New York Giants Reader Mailbag: OTA Observations Edition
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Ted, Ted, Ted. You know I want to see everyone in pads and see if I'm correct in my belief that Shepard and Robinson start on PUP. That I want to see who stays healthy and who doesn't. It is waaaaayyyy too early.
But since you asked nicely, here's my very early prediction, in no specific order: Parris Campbell, Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Jamison Crowder, Jeff Smith, and Isaiah Hodgins. I think they keep six receivers and three tight ends on the 53-man roster. But we shall see.
My definition of a breakout season is one in which the player comes full circle, and I think the last Giants player to have a breakout season was Dexter Lawrence last year.
Remember when he came out of college while the hope was he'd become an every-down player? That wasn't the case for his first few seasons in the league. Last year he "broke out" as an every-down player who can rush the passer and had his best statistical season in the process, leading to his new contract.
McFadden? I don't think that would be my pick for the next Giant to break out, only because I think Bobby Okereke will be the one on the field for every down, while McFadden might just be a spot player in certain personnel packages. But let's see how the coaches decide to deploy him.
If I'm picking someone to have a breakout season, I'm hoping it's Evan Neal, as in he cuts down on the pressures he gave up as a rookie and has an Andrew Thomas type of showing this coming year.
The greatest strength would be the skill position players. I think they're loaded there, and I can't wait to see what, from all the experimenting they've been doing, makes it to the summer and then the season. Greatest weakness?
I would say, as of right now, the pass rush. They need Ojulari and Smith to stay healthy. They need the back end of the defense to hold its coverage so the front end can get home. And I need to see more from the pass rush before removing it from my concerns list.
Truthfully not a lot of meat, and the reason for that is just because they show something in the OTAs doesn't mean that it will show up in a game at some point.
That said, you can see who's hit the weight room, who had off-season procedures (based on the guys not working), technique drills which can offer a potential clue regarding the future rep chart, who's developing chemistry within the scheme of the offense/defense, new drills, and hints regarding how the rookies are coming along.
That said, it's worth attending even though the practices aren't done in pads, and there is no contact.
The two sides have until July 17 to get a deal done. I'm not confident that will happen at this time, and nothing I've heard has changed my mind. Maybe something will start to break in the next two weeks, but I remain highly doubtful that the two sides get a deal done.
And if a deal doesn't get done, I could see Barkley sitting out most of training camp, though, at that point, I'm not sure what that would accomplish as, by then, any remaining leverage he thinks he has will have evaporated. But as I see it, Barkley probably wasn't going to play much in the preseason anyway, so I'm not all that sure missing camp would be that big of a deal unless he holds out until the day before the season.
I'd like to see him at least get a week or so of workouts to get into football shape. But again, if his agent wanted to play hardball, she'd have him hold out until the bitter end, knowing that when he did report, he'd probably have limited reps at first while the coaches ramped him up.
I do not see a trade at this time.
Collin Johnson has been participating in the practices, so I think he's at or near 100 percent. But again, these are non-contact practices, so we'll have to wait until training camp.
I haven't spoken to Nick McCloud regarding his conversion to safety, but based on what Adoree' Jackson said, he seemed to be fine with it. I'll also point out that Dane Belton and Jason Pinnock haven't been working when we've been in the building, so I have reason to believe they're recovering from something, and perhaps McCloud is just trying to expand what he can contribute to the team.
As for surprises, too soon to say. Circle back with me about a week or so into training camp, and then I can better answer that question.
Where's the money coming from to sign those guys, Brutus? Seriously, get Saquon done, and then whatever money they gain from lowering his cap number will go toward getting the team through the rest of the summer and into the beginning part of the season.
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