Drove up from Providence, RI. Beautiful drive. Compared to Giants Stadium, pulling up to Gillette Stadium is Easy Street. What an exceptional fan experience. Entrance to the parking lot is quick and painless. Pubs and restaurants line the outskirts of the parking lot. The pathways leading to the practice fields were spacious and accommodating. The venue had a great overall flow with easy to get to vendors and tons of free activities for kids. Finally, the view of practice: I sat on a hill with exactly the same view as Albany camp. (Right behind the end zone, on top of the action.) I may as well have been standing in the huddle. I realize it's Foxborough, MA vs. Bergen County NJ but it was frustrating how much better the fan access was.
I'm sure all of the specifics will be covered in the tweets, so I'll keep this general and random:
*We're having a heat wave in NE and it was unbearably hot. I was drenched down to my core just sitting there watching and got a sunburn - I can't imagine how the players felt. People around me were crying how hot it was and several bailed. Yet the Giants never stopped moving. They look EXTREMELY well-conditioned.
*Judge really does run an impressive outfit. I feel like I’m watching Alabama practice. The team works hard, and efficiently. Every position group is always working, there is no wasted time or guys standing around. In stark contrast to New England, obviously the gold standard, who moved around much more like usual pro teams I’ve seen practice. You couldn’t help but be impressed with the Giants energy and team discipline – I saw several Pats players peeking over. Whether it amounts to wins remains to be seen, but Judge looks like he’s running a football machine.
*Daniel Jones looked solid. I was in the end zone with a great view of the red zone drill, Pats vs. Giants. The first 2 plays were TDs to Engram and perfect strikes from Jones in traffic. Early in the practice, the Giants were practicing a ball placement drill, with the WR bubble screen and slant. Jones showed excellent accuracy. Overall, he didn’t do anything to wow, he just looked, moved and threw like a franchise QB. The Pats D forced him to check down a lot, which he did in excellent rhythm. (Part of his struggles have been not taking the checkdown on time, IMO.) Just like with Judge, we’ll see if the wins come, but Jones looks the part. I heard lots of “good throws” from the Pats fans sitting around me as Jones worked.
*I got a good look at the DBs and Jabrill Peppers is a different breed. He’s smooth and fluid, but much bigger than the other DBs. He put a big hit on a Pats WR crossing the middle. He looks calmer and more collected than he has in the past. He was surprisingly solid in coverage last year: if he’s getting comfortable in Graham’s D I think he’s got All Pro potential. Conversely, in DB drills, it was backpedaling and breaking on the ball for an INT. Tandems of 2. The last grouping was Beal and Madre Harper. You could hear the DB Coach yell “you gotta RUN!” after every rep they took. Never heard it with any other grouping. Really it looked like they were going 3/4 speed while everyone else was at game speed.
*Lots of guys moving in and out of the lineup. I saw C.J. Board and Dante Pettis getting reps with the 1’s. Also spotted Nate Solder at starting LT for the first 11 on 11’s.
*Lots of special teams work - the Pats spray paint vertical red lines on their practice fields about 10 yards in from each sideline to mark the alleys where the directional punts should land. Their P was consistently putting the ball inside the 5.
*For the Pats – Mac Jones looked like a veteran. He did a nice job moving their offense against the Giants 1st team D in the 2 minute drill. You can definitely see why they think he can do some of the same things Brady did. I was hoping the Giants D was going to stop him cold but they didn’t.
He didn't. It must have been another WR.
Can I edit that part of your report?
was going to say the same thing...not a pleasant place to get out of on gameday or concerts
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
Didn't see anything about Thomas being injured and the reports seemed to indicate he was winning his battles. Likely just getting Solder some reps in case something happens with Thomas.
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
This is sarcasm I assume. Thomas has been one of the bright spots of camp so far and there havent been any injury news associated with him
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
Damn you are negative!!!! Let's fight and miller the thread with our personal pettiness.
Particularly heartening to hear about Jones. IMO, his biggest problem last year was not getting through his reads fast enough and holding the ball too long. If he's fixed that, he could be night and day.
Also to Brown Hornet, it could be reps for him as he is supposed to be our 'swing tackle', right? He's filling in for whomever can't go, or am i misunderstanding the term swing tackle?
Particularly heartening to hear about Jones. IMO, his biggest problem last year was not getting through his reads fast enough and holding the ball too long. If he's fixed that, he could be night and day.
That is no doubt valid but also the case that our weapons were as bad as it gets in creating space. So many of the throws were tight window throws. Meanwhile, we all watched other teams with envy as their QBs often threw at open receivers.
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
Blame Gettleman? You should be praising him for seeing how valuable Solder would be as reserve swing tackle 4 years later. That 2018 contract is now paying off nicely...
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Great report, really appreciate it!
Particularly heartening to hear about Jones. IMO, his biggest problem last year was not getting through his reads fast enough and holding the ball too long. If he's fixed that, he could be night and day.
That is no doubt valid but also the case that our weapons were as bad as it gets in creating space. So many of the throws were tight window throws. Meanwhile, we all watched other teams with envy as their QBs often threw at open receivers.
I really don't want to get into the endless "Jones sucks!" "No he doesn't debate." It's boring and worn out.
I don't think he does, and yes it would be nice if he had receivers get more separation. But given the options, his skill set, and where the team as a whole was last year, I'd think you'd want to get through your reads quickly, and make an instant decision to either take off, or toss it out of bounds. More to be lost by taking too long, and indecision than reloading on another down. Plus, he's got wheels, and if he takes off sooner, even if it's only to run out bounds a few yards beyond the L.O.S., he's in better shape than waiting for the rush to get to him.
Gillette, ehh. getting out after a game is a nightmare.
1.5-2 hours sometimes. Parking is expensive as well.
Have gone to many games there.
Quote:
In comment 15341103 TC said:
Quote:
Great report, really appreciate it!
Particularly heartening to hear about Jones. IMO, his biggest problem last year was not getting through his reads fast enough and holding the ball too long. If he's fixed that, he could be night and day.
That is no doubt valid but also the case that our weapons were as bad as it gets in creating space. So many of the throws were tight window throws. Meanwhile, we all watched other teams with envy as their QBs often threw at open receivers.
I really don't want to get into the endless "Jones sucks!" "No he doesn't debate." It's boring and worn out.
I don't think he does, and yes it would be nice if he had receivers get more separation. But given the options, his skill set, and where the team as a whole was last year, I'd think you'd want to get through your reads quickly, and make an instant decision to either take off, or toss it out of bounds. More to be lost by taking too long, and indecision than reloading on another down. Plus, he's got wheels, and if he takes off sooner, even if it's only to run out bounds a few yards beyond the L.O.S., he's in better shape than waiting for the rush to get to him.
A lot of people say things like progressions and reads like you know exactly what his reads were and what his progression was suppsoed to be. Overall it is hard to evaluate a guy who put up good numbers in 2019 (except turnovers) and then had to learn a new system (his 3rd system in 3 years if you count last year of college), with no real offseason or training camp and the WORST play makers in the league- Tate was done, Mack isn't even going to make the team, Slayton regressed, No BARKLEY, SS was injured again and the best weapon we had gave the ball away at crucial and back breaking times (EE).. This year will be far more telling.
- Thomas is injured
- Thomas has regressed and is officially a bust
- Thomas ran his last lap and has retired
Most importantly:
- Can I blame Gettleman
Well, even if no one else does, I appreciate your humor...
+1
Amazing the difference here, a guy providing a little first hand account just for fellow fans, vs writers seeking clicks.
Really good read, thanks!