him.”

One Punt Blocked
The first thing that hap pened was in San Diego when, kicking off dirt for the first time, he dropped the ball to his foot and almost missed it. Then Steve Tannen blocked a punt in the exhibition game with the Jets, a blocked punt led to the Giants’ loss to New Orleans and last Sunday a snap from Pat Hughes sailed through his hands.
“I really don't know what happened Sunday,” Johnson said of his latest problem. “The snap wasn't perfect, but I should have caught it. It was probably just a lack of concentration or maybe I was watching the rush.
“But like I've always said, you're going to have your good days and your bad days. You just hope the good ones will outnumber the bad ones and try not to let the bad ones upset you. It's going to happen to everybody. Good hitters get in a slump. Basket ball players miss free throws. You just can't let it get you down.”
To Garrett, the answer to Johnson's problem is simple.
“If he could have one good day,” the coach said, “he'd be on his way.”

https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/20/archives/footloose-bill-johnson-captures-giants-fancy.html

8-12-1971 - “Punter Bill Johnson disappointed with his performance in the team’s 35-6 exhibition loss to Houston Monday night, left camp Wednesday. Johnson averaged 39.5 yards per kick as the Giants' regular punter last season, but punted four times for a 31-yard average against the Oilers.”

UPI 4-21- 1972 “ATLANTA, April 20 (UPI)—The Atlanta Falcons acquired Bill Johnson, a punter; from the New York Giants today in exchange for a future draft choice.
Johnson saw little action last season, but in 1970 had a 39.5& #8208;yard& #8208;per& #8208;punt average for the Giants and his 68& #8208; yarder against the Washington Redskins was the longest that season in the National Football League.
Johnson, a left& #8208;footed kicker from Eutaw, Ala., was signed by the Giants as a free agent after two seasons with the minor league Orlando (Fla.) Panthers.”

Weston Richburg C/LG D2-Colorado State 2014 NYG 2014-2017 7-09-1991

Bob Schmidt C W-CHI CARDS 1959 NYG 1959-1960 7-09-1936

PFRA
NFL’s New York Giants (1959–1960), the AFL’s Houston Oilers (1961–1963), the AFL’s Boston Patriots (1964), and the AFL’s Buffalo Bills (1966–1967). He was a member of the Oilers’ AFL Championship team in 1961 and was an AFL All Star in 1961, 1962, and 1963.

Omar Stoutmire FS W-NYJ 2000 NYG 2000-2004 7-09-1974

Fresno State HOF

“STOUTMIRE, OMAR
FOOTBALL
A Super Prep All-American at famed Long Beach Poly High School, the tenacious and hard-hitting safety blossomed into one of the best defensive backs in Fresno State history and carved out an 11-year NFL career that included playing in Super Bowl XXXV for the New York Giants. As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder set school and Western Athletic Conference records for tackles in a season with 198. He was named All-WAC as a senior and finished his Bulldogs career with a school-record 458 tackles. As a true freshman in 1993, Stoutmire was Fresno State's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Selected by Dallas in the seventh round with the 224th overall pick of the 1997 NFL draft, Stoutmire made an immediate impact for the Cowboys with four tackles and a sack in his first regular-season game. Stoutmire started 14 games during his two seasons in Dallas. After one season with the New York Jets, in which he returned an intercepted pass 67 yards for a touchdown, Stoutmire crossed town and joined the Giants. Always versatile, he started 32 games, returned kickoffs and was a key performer in New York's dime defense and on their special teams for five seasons. Perhaps his best year was 2003, when he was third on the Giants in tackles with a career-high 109. In the 2004 season opener, however, Stoutmire tore a knee ligament and went on injured reserve. After being waived by the Giants, he signed with the NFC East rival Washington Redskins and again made his mark by making four tackles, including a sack, in a playoff victory over Tampa Bay. The following season he moved onto New Orleans and claimed a starting position for the Saints at strong safety. He helped the Saints into the playoffs by intercepting two passes and making 56 tackles in the regular season. Stoutmire then returned to the Redskins for his final NFL campaign. Following his NFL career, Stoutmire and his wife, Sheila, founded the North Texas Jackrabbits, a track and field program for youths 7 to 18.”

AP (10-30-2000)

“EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ Free agent safety Omar Stoutmire took the New York shuttle Wednesday, signing with the Giants just four days after being waived by the Jets in their final roster cut-down.
Stoutmire, who started five games for the Jets last season, spoke with six or seven teams before having an impressive workout Tuesday with the Giants, who like the Jets play their home games at Giants Stadium.
To make room for him, the Giants cut cornerback Ramos McDonald, who was signed Friday.
While Stoutmire learns the defense, second-year safety Lyle West will back up starters Shaun Williams and Sam Garnes at both the free and strong safety positions.”

