GIANTS 101

Giants training camp kicks off on Sunday, and I could not be more excited. Here are some things I will be keeping an eye on throughout the preseason.

• How Does Linebacker Depth Pan Out? We know that the newly signed Keith Bulluck is the favorite to win the Giants middle linebacker job, and Clint Sintim and Michael Boley are will be starting on the outside. The Giants have a lot of young depth behind these players, many who will have to be cut by the end of preseason. You have Jonathan Goff, the favotite to start at MLB before the Bulluck addition and Gerris Wilkinson, a great special teamer (when healthy) who could back up the middle and weakside. There are experienced depth players, who are favorites of the coaching staff such and Chase Blackburn and Bryan Kehl and young players like rookies Adrian Tracy and Phillip Dillard, along with Kenny Ingram, who was on the practice squad last season. The linebackers will be an interesting group to keep an eye on this preseason, as a few longtime Giants will likely be released in favor of youthful depth. When Bulluck (knee) is sitting out one practice a day, keep an eye on who is taking first team reps, if it is Dillard then Goff is on the roster bubble.
• Who is the Fifth Cornerback? The Giants top four corners are set, with Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross and Bruce Johnson. An injury to any of these players would really make this unit thin, and we all know Ross has had trouble staying healthy in the past, so the fifth cornerback could play a big role in 2010. The likeliest candidates are D.J. Johnson, Courtney Brown and undrafted free agent Seth Williams. The Giants would be crazy to carry only four cornerbacks, so one of these three will make the final roster this season.
• Offensive Line Changes? Will Tom Coughlin and his coaching staff make changes to the offensive line, or stick with an experienced unit that struggled in 2010? Second year tackle William Beatty played very well in limited action last season, and I have been calling for him to start on the left side, sliding Dave Diehl to left guard and making Rich Seubert a valuable reserve at center or guard. The Giants have not committed to this move, though they have admitted that it is possible. I think that starting Beatty makes the unit stronger, but have my doubts that the Giants staff makes such a radical move and changes a unit that they have been comfortable with in the past.
• Who Will Return Kicks/Punts? The loss of Domenik Hixon hurt the Giants badly in this department. Some names have been floated around (Antrel Rolle, Ahmad Bradshaw, Aaron Ross, Mario Manningham) but these players are far too valuable in other facets of the game to risk in the return game. Sinorice Moss will get a look in the return game, but he has been unable to win the job in the past. Other unknowns like D.J. Ware and Tim Brown will also have the opportunity to compete, but I cannot help but thinking that the player who wins this job is not on the current roster.  I am sure Jerry Reese will be closely monitoring who is released during final cuts around the league, because if someone with return skills is out there, the Giants sure could use them.
• Who is the Fourth Receiver? The Giants top three receivers are set in stone with the talented young core of Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham leading the way.  Injured return man Domenik Hixon would have been the favorite in the fourth receiver role, but his knee injury opened up a serious competition for that spot. The consensus amongst fans seems to be Ramses Barden should have every opportunity to win this job, but while he has made some legendary catches in practice, we have yet to see him do it on Sundays. Playing Barden more could have some major advantages, because none of the other Giants receivers have his size, and he could become a major threat in the red zone. Other players who will be competing for this spot include veterans Sinorice Moss and Derek Hagan, and second year Tight End/H-Back/Slot Travis Beckum will also see reps.
• How Healthy are the Walking Wounded? The Giants had to have been the most banged up team in the NFL last season.  How healthy are Kenny Phillips (knee), Justin Tuck (shoulder), Osi Umenyiora (hip, knee), Hakeem Nicks (toe), Mario Manningham (shoulder), Kevin Boss (ankle), Chris Canty (calf, hamstring), Barry Cofield (knee), Rocky Bernard (shoulder), Rich Seubert (shoulder) , Kareem McKenzie (knee, back), Shaun O’Hara (knee), Ahmad Bradshaw (foot, ankles), Brandon Jacobs (knee), Jay Alford (knee), Corey Webster (knee), Aaron Ross (hamstrings), Michael Boley (hamstrings), Andre Brown (Achillies), Keith Bulluck (knee)? Are they all  going to be ready to go for the 2010 season kickoff versus a Panthers team that ran the ball down their throats just a few months ago?
• NOTES: It was announced that Super Bowl legend David Tyree and former first round pick and longtime possession receiver Ike Hilliard have both signed one day contracts to retire as Giants. Hilliard actually had a productive 12-year career (8 years with the Giants) and Tyree was a career special teamer (made the Pro Bowl in 2005) who played five of his six years with the Giants, and will always be remembered for his miracle catch in the Super Bowl XLII victory over the heavily favored Patriots. Both guys are class acts and I am proud to see them retire as Giants.
• The Giants claimed defensive end/linebacker Alex Hall off waivers from the hated Philadelphia Eagles. Hall (6’2 250lbs) had his most success playing outside linebacker in the Browns 3-4 defense with 28 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 2008, but was traded to the Eagles as part of the Sheldon Brown deal, where he struggled as a traditional defensive end. I would put Hall’s chances of making the Giants at slim, and think he will eventually catch on with another defensive 3-4 team (the Bills need all the help they can get). Prove me wrong Alex, prove me wrong.
• The Giants waived rookie safety Chad Jones, who was tragically injured in a car accident, and nearly lost his leg. This move had to be made, as once Jones clears waivers, he will be placed on the non-football injury list and will no longer take up a roster spot. The Giants are also no longer obligated to pay Jones a base salary, but will “take care of him in some form or fashion.” The team has already paid him a $825,000 signing bonus.
• First round pick Jason Pierre-Paul and second round pick Linval Joseph are both still unsigned, with the start of training camp looming on Sunday, but I expect both players to be signed and report on time. I’ll update the post if either one inks a deal.

Tags: Aaron Ross, Andre Brown, Chad Jones, Domenik Hixon, Gerris Wilkinson, Giants Training Camp, Hakeem Nicks, Ike Hilliard, Jason Pierre-Paul, Keith Bulluck, Linval Joseph, Mario Manningham, New York Giants, New York Giants Training Camp, Phillip Dillard, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Travis Beckum, William Beatty

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