Things I’ll Be Watching For At Camp
After reading several hundred Giants season previews over the past few months, I decided to pass on doing one of my own (for now). Some of these articles and lists are so in-depth and layered in detail, one has to wonder about the amount of free time Americans have on their hands these days. They’re like doctoral dissertations or corporate white papers….
Really, people, it’s football. Eleven guys on one side have to get past the eleven on the other side. It still basically comes down to beating the guy in front of you. Winning your battle.
Instead of a preview, I’ll give you several key things I’ll be focusing on at training camp this month.
The running game. The Giants are a run-first team that finished the season with just one healthy running back (FA pickup Gartrell Johnson). Brandon Jacobs (knee) MUST be healthy to spearhead this group. Ahmad Bradshaw 
(feet) also must return to form as the change-up back. unless Andre Brown turns into something special. A Giant team that cannot successfully run the ball at will is destined to be watching the playoffs at home come January.
The safeties. The fakirs (CC Brown, Aaron Rouse) are gone and some real football players (Deon Grant, Antrel Rolle) have been brought in. They have a healthy Michael Johnson returning and if Kenny Phillips can make it back, this group will be a strength instead of a weakness. What a huge difference this season will be from last. After last year’s debacle, I still have to see this group succeed before I’m comfortable again…I’m especially looking forward to seeing the Perry Fewell “ballhawking” philosophy in action.
Special teams. I do not envy Tom Quinn, the Giants’ ST coach. He lost his two of his three most valuable players (P Jeff Feagles and KR Domenik Hixon. LS Zak DeOssie is the other.) and does not have the experienced bodies to backfill those spots with. Can rookie punter Matt Dodge handle both the punting and the holding duties? Plus, who will be the team’s primary kick and punt returners?
Red zone offense. I know, its all DC Kevin Gilbride‘s fault. He’s the reason they fail in the “green zone” (as Tom Coughlin calls it). Sure, they could use a little creativity down low, but as I mentioned earlier, execution is important, too. The old Packers used to run the same play every time they got inside the 5: Jim Taylor around end. Everyone knew it was coming, yet no one could stop it. The Giants, if they truly are a running juggernaut, should be able to impose their will in this fashion. I’ll be curious to see what they have been planning. Will the Killer B’s (Kevin Boss, Ramses Barden and Travis Bekum) finally get turned loose?
The pass rush. The Giants stacked up on defensive lineman during the off-season. Last year, Jay Alford missed the season with a knee injury. DE Osi Umenyiora was coming off knee surgery. Justin Tuck played with one arm and Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and Barry Cofield were also not 100%. All of those players are focused and healthy coming into camp (insert Osi comment here). That alone should make this group 1000% more effective. New D-Line coach Robert Nunn also promises to play everyone, but is not averse to playing the hot hand. I want to see how much this year’s top draft picks - Jason Pierre Paul and Linval Joseph – are going to add to this group. I’m also looking forward to seeing OLB Clint Sintim unleashed.