In Memoriam

Al Bedner G 1925 NYG 1925-1926 Born 7-9-1898 Died 7-12-1988

Scranton Republican (10-09-1926)

TOMORROW UNDEFEATED ELEVENS WILL FACE OFF, POTTSVILLE TO OPPOSE GIANTS THIS AFTERNOON National Professional Football League Teams at Wilkes Barre Park

MANY STARS WILL BE SEEN WITH TWO TEAMS Haines, Koppisch, McBride, Stein, Ernst, Berry and Others, to Play

The appearance in Wilkes-Barre of any on Big league baseball star would be sufficient to stir interest all over the coal region. It Is not surprising thewfore. that the presence of more than a dozen football stars whose names have been emblazoned in headlines of sport papes all over the past five years has keyed the avid Pro fans of the district in anticipation of the Mitchell Day battle today at the Wilkes Barre ball park between the New York Giants and the Pottsville Maroons of the National Professional Football League. From the lower coal field, where pro football is considered Its major sport, hundreds of fans will travel to Wilkes Barre this afternoon for this big spectacle of brawn and brains by teams composed of some of the brightest stars of the football firmament. Football lovers, too, from points as far north as Susquehanna and Binghamton and from Willlamsport to Stroudsburg have sent in requests for tickets and the first sight of professional football in the Wyoming alley promises to be a spectacle on Friday. With the New Tork Giants are such famous moleskin stars as Walter Koppisch, famous in Columbia University history; Hlnkey Haines, of Penn State: Clarence Hogan of Washington & Jefferson; Jack McBride, of Syracuse; Walter Harms, of Lehigh; Al Bednar. of Lafayette; Tillie Voss, of Detroit: Steve Owens, of Arkansas: Lvnn Bonar. of Vandebiit and Cecil Gresgs of Far Off Texas. Many Stars on Lineups. - Opposing these famous Giants will be such Pottsville idols as Herb Stein, of Pittsburgh; Jim Welch, of Colgate; Jack Ernst and Charley Berry, of Lafayette; Dyke Osborne, of Michigan; George Hathaway, of Ohio State; "Hoof” Flanagan, of Pittsburgh: "Butch" Wentz, of Penn State; Bill Buscher, of Washington & Jefferson and not forgetting the two home boys of the coal fields, Johnny Racius, of Shenandoah, and Tony Lattone, of Edwardsville. These are the huskies and speedsters who won for Pottsville the national championship last year. The clash at i o'clock in the Wilkes Barre stadium that is capable of seating 15,000 fans, will be the only time this season that these National League rivals meet on the gridiron and it will be a battle that should answer all doubts in the minds of the skeptical fans as to whether professional football players are capable of giving the same thrills as they were when they were fighting for their alma maters instead of for dollars.”

George Tobin G UDFA-Notre Dame 1947 NYG 1947 Born 7-09-1921 Died 1-02-1999

“How good were the postwar Notre Dame teams of Frank Leahy? So good that in 1947, Leahy advised guard George "Cud" Tobin-who had returned to Notre Dame after three years off to fight in World War II-to leave school and take a $5,000 offer from the NFL's New York Giants. Leahy's reasoning was that Tobin probably would be a first-teamer with the Giants, but would not see much playing time with the immensely talented Fighting Irish.”

http://www.irishlegends.com/pages/calendar/0502.asp

Paul Walker LE FA-1948 NYG 1948 Born 7-09-1925 Died 10-20-1972

Asbury Park Press 8-05-1948

“Paul Walker, who played basketball with the Elizabeth Braves in Asbury Park's Convention Hall two winters ago, also is a member of the New York Giants. Walker, incidentally, was an all-America end at Yale university three seasons back.”

1948
“Coach Steve Owen yesterday shook up a defensive setup which has leaked for 305 points, or an average of 38 per game, and warned his squad that only a third of them could be reasonably certain of a job with the Giants next year.
The blow-off bv a coach long famed for his defensive genius had been anticipated, but now that his club definitely is out of the NFL race, there's no longer any need to nurse prima donna pigskinners.

WILL RETAIN OWEN Although rumors have been going rounds about Stout Steve being through after 13 seasons in the Polo. Grounds, they are hotly denied in the front office. Wellington Mara, son of the owner and secretary of the organization, yesterday admitted most of the high priced Giant rookies had been a big disappointment, as well as many veterans, and backed up Owen's policy of making the remainder of the campaign a final test for 1949 jobs. Owen himself never has had a contract with the Maras and doesn't want one. "They've said they're with me 100 percent at this time, and that is enough for me," commented Steve. Wellington, who does most of the club's talent scouting, pointed out there's nothing wrong with the current Giants which a Falaschi, a Cuff and a Leemans wouldn't cure. "We have only 12 or to 15 first-class players on this club and we're going out and get more. You can depend on that."

WILLING TO TAKE LOSS The indication was the Giants would attempt to trade some of their big time disappointments for good defensive players and that they are willing to take a loss by paying off others, if necessary. Neither Owen or the Maras are dissatisfied with the offense, an attack which already has rolled for more points than the championship club of 1938. '"But we used to win 'em by counts of 14 to 7," continued Wellington, "and we aim to get back to those days of better balanced football." Meanwhile, Owen has a two-fold purpose in mind for the remaining three games. He wants to put in a defense and to look over some of the players who haven't had too much of a chance to strut their stuff. Yesterday, the big switch for Sunday concerned DeWitt Coulter, the 245 pound tackle who has been moved over to offensive center, a position he played at Army when Ug Fuson was out. This will enable Owen to make the most of Coulter's blocking where it is needed most, and also to throw hin. in for spot defensive play at tackle or guard. Also, the move leaves Johnny Cannady, crack backer up, free ta concentrate on defensive duties. Another change involves the switching of Bill Erickson, rookie from Mississippi, to defensive tackle where his speed can be utilized in attempting to halt enemy point parades.

According to Owen Yale's Paul Walker continues to improve and another freshman, tackle Don Ettinger of Kansas, is still playing good ball. In the backfteld, he singled out big Joe Scott. But there aren't many others on the squad getting any verbal pats on the back.”