GIANTS 101

Training camp his kicked off, with Monday and Tuesday featuring bona-fide two-a-days after Sunday’s creampuff welcome. Here’s some key things that we’re going to have to keep an eye on coming out of Monday’s second practice:

>Andre Brown– Reports have the second-year (but first-year healthy) player looking quick in camp. Per Garafolo:

RB Andre Brown looks healthy after a torn Achilles ended his season in camp last year. He ran a great wheel route this morning. The Giants could use a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.

There’s a good shot that Brown can earn some reps behind Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw if he really does have his quickness back and can prove reliable. DJ Ware returning kicks and Gartrell Johnson dragging his rear on the first day of camp won’t hurt Brown’s cause. They’ll bring him along slowly, but it sounds like he’ll be ready for a preseason audition.

>Travis Beckum– Another little tidbit from Garafolo that caught my eye:

But Bomar then did a nice job of getting rid of a play-action pass up the middle to Beckum…A few plays later, Bomar laid one out for TE Bear Pascoe up the left seam. Pascoe laid out to make a great catch.

Eli used to thrive throwing the ball to Shockey up the seam, but it’s been notably absent from the offense for the past few years (with the notable exception Eli to Boss in the 2007 Super Bowl). Perhaps the Giants are putting it back into the offense, and if they were, Beckum would appear the perfect tool with which to do it.

>Linval Joseph– Getting a few reps with the starters early on. Kind of a surprise since he was reported to be so “raw,” but second-round picks are expected to contribute early. The Giants don’t need Linval to push himself to the top of the depth chart, but working himself into the rotation behind starters Barry Cofield and Chris Canty would go a long way towards the all-important reestablishment of a physical defensive line. More practically, Linval being ready to play week 1 would allow the Giants to bring Jay Alford along more slowly, and (hopefully) shed Rocky Bernard and his salary. Pat Traina indicates that Linval got some penetration Monday morning:

* DT Linval Joseph managed to penetrate into the backfield on a [handful] of occasions, but they ran the play away from him

>William Beatty– An early ankle injury to Shaun O’Hara might have forced the Giants to tip their hand in which way they are leaning with the offensive line: Beatty jumped into LT, David Diehl shifted to LG and good ol’ Rich Seubert lined up over the ball. Although Diehl could theoretically still hold off Beatty to start another season, the Giants probably want to see Beatty push Diehl inside, with O’Hara coming back to make Seubert a phenomenal backup G/C (and blocking TE!). Bad News for Adam Koets and Diehl’s bank account. {Of course, Diehl says he isn’t ready to lose the LT position and Seubert says not to count him out just yet, both per Vacchiano.}

>Rhett Bomar vs. Jim Sorgi– There’s been a lot of talk on G101 about lacking confidence in Sorgi, and wondering if Bomar has the goods and if he’ll even get a chance to show that he does. Coming into camp, I didn’t really think Bomar had or would get the chance to unseat Sorgi. Well, this morning’s practice is only going to add fuel to the fire for those who think Bomar might be better than Peyton Manning’s favorite clipboard holder. Per Ralph Vacchiano:

• Bomar, by the way, had an excellent morning (or “pretty good,” as Coughlin said with a smile). Again, though, consistency is the key if he wants to have any shot at challenging veteran Jim Sorgi for the backup job. “It’s always been with him one step forward and maybe a step and a half back.”

• Sorgi didn’t have the best morning. He had to call time out on his first snap. Then he underthrew several passes. That’s probably not surprising considering he’s still trying to learn a new offense.

Per Garafolo, Sorgi’s rough day continued in the afternoon: 

Ugly session there for both Sorgi + Gilbride Jr, btw…

Ok, let’s not get too excited yet. As mockable as his experience may seem, Sorgi still has years more of it than Bomar. But Sorgi still has to prove his injured shoulder is back up to par, and if training camp reports continually read like the ones above, Bomar might force the Giants to put him on the roster, whether that means carrying 3 QB’s or giving Sorgi a pink slip.

>Bear Pascoe– Looking to stake his claim to some playing time, Pascoe opened some eyes this morning with some spectacular catches. Pat Traina astutely comes through with a more comprehensive, and more eye-opening assessment: 

Competing for the second string tight end and getting reps in place of Kevin Boss, Pascoe had a good morning. Going against Justin Tuck, he won more battles than he lost, sealing the defensive end to open up the edge for the running plays. Pascoe also continued to look good in the passing game, catching both passes thrown his way and showing a nice little burst of speed to break away from a safety on one.

Given Beckum’s noted lack of blocking abilities, Pascoe’s emergence would be a huge boon for the Giants offense, giving them a viable option across the line from Kevin Boss (Red Zone, anyone?) who can both run-block and catch a pass. And given the pounding Kevin Boss takes, it’s not a bad idea to have a good, young backup in place.

>Duke Calhoun– Ok, so I read somewhere that he caught a pass. Big deal. But there’s been so much talk on G101 about cutting Sinorice Moss, or carrying 7 receivers, and this is the guy who probably benefits from either of those situations. Of the no-name bodies filling out the bottom of the Giants summer-enlarged WR depth chart, Calhoun is the most impressive athlete at 6 ft. 4 in., with his 4.4-second 40-yard dash. He might open eyes with some catches, but his reportedly superior special teams play will be what sneak him onto the back of the roster. Moss’ and Ramses Barden’s lack of special teams contributions might just be Calhoun’s ticket onto the final roster.

>Daily Defensive End Watch: Although Mathias Kiwanuka has been going with the one’s with Osi Umenyiora rotating in, the order was flip-flopped this afternoon. Dun, Dun, Dunnnn!

Let the rotation begin: Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora start with the 1s and Mathias Kiwanuka comes in after a few snaps.