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I attended Giants training camp this afternoon and was able to catch a glimpse of the team as they gear up for the 2024 season
L-R: Allen Robinson II, Jalin Hyatt, Malik Nabers
Mondays in late July are built for Giants training camp. That’s where I found myself this week; within the confines of the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey to see the Giants don full pads for the first time this summer. This was my first training camp experience, and I took in all of the sights and sounds; coaches yelling at players on missed assignments, the crunch of pads as players hit each other at full speed, calls and checks at the line of scrimmage, and of course, the speakers blasting Moneybagg Yo and a plethora of other artists.
It was a ton of fun, and being there felt like a rite of passage prior to kickoff in just over a month. The fans were electric, too, sharing a chorus of 'oohs' and 'ahhs' whenever a quarterback would hit a running back, tight end, or wide receiver for a big play.
There is a lot of work cut out for this team prior to a Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings at home, but it's evident that they’re putting in the reps and making sure they get the kinks out as the offseason chugs along.
Where do I start? 14Oh yes, with Daniel Jones
The Giants' starting quarterback was out there in full force, throwing the rock to a flurry of wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs during individual and 11-on-11 drills. He didn’t put on a stellar performance - which I didn’t expect to see from him anyway - and he’s still working back from the ACL tear that cost him the better part of the 2023 season. I didn’t see much from him in the deep passing game, but there were moments where he showed flashes of normalcy through several connections to the running backs and tight ends. I’m going to take todays practice with a grain of salt and let Jones put any preconceived notions to rest once the regular season begins.
After practice ended, Jones stayed back with Wan'Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger to get in some extra work through the air, as well as his snap timing with one of the centers. It will be fun to see the Jones-Robinson connection come to life in Robinson's third season.
Coach Brian Daboll ran multiple tight end sets in 11-on-11 drills - most notably 12 personnel - so I expect to see Bellinger and possibly Theo Johnson or Chris Manhertz find a lot of time on the field this season. Bellinger looks healthy, in shape, and ready to rock in his third season. At just 23 years old, and with Darren Waller now retired, he has a lot to prove as the potential starting tight end.
Jones & Wan'Dale Robinson got a few extra reps in after practice concluded
Shane Bowen and the defense
I had a chance to watch the defense work with Shane Bowen during individual drills midway through practice. He took them through a few defensive schemes and potential adjustments they would need to familiarize themselves with while up against dummy offensive players. Bowen weaved in pre-snap motion and had the guys moving a lot prior to the snap. Emphasis will certainly be on creating a better run stopping defense, however, for this team to succeed they will need to be able to work together and communicate effectively when given different offensive looks.
There is plenty of youth in the secondary, so the backers in Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, and even Isaiah Simmons - Simmons saw a ton of run during this session - will need to be strong communicators and ensure everyone is in the right spot prior to the snap.
I mentioned Isaiah Simmons briefly, and wanted to highlight him for a quick moment. He will have a Swiss Army Knife-type role on the defense this year. The Giants see him as a key piece of their defense, and given that there are question marks at the nickel/slot corner position, they envision Simmons being a player that can step in and make plays there.
This is exactly what I saw at practice today, as Simmons lined up a ton with the 1s in the slot. He's going to be an explosive presence at that position and at the same time act as a veteran presence that can take a rookie like Dru Phillips - who will also be vying for slot corner reps - under his wing.
Other noteworthy sights and sounds
Tyrone Tracy Jr. looks to be a guy that the Giants will be using a ton this season on the offensive side of the ball. The rookie running back out of Purdue showed flashes as a pass catcher, runner, and punt/kick returner. He will obviously begin the season behind Devin Singletary on the depth chart - Singletary looked really good today too - but will see his share of reps increase as he adjusts to the speed of the game. John Schmeelk had Tracy's former coaches from Purdue on the Giants Huddle podcast recently, and they all sung their praises for Tracy as a player and for his maturity at his age. Giants fans, expect to see him on the field in multiple ways this year
Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary during 11 on 11 drills
Theo Johnson was back at practice after being activated off of the PUP list a few days ago. The 6'6", 260 pound rookie tight end looked to be moving well and his pass catching and blocking ability were in tip top shape. He will be asked to do both, especially blocking in the run game, as a rookie and he has the size and tangible features to do it.
Brian Daboll looked phenomenal. I have seen a lot of 'skinny Dabes' from videos and media coverage throughout the offseason but seeing him for the first time in person allowed me the opportunity to take it all in. He looks great and truly embodies the 'skinny Dabes' mantra. He looked like he was having a great time out there today, with his polo collar popped and aviator shades gracing that shiny dome of his. I'm pumped to see what Daboll is able to do with this team in year 3
Final Thoughts
Overall, training camp was an awesome experience and the fans came out in droves. Everywhere I looked, I saw a little kid wearing a Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawrence, or Malik Nabers jersey itching to get a glimpse of the guys on the field. Giants fans are some of the best in the league and the passion shown by the fanbase is unmatched.
There is a lot to be excited about with this Giants team; they're hungry and ready to scratch and claw their way to wins this season. Compared to last year, I believe they are already in a much better position to win games and the hope is that they can finally put the media doubters to rest.
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